Suspects Arrested In Border Killing As Customs Tighten Security

The Seme Customs Command has tightened
security around the border, following the
killing of a senior customs officer by a mob on
Friday, to avenge the shooting of a smuggler
by Customs Officers, with the Police said to
have made a number of arrests in connection with the incident. Speaking to Vanguard about the situation at
the border, Public Relations Officer of the
Command, Ernest Olottah, said “We are doing
what we were doing, there is no unusual
action. We have always taken security at the
border post very seriously.” Olottah refused to comment on whether the
deceased Customs officer has been buried,
and the condition of the smuggler shot
yesterday. He however noted that after the incident, the
police have taken over and are involved in the
investigation, adding that some arrests have
been made in connection with the killing of
the officer.



“It is worth noting that the intensification of
our anti-smuggling operation which has led
to the making of over 686 seizures since
January 2013 has placed us on the danger of
attacks like this from criminals who are being
prevented from using the border for anti- economic and other nefarious activities,” a
statement signed by Olottah yesterday said. “Our operatives, due to their uncompromising
stance against smuggling and protecting the
nation’s economy have come under series of
attacks by smugglers and some unpatriotic
elements who see smuggling as their right. In
some cases, attempts made at disarming some of our operatives in the recent past were
rebuffed,” the statement concluded.