Smugglers Stab Custom Officer, in Critical Condition

An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun State Area Command, Muhammed Maigari, was over the weekend brutally macheted by armed smugglers.

The incident occurred at Ibeji River, around Idogo-Ifoyintedo axis in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state.

The officer was said to be on patrol with his colleagues when the incident happened.

The command public relations officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirming the incident to newsmen in the state said the victim was currently in a critical condition.

According to him, Mr. Maigari, who is attached to the Federal Operations Unit but posted to the Idiroko border axis, was “dealt a life- threatening cut on his left upper arm by the smugglers.”

“Maigari and some of his colleagues were said to have been on routine patrol when they got an intelligence report that some smugglers were coming with a smuggled Toyota Highlander towards the Ibeji River, and they rushed to the scene to intercept the vehicle.

“The smugglers attempted to disarm Mr. Maigara but when they were unsuccessful, they decided to smash his head with the machete but he blocked it with his arm.

“The cut was life-threatening. The smugglers were armed and they confronted our operatives. But since we did not want any loss of lives, our operatives successfully intercepted the Toyota Highlander being smuggled through the forest.

“It (seized car) is currently in the command’s custody at sentry, Idiroko border. The command will not relent in curbing smuggling activities around Idiroko border and Ogun state as a whole,” he said.

He added that the victim, who was first rushed to the General Hospital at Idiroko, was later transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos for comprehensive treatment.