Customs officer killed by suspected traffickers in Kwara

While on patrol on the Sinau-Kenu Road in the Baruteen Local Government Area of Kwara, a member of the Nigerian Customs Service was slain on Friday in Igboho by individuals who are believed to be smugglers.

In Ilorin on Monday, the customs spokesman for Kwara, Mr. Chado Zakari, said that the patrol team had earlier seized 30 jerry cans of gasoline and 30 bags of smuggled rice that were concealed in a nearby bush alongside Sinau-Kenu Road.

The patrol van that was transporting the contraband to the government’s storehouse was ambushed by the suspected smugglers, who also fired intermittently at the vehicle.

“In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, three officers suffered potentially fatal wounds and are now receiving care, while one officer died from the cold hands of death.

“The deceased, an assistant superintendent named Saheed Aweda, was buried in his hometown of Popogbona in the Kwara County local government area in accordance with Islamic rites.

According to Zakari, “The Comptroller, Mr. Olugboyega Peters, has visited the family of the deceased to express his sympathies to its members.

He further stated that Mr. Peters had mandated a thorough investigation into the incident in attempt to identify the perpetrators.