Hoodlums Attack Customs Officials in Kwara

By Hammed Shittu in Ilorin 

Some people suspected to be hoodlums have attacked men of the Nigerian Customs Service’ s roving team along Alapa area in Asa local government area of Kwara State

 During the incident according to THISDAY investigations, four Golf cars loaded with rice were taken away by the hoodlums. 

The hoodlums according to our checks, were said to have escaped into thin air after they had carried out the dastardly act on Tuesday with the aid of a serving policeman allegedly attached to Alapa police station

 The intercepted NCS’s team was led by a Chief  Superintendent of  Customs, Maciver A.L. Other members of the team are Basheer, O.I, ASCII Iloba, M.I ASCII Ayinla J, CAI Mangai, and  CAI Odo P 

According to the leader of the team, the incident happened when they went on information patrol on Ilorin – Alapa road  when they received information that smugglers have hidden  two golf vehicles laden  with imported rice inside the bush.

He added that “on sighting the patrol vans , the drivers of the vehicle containing the smuggled rice, bolted with the keys of the vehicles”  

Maciver said due to the state of the vehicles that were  laden with the contraband, himself and his men decided to evacuate the rice into the two customs  vehicles on patrol  

The customs boss alleged that after taking off from the scene of the interception and on their way to their office with the bags of rice, four golf vehicles loaded with people suspected to be thugs  pursued their patrol vehicles with the assistance of a  police corporal  and forcefully off loaded all the bags of rice after partially destroying the customs patrol vehicle. 

According to him, the ongoing construction work  along Geri Alimi Roundabout in Ilorin slowed down his men from moving fast and  the police corporal and the thugs caught up with them and forcefully offloaded the rice back to the golf vehicles .

Micever said due to the presence of innocent citizens around where his men were attacked, they could not open fire on the thugs to guard against shooting of innocent people.

 

He said that investigation had begun on the issue, assuring that the culprits  would be apprehended and made to face the music.

 

When contacted, the spokesman of the  state police command , DSP Ajayi Okasanmi said the NCS had not officially briefed the  command about the development.

 

 

He however, confirmed that the state commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawan Ado had directed the Divisional Police Officer in Alapa  to investigate the matter and report back to the headquarters  about the involvement of the corporal in question.

 

 

.Okasanmi said that if the corporal was found to be involved in the allegation , he would be dealt with officially and brought to book accordingly.