An officer, Saheed Aweda, was killed and three others injured as suspected smugglers opened fire on officers of the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The attackers allegedly laid ambush for the operatives who were on patrol in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The surviving officers are said to have sustained life threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
Spokesperson of the JBPT, Kwara Command, Chado Zakari, who confirmed the incident, described the situation as a ‘fiery exchange’ between the smugglers and officers.
He said, ‘The Hoodlums laid ambush and shot sporadically. In the fiery exchange that ensued, one of our officers was killed and three others sustained life threatening injuries but are now at the hospital.
Narrating what transpired, Chado said the JBPT while on patrol intercepted 40 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice and thirty 25 litres jerry cans of premium motor spirit (PMS) abandoned along a bush path as Sinau-Kenu road, Baruten.
He added that it was while on transit after the seized items had been evacuated into “our operational vehicles for onward delivery to warehouse, a group of hoodlums laid ambush.
“They shot sporadically at our officers, macheted others and pelted our personnel with stones, bottles, sticks including charms and other dangerous weapons”.
He said the coordinator JBPT, Compt. Olugboyega Peters has ordered a full scale investigation on the matter.
According to him, “This trend of unprovoked attacks by faceless cowards whose intention is to instill fear in the minds of law enforcement operatives shall not go unpunished. Neither will it dampen the resolve of officers and men from carrying out their statutory functions.
“We will continue to prosecute the anti-smuggling crusade in spite of the unwarranted attacks. We advised parents/guardians to warn their wards to desist from obstructing our operatives from performing their legitimate duties.
“The Sector will not hesitate to use appropriate force in line with the rules of engagement and will leave the officers with no other alternative than to defend themselves in the interest of the nation.”
