The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ has come under attack by suspected smugglers whilst on their legitimate patrol duties to the Dankama Area of Katsina State on Wednesday, 23 August 2023.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Isah Sulaiman, a Superintendent of Customs, the affected officers while carrying out their statutory duties of anti-smuggling, were attacked with dangerous weapons by the smugglers, thereby inflicting several injuries to Inspector of Customs (IC) Haruna A.
The wounded Officer was immediately rushed to the hospital for proper medical attention and is responding to treatment.
“It is pertinent to state that the Nigeria Customs Service is an agency that is saddled with the responsibility of enforcing government fiscal policies for collective societal good.
“The Unit’s Officers would not fold their arms and allow smugglers who have no regard for the laws of the land to perpetrate their nefarious activities to the detriment of our security and economic well-being.
“On this note, Comptroller FOU ‘B’, Musa Ibrahim Jalo, is very concerned about the injuries inflicted on his officer and directed a full-scale investigation to fish out the perpetrators of this barbaric act.
“He stated that any further attacks on any Officer of the Unit would not be tolerated and would be treated with utmost resistance from our Operatives.
“He added that such violent attacks will never deter the operatives of the Unit from carrying out their legitimate duties, no matter whose ox is gored.
“He appealed to traditional rulers, parents and community leaders to warn their subjects to desist from attacking security operatives, as anyone caught shall face the consequences of his action” the statement read