On Friday, 16th July, 2021 the Nigeria Customs Service said it confronted rice traffickers in the Igboora region of Oyo State’s Ibarapa Local Government Area.
Report says that the village, which has been the hub of Oyo State’s herdsmen invasion, had been attacked again by Fulani militants.
Customs, on the other hand, reported that three of its officials and a soldier were allegedly injured in a shootout with the smugglers.
Federal Operations Unit Customs Public Relations Officer Theophilus Duniya Zone A released a statement on Saturday that was made accessible to reporters in Ibadan the Oyo state capital
According to Mr Duniya, the incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Friday.
“Eight trucks carrying contraband foreign parboiled rice were spotted by the injured Customs Officials, who are operatives of the Zone A, Federal Operations Unit, whose drivers and armed accompanying passengers launched an attack on the officers.
One of the assailants was shot and disarmed, while the rest fled with their illegal goods.
“Investigations are proceeding to apprehend and prosecute the attackers, and all of the attacked Customs Officers and soldiers are undergoing treatment, including one who was shot in the head,” Mr Daniya said.
He said that the Acting Controller of the Unit, DC Usman Yahaya, condemned the attack and reaffirmed the Service’s unwavering commitment to combating smuggling.
According to the Acting Controller, the Unit will never back down or be frightened by unjustified attacks by criminal elements illegally carrying weapons and unleashing them on officers performing legitimate tasks.