Armed SMUGGLERS recently attacked Customs Officers attached to the Joint Border Patrol in kwara state.
During the conflict, one of the officers on the patrol, Assistant Superintendent of Customs(1) ASCSaheed Aweda was shot dead.
The other Officers sustained life-threatening injuries and are currently responding to treatment at the hospital. The deceased officer, Shaheed Aweda has been laid to rest, according to Islamic rites in his home town, Popogbona in Ilorin, Kara State.
According to sources, trouble started when the Customs Operatives in patrol duty under the Joint Border Patrol Team(JBPT), Acting on information, intercepted 40 bags of 50kg foreign per boiled rice and 30jerry cans of Premium Motor Spirit(25 litres), abandoned by hard SMUGGLERS in a bush path.
The operatives, immediately swung into action and evacuated the seized items into their operational vehicles for onward delivery to the government warehouse for safe- keeping in line with the extant laws.
In the process, the officers were ambushed by the smugglers who attacked them with dangerous weapons, including guns.
In the fiery gun battle that ensued, one of the officers was felled, while others were seriously injured.
Already, Comptroller Olugboyega Petters, the vo-ordinator of the Joint Border Patrol Yeam , has ordered full investigation into the unfortunate incident, to fish out the criminals who perpetuated the barbaric act.
He stated that the patrol team will continue to prosecute the anti-smuggling crusade of the Federal Government inspite of the unwarranted attacks on his officers.
