The Nigeria Customs Service has vowed not to succumb to intimidation despite series of unwarranted attacks on its personnel and facilities at various times and different points in the past months.
In a statement signed by DC Timi Bomodi, Customs National Public Relations Officer and obtained by the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, the Service stated that it received the sad news of an incident which occurred on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at Ozalla Community near Enugu by Four corner junction on Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway.
According to the statement, Bomodi said that at about 1:30pm, Customs officers on mobile patrol were descended upon by hoodlums who opened fire on them without provocation.
In the fiery exchange that ensued, one of the officers succumbed to the cold hands of death, while others sustained minor injuries.
The statement further noted that it would be recalled that a similar fate befell officers on the 25th of April 2021 along the Port Harcourt/Owerri Road axis. An incident which claimed three officers.
He added that the trend of unprovoked attacks by faceless cowards whose intention is to instill fear in the minds of law enforcement operatives shall not go unpunished and neither will it dampen the resolve of officers and men from carrying out their statutory functions.
He stated that the prayers of the Service go out to the family of the deceased officer whose sacrifice is deeply appreciated and held in high esteem.
To those wounded, Bomodi said the Service promises to stand by them on their journey to recovery and the full restoration of health.
“We implore all well-meaning citizens to continue to support the efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service as we strive towards contributing our quota in building a robust economy sustained by free and fair trade under enabling laws,” he requested.
