There was pandemonium on Wednesday at the Ibeji River in Idogo-Ifonyitedo area of Ogun State as suspected smugglers ambushed, attacked and butchered a Customs official during a routine patrol of the area.
It was learnt that the Operative attached to the Federal Operations Unit but posted to the Idiroko border area, was said to have been beaten thoroughly last Wednesday while on patrol with colleagues.
Maigari and his colleagues were said to be responding to an intelligence report that some smugglers were coming with a smuggled Toyota highlander toward the Ibeji River but a fierce battle ensued when the Operatives ran into the smugglers.
In the ensuing fight, the armed smugglers attempted to disarm Maigari but when he resisted it, they cut his left upper arm and left it with a deep gash.
The Customs’ Public Relations Officer, Ogun Area Command, Abdullahi Maiwada, who confirmed the attack, said though the vehicle was intercepted but the smugglers harmed the operatives.
According to him, the smugglers attempted to disarm Maigara and slash his head with the machete but he blocked it with his arm, which resulted in the life-threatening cut on his left upper arm.
“One of our operatives was savagely attacked with a machete on Wednesday at Ibeji River around Idogo-Ifoyintedo axis in Idiroko.
“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 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.
He said Maigari was first taken to the General Hospital, Idiroko, for treatment, later moved to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos for comprehensive treatment.