Nigeria Customs Service has admitted that its men shot and killed three people in Iseyin, Oyo State on Thursday.
Residents said four persons were shot dead while some were injured when Customs men opened fire on some vehicles suspected to be loaded with foreign rice on Thursday But the NCS in a statement on Friday claimed that three people were killed.
The statement, which was signed by Theophilus Duniya on behalf of Controller, FOU Zone A, Lagos, said one of its injured officers was abducted by hoodlums with his rifle, and his colleagues in the process of rescuing him opened fired, killing three people.
The statement read, “At about 1500 hours of Thursday, 13th May, 2021 some daredevil smugglers mobilized themselves with the help of some thugs; attacked a patrol team serving with Federal Operations Unit Zone A, who were on lawful duty at Iseyin.
“The officers who were on routine patrol intercepted two Nissan Pathfinder SUV vehicles fully loaded with smuggled foreign parboiled rice at Iseyin.
“Sequel to the interception, the officers were attacked by a mob who were mobilised by the smugglers. The mob attacked the officers with dangerous weapons, which led to the infliction of serious injuries on two officers.
“In an attempt to abduct one of the officers that was brutally attacked; who sustained deep cuts on his head and other parts of his body.
“The assailants had taken the injured officer with his rifle before his team members whom acted in self defence, shot at his suspected abductors leading to the death of three of them before he was rescued and taken for immediate medical attention.
“The Acting Controller of the Unit, DC Usman Yahaya, is sad about the avoidable incident and urges community leaders and parents to call their wards and youths to order.”
Customs officials have earned the reputation of firing indiscriminately in communities in the south west killing innocent people.