A police team from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, a formation that replaced the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has arrested civilians Tunde Olatunbosun and Ahosi Rotimi in Lagos.The duo were arrested at Bradevic Hotel and Garden, along Badagry Expressway, on Friday night while in the company of their friends.On Tuesday, FIJ reported how customs officers Thompson Inemugha and Gmira Aboribo and the Army’s Adamu Sakare, acting on behalf of a high-profile smuggler across the Seme border better known as ‘Ope Oloko’, whipped Olatunbosun Taofeek and Rafiu Abdulmalik in the Badagry area last Sunday. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) subsequently identified its officers and said it would sanction them accordingly.READ ALSO: VIDEO: Customs Officers Act as Smuggler Ope Oloko’s Agents, Torture Suspected Whistleblowers in BadagryThe report rattled Oloko and his ranks. However, rather than desist from using security apparatus to threaten people, he went after more people he suspected of exposing his shady business.Tunde Olatunbosun.FIJ understands Oloko told SWAT at their Abattoir headquarters that Tunde and Rotimi, brother and friend of Taofeek, were damaging his reputation, as he was not responsible for the action of the security men last Sunday.Following Oloko’s report, the police operatives drove in a white hummer bus to the relaxation spot and arrested Olatunbosun and Rotimi. Five of them were arrested, including a legal practitioner. The lawyer later identified himself and he was released alongside two others, but Olatunbosun and Rotimi remain in detention.“The SWAT officers came from Abbatoir office in Abuja. They arrested Tunde and Rotimi at the hotel bar yesterday,” Olatunbosun Taofeek and Rafiu Abdulmalik.“They said Ope Oloko reported that they were damaging his name by linking him to the maltreatment of Taofeek by security men last week.Ahosi Rotimi.“The officers are still in Lagos as we speak, but they are planning on flying them to Abuja where it could be difficult to monitor the wellbeing of the two men.”READ ALSO: Undercover as a Smuggler:When contacted on Saturday, Oloko declined to comment, saying: “It is not in my place to discuss why the police arrested someone. What is the duty of a journalist in knowing why someone was arrested or who caused their arrest?“If you want to know why they were arrested, go to the police station. I don’t want to sound rude, that’s why I answered your call.”FIJ could not reach the SWAT office for comment at publication time.ABOUT OPE OLOKOPreviously, ‘Fisayo Soyombo, FIJ’s founder and editor-in-chief, had written on X that officers of the NCS had streamlined illegal cross-border operations by certifying Oloko as the only one who could bring in goods into the country.Soyombo wrote on March 27: “Good morning, Nigeria Customs Service. I am aware that in Idi-Iroko, ‘Ope Oloko’, a smuggler who was once zonal chairman of the tricycle riders association in the Agbara-Badagry axis, has been handed the authority, just like IBD Dende in Oja-Odan, to smuggle items into the country through the Badagry-Seme road.Good morning, @CustomsNG. I am aware that in Idi-Iroko, ‘Ope Oloko’, a smuggler who was once zonal chairman of the tricycle riders association in the Agbara-Badagry axis, has been handed the authority, just like IBD Dende in Oja-Odan, to smuggle items into the country through the…— ‘Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) March 27, 2024 “Your officers have recognised ‘Ope Oloko’ as the one to take money from all smugglers in the zone and remit Customs’ share so that the goods can be moved in.“This arrangement is in full swing already. Last week when ‘Ope Oloko’ imported tons of rice with his private Hilux, he was escorted by four or five mobile Nigeria Police Force’s men. Only three days ago, he smuggled more than 300 cars loaded with rice into the country, after settling Customs officers.READ ALSO: Customs Names Officers Who Tortured Suspected Smuggling Whistleblowers but Army Conceals Soldiers’ Identities“Nigerians like to know: will the NCS ever push for the legitimation of rice importation, considering the shortage of quality rice in the country, or will you continue profiting from this rice black market at the expense of the local economy?”Despite these revelations, the NCS authorities maintained sealed lips on the involvement of its key field officers and operational commanders in smuggling operations.The post ‘They’re Damaging My Reputation’ — Smuggler ‘Ope Oloko’ Causes Police to Arrest Relatives of ‘Whistleblowers’ Tortured by Customs appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.