Two officers on the Niger/Kogi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service have been killed by bandits suspected to be smugglers on the Lokoja – Okene road in Kogi state.
The public relations officer of the command, Lomba Benjamin, stated this Tuesday in a statement issued in Minna.
He named the victims of the attack as Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, S. Ohiremen and Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, S. M. Omale, adding that a Deputy Superintendent of Customs, H. I. Oladapo, sustained gunshot injury.
The PRO said, “On Thursday 12th December, 2019 at 2200hrs, a team of patrol officers were attacked by armed bandits along Lokoja-Okene road, which resulted to the death of two officers while another officer was injured.
“The injured officer was quickly moved to the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja for medical attention. As at the time of releasing this press statement, the officer has been discharged from the hospital and would be returning to work as soon as he is in full health.”
While condemning the attack, Benjamin said, “Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service are only implementers of federal government policies, hence we urge every Nigerian citizen aggrieved toward losing his/her goods to engage the services of the court rather than resort to violence and killing of family men whom are the bread winners of their families while serving their nation”.
He said the Nigeria Custom Service, Niger/Kogi Command has continued to maintain close contact with the bereaved families of the slain officers, adding that “We are pained by the sad development and share in the grief of losing fellow officers, colleagues, brothers, husbands, fathers and the likes”.
The PRO assured that the service will continue to work with other sister agencies in identifying the armed bandits in connection to the attack on our officers and anyone found guilty will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He said late ASC II Omale had been buried December 13, 2019 according to Islamic rites in Ayangba village of Kogi state while ASC I Ohiremen will be buried at his home town in Ondo state by January 2020.
He expressed the condolences of the Customs Area Controller, Abba-Kassim Yusuf to the family, adding that the controller had paid a condolence visit to the wife, children and family of Omale on Saturday, December 14.
