Militants Invade Customs Base In Akwa Ibom; Kill One, Seize Rifles

Heavily armed men suspected to be Niger Delta
militants on Monday invaded the Nigerian Customs
Service Base in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, killing an
officer and carting away 10 rifles.
The Police and residents of the area, who have
since confirmed the incident, said the gunmen
attacked the base at about 9pm.
The Nigerian Customs Marine Base is located at
Esin Ufot, a fishing community in Oron Local
Government Area.
A source, who requested his identity be protected,
told PREMIUM TIMES that the area has come under
consistent attacks by the hoodlums.
“The so-called militants attacked the Nigerian
Customs Marine office in Oron and killed one
officer, injured anther and went away with 10
rifles,” the source told PREMIUM TIMES. “That is
the latest in the town now.”
Another source who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES
lamented that the militants were becoming more
daring by the day and have been wreaking havoc in
many communities in the riverine area.
According to him, the militants have raided the
police station, the Nigerian Immigrations Barracks
and key fishing settlements in the area.
“The situation is becoming very critical nowadays
as the militants now attack security operatives and
local fishermen alike,” said the source.
“The other day, they ransacked a police station and
later they attacked an Immigrations Base.
“From Oron waterway to Uta Ewa in Ikot Abasi
Local Government Area, the militants have been
robbing and killing people almost on a daily basis.
“The last time it happened here in Oron they
invaded and over powered the marine police and
carted away their arms while the policemen fled
for their lives”.
The source insisted that the militants were better
armed than the Nigerian Police, the Nigerian
Customs Service and the Nigerian Immigrations
Service.
According to him, the senator representing the area
in the National Assembly would soon raise a
motion of urgent national importance to draw
attention to the menace.
In a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the
Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State,
Gabriel Achong, confirmed the attack.
“Yes, it is true that militants attacked the Marine
Base of the Nigerian Customs Service in Oron
yesterday (Monday),” Mr. Achong said. “It is also
true that one Customs officer was killed and 10
rifles taken away by the militants.”
He said the Monday attack was an isolated case,
denying there had been repeated attacks in the
area.