At least four persons were feared killed yesterday and three others injured after some trigger-happy Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) operatives went berserk.
The incident occurred at Moshalashi and Kola Bus Stops at Alagbado and Ajegunle in Alakuko.
It was gathered that the Customs operatives, allegedly attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), were chasing some rice smugglers while they suddenly started shooting sporadically in the crowded areas.
The four persons, who were said to have been hit by stray bullets, were commercial motorcyclists.
Among them was a 25-year-old identified as Saheed, whose wife was said to be pregnant.
It was gathered that the operatives who rode in four patrol vehicles, took one of the victims as they fled. They were said to have injured about three other persons who were taken to an undisclosed hospital.
It was gathered that the Customs operatives while fleeing, threatened to shoot policemen from Alakuko Division, who attempted to stop them.
An eyewitness said the officers acted as though they were drunk.
He said, “It was around 7am. I was inside my house and suddenly I started hearing gunshots. I looked through the window to see what was happening and people were running. I saw about four Customs vehicle and the officers were just shooting anyhow.
“Later, I heard they were chasing rice smugglers but all the people they killed were Okada riders. Bullet hit one on the stomach; another person was hit on the leg and another one on the hand. About four people died. Blood was everywhere and the Customs men escaped.”
SHIPS & PORTS DAILY learn that residents of the area took to the streets to protest against the operatives. They were said to have vandalised several properties and burnt tyres on the major roads to ground vehicular movements.
Commercial motorcyclists were said to have attempted to raze an Oando gas station, where the Customs officers usually stayed but they were stopped by policemen led by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Commander, Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
Efforts to get the Customs’ spokesman, Uche Ejesieme’s reaction on the issue failed at the time of filing this report.
Contacted, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP) said only one person was killed.
She said: “Some Custom officials were on the trail of a vehicle, in the process they went berserk and started shooting. One passerby was shot to death around Ajegunle in Alakuko. A patrol team led by the DPO of Alakuko Division, moved to the area to douse the tension.
“They fired sporadically and escaped from the scene. The dead body was evacuated to morgue. Investigation is ongoing.”
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