According to Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), officials of the organization were attacked by members of a smuggling syndicate in Ilashe, in Ipokia LGA of Ogun state. When the NCS officials broke into a warehouse suspected of smuggling rice illegally into the country.
However, when the officials tried to seize the goods, they met resistance from the members of the gang who fought them, took their rifles from them and beat them up. Four of the NCS officials were severely wounded during the clash.
The officials are said to have been hospitalized following the serious injuries they sustained in the clash.
The rifles were discovered dumped in the premises of the palace of a traditional ruler in the area, Oba Olurotimi Fagbenro, who found the guns and handed them over to the Customs in the state.
According to Customs Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abubakar Uthman, his men were ambushed by the suspected smugglers but that the NCS officials were able to seize eleven motorcycles, 250 bags of rice and three suspected smugglers arrested.
Uthman said the smugglers have been handed over to the police for investigation.