An operative of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun State Area Command, Muhammed Maigari, was over the weekend brutally macheted by some armed smugglers at Ibeji River, around Idogo-Ifoyintedo axis in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state. The command public relations officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in the state, said the victim was on patrol with his colleagues when the incident took place.
He disclosed that he was currently in a critical condition at National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos where he is receiving treatment.
“Maigari and some of his colleagues were said to have been on routine patrol when they got an intelligence report that some smugglers were coming with a smuggled Toyota Highlander towards the Ibeji River, and they rushed to the scene to intercept the vehicle. The smugglers attempted to disarm Mr. Maigara but when they were unsuccessful, they decided to smash his head with the machete but he blocked it with his arm.
The cut was life-threatening. The smugglers were armed and they confronted our operatives. But since we did not want any loss of lives, our operatives successfully intercepted the Toyota Highlander being smuggled through the forest. It (seized car) is currently in the command’s custody at sentry, Idiroko border. The command will not relent in curbing smuggling activities around Idiroko border and Ogun state as a whole,” he said.
