The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says two rice smugglers lost their lives during an attack on its patrol team along the Sagamu interchange in Ogun on Saturday.

The smugglers, along with others still at large, were said to have attempted to retrieve 12 vehicles laden with contraband rice that were initially seized by the customs.

A statement signed by Theophilus Duniya, Public Relations Officer of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Lagos, said customs operatives were on their way to a government warehouse when the smugglers and their sympathisers attacked the team.

“During the exchange of gunfire, two of the attackers lost their lives and one suspect was arrested.

“Out of 12 vehicles in the convoy of the smugglers, our operatives were able to leave with four of them laden with smuggled foreign parboiled rice,” Mr Duniya said.

The statement said a full-scale investigation has been ordered into the matter, and attempts are being made to apprehend other fleeing suspects along with their smuggled wares.

He said that two operatives of customs wounded in the attack were receiving treatment.

(NAN)