Residents of Oke Odan in Ogun State have been enveloped in fear after officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NSC) allegedly killed six people in the area.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 6:30pm on Sunday at Alakara bus stop, while the officials were pursuing suspected rice smugglers.
The Custms operatives reportedly chased the smugglers from Igolo, a border town between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
The officials were said to have fired sporadic gunshots as they chased the suspects, which allegedly caused the death of six innocent people.
According to an eyewitness, the deceased were three children, a roadside mechanic, a panel-beater and another man identified as Ade.
Condemning the incident, the Coordinator, Yewa Connecting Minds (YCM), Prince Gbenga Ekunola, decried the incessant killings of villagers by Customs officials.
Ekunola vowed that the community was bent on seeking justice for those who have died because of Customs officials’ recklessness.
He called on the Comptroller General of Customs to fish out and handover the officials to the police for prosecution, adding that they fired directly at innocent villagers.
“We have had enough of these wanton killings. We want the Comptroller to hand over the killers to the police to investigate the matter.
“Yewa Connecting Minds (YCM) condemns the desperate attempt to exonerate the real culprits behind the killing in the area. The development is alarming and criminally intended to shield the officials of Customs who committed the atrocities from justice.
“I am appealing to our people go about their legitimate businesses without fear of disruption from any quarters. I also call on our members to remain calm in the face of provocation. We have confidence in the government and justice shall be done,” he said.
Customs Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeniyi could not be reached for comments as at press time as his telephone was said to be unavailable.
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