Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have come under attack during an anti-smuggling operation in Ogun State, with one of the assailants confirmed dead following a violent confrontation.
The incident occurred at about 6 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, along a bush path in Alapoti area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, when operatives of the Ogun I Area Command were conducting a routine patrol.
The development came barely a week after another clash in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, where two Customs officers sustained critical injuries during a similar operation.
In a statement on Saturday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Zakari Chado, said the patrol team intercepted several motorcycles conveying smuggled foreign parboiled rice.
According to him, 46 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice were seized and loaded into an official patrol vehicle for evacuation.
He explained that as the officers attempted to exit the area, they were ambushed by a large group of suspected smugglers armed with Dane guns, stones, bottles and suspected charms, allegedly in a bid to forcefully recover the seized items.
Chado noted that the officers resisted the attack, leading to a confrontation that lasted for about 30 minutes.
“One of the attackers sustained fatal injuries during the clash and later died, while a suspect who claimed ownership of the seized rice was arrested and is currently in custody for further investigation,” the statement said.
The command linked the recurring attacks on its personnel to intensified enforcement against smuggling activities in the area, noting that recent operations had resulted in significant seizures of prohibited goods.
It described the assaults as deliberate attempts by criminal elements to frustrate lawful operations and undermine national security.
Reacting to the incident, the Acting Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni, condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on the rule of law.
He assured that the service would not be deterred by such acts, reaffirming the commitment of the command to safeguarding lives, securing communities and enforcing the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.