Gunmen invades Customs warehouse, carts away food items

Gunmen in the early hours of Sunday invaded the Nigerian Customs Service premises in Calabar with the intention of carting away seized food items meant for delivery to Internally Displaced Persons camp across the country.

The hoodlums, who invaded the premises around 4:00 a.m shot indiscriminately while trying to break into the warehouse inside the premises.

When the News Agency of Nigeria correspondent visited the scene of the incident, army personnel and policemen were seen condoning the area in search of the suspects.

Although the gunmen could not gain access into the warehouse, they destroyed a bus stationed in front of the warehouse and carted away the bags of rice loaded in the vehicle.

They also removed one Air Conditioner from the Customs staff quarters close to the warehouse.

One of the officers, who spoke with NAN on the condition of anonymity, said that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

“The incident happened around 4:00 a.m on Sunday. The guys were heavily armed and they shot indiscriminately for a long time trying to find their way into the warehouse.

“We had to quickly call on the army and police for re-enforcement. As we speak, two suspects have been arrested and the search to arrest more is ongoing.’’

NAN reports that movement into the Calabar Free Trade Zone where the Headquarters of the Command is located was temporarily restricted.

NAN, however, contacted the spokesman for NCS, Mr Joseph Attah who confirmed the incident, adding that the gunmen could not break into the warehouse.

According to him, an investigation is ongoing to fish out the hoodlums.