Subjects’ killings by Customs officers worrisome- Ogun monarch

The Olu of Owode-Yewa in the Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Mathew Akindele, has urged the Federal Government to take a drastic action against the Nigeria Customs Service officers who allegedly killed some people in the state.

The monarch said this at a press conference on Saturday inside the Owode-Yewa town hall.

Those present at the conference included the Chief Imam of Owode -Yewa, Imam Maroof Olohunyeagbami, a representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Adeyemi Dele, and members of the Oodua Peoples Congress.

The monarch said, “We learnt that the customs officers invaded a shop along Elekute in Owode-Yewa where bags of rice were stored and tried to remove them. An action which the shop owners and some youths resisted. This led to a clash between the shop owners and the customs officers. The officers started shooting, not in the bush, but within the town which led to the death of five of my people.”

He listed the names of the deceased as Jamiu Bello, 32, Taiwo Oni, 48, Taiwo Adeleye, 39, Serifat Ogunsina, 34 and Olabode Sunday, 41.

Also speaking, the Akinrogun of Owode-Yewa, Yusuf Akanbi, said the attitude of the customs men in the area was becoming worrisome.

He demanded that the officers responsible for the killing should be punished.

Spokesperson for the state, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the incident between the NCS personnel and suspected smugglers in Owode-Yewa area of the state was initiated by some hoodlums.

Maiwada in a statement said at about noon on Monday, January 21, some smugglers and their accomplices prevented an anti-smuggling team from discharging its legitimate functions at Owode-Yewa community.

It stated, “The team faced stiff resistance from some armed criminals who inflicted serious injuries on two officers and minor injuries on other members of the team, and further destroyed official patrol vehicles.

“The encounter led to exchange of fire between officers and smugglers with their accomplices. For peace to reign, the team resorted to tactical withdrawal.”

The statement added that the hoodlums barricaded the main road leading to Idiroko looking for customs men to attack.