Suspected hoodlums attack Customs office in Kebbi

Suspects believed to be hoodlums have reportedly attacked a Customs office in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State. 

The hoodlums were said to have injured an officer, while property was also damaged in the process.

This was according to a statement made available to newsmen by the spokesman for the command, Mohammed Salisu, on Saturday.

He said the incident occurred on Thursday after the officers intercepted some smuggled items in the area.

The statement read, “During the late hours of Thursday, March 21, 2024, at about 2310 hours, the combined team of Yauri outstation and surveillance were informed of a suspected smuggling activity at Yauri Waterside. Upon arriving at the scene, 41 bags of foreign parboiled rice were seized, secured, and taken to the outstation.

“Afterwards, a mob attack was launched by the aggrieved smugglers by way of mobilising hoodlums to attack the outpost.

“Upon sighting the mob, the management contacted the command and other sister agencies for reinforcement, which helped in containing the situation.

“Amid the attack, the OIC sustained a hand injury; 1 AK-47 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 the OIC personal vehicle, the outstation Air Conditioner, chairs, tables, windows, doors, and other essentials put in place to support the operations of the outstation.”

He, however, assured that to subside and lower tension, the Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris,  hosted the Customs Area Controller on the way forward, and normalcy has since been restored.

“The Customs Area Controller, Iheanacho Ojike, has been in touch with the Commissioner of Police, and so far, some arrests have been made and an investigation was launched in view of arresting and prosecuting the criminals,” he added