2 die in smugglers, Customs face-off at Seme

BY GODWIN ORITSE
THERE was a face-off between some customs officers and irate youths in Seme border yesterday after chase of some smugglers led to the death of two of them.

Unconfirmed reports also said the face-off may have resulted in the death of an unnamed officer.

Confirming the development, Public Relations officer of the Command, Mr Ernest Olotta  told Vanguard that there was a protest by some youths in the Gbagi area of Seme over the death of one their colleagues suspected to be a smuggler.

Olotta told Vanguard that the deceased suspect was coming from across the border carrying poultry products, on sighting a team of anti-smuggling officers around Gbagi, he drove into the bush, which necessitated a chase by the officers.

The Command spokes man explained that it was in the course of the chase, the suspected smuggler ran into some objects that led to his death.

He stated that both the products and the vehicle have been taken to the Seme border for further investigation.

An eye witness present at the scene of the chase told Vanguard that in the course of the chase by Customs, the smuggler’s vehicle somersaulted killed two of the smugglers on the spot.

The death of the smugglers however led to an attack on the officers by youths of the area