The Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other sister security agencies, launched a manhunt for criminals who attacked Customs officers while performing their legitimate duties at the Yauri outstation in Kebbi state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs Mohammed Salisu, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, March 24, 2024, said the hoodlums damaged vehicles, the outstation ACs, chairs, tables, windows, doors, and carted away seized bags of rice.
According to Salisu, the incident occurred on Thursday, 21 March 2024, when the officers thwarted smuggling activities at Yauri Waterside.
“In the late hours of Thursday, March 21, 2024, at about 23:10 hours, the combined team of Yauri outstation and Surveillance were informed of suspected smuggling activity at the Yauri waterside. Upon arriving at the scene, 41 bags of foreign parboiled rice were seized, secured, and taken to the outstation,” the statement read.
“Afterward, a mob attack was launched by the aggrieved smugglers by mobilising hoodlums to attack the outpost.”
Superintendent of Customs Mohammed Salisu explained that swift intervention from Kebbi Command and other sister agencies helped contain the situation.
He noted that the Officer in charge sustained a hand injury, while 1 AK47 rifle was carted away but retrieved shortly, and 29 out of 41 bags of the seized rice were taken away by the attackers.
“The mob went further to vandalise personnel vehicles, the outstation ACs, chairs, tables, windows, doors, and other essentials put in place to support the operations of the outstation.”
He further stated that the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has hosted the Customs Area Controller, Iheanacho Ojike, to discuss the way forward, while also stating that the CAC has been in touch with the state Commissioner of Police, leading to some arrests and investigations launched to prosecute the criminals.
