Why we ‘recklessly’ killed ‘innocent citizens’ in Oyo – NCS

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has reacted to the clash between some of its officers and some smugglers in Iseyin, Oyo State.

The clash which occured on Thursday led to the death of four people, who were allegedly killed by customs personnel gunshots.

The incident was confirmed by Muftau Abilawon, the former caretaker chairman of Iseyin Local Government Council, confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria in a telephone interview on Thursday night.

“I have been duly informed by a traditional Chief, the Ikolaba of Iseyin, Chief Ismail Tikalosoro, who called me and narrated the incident to me on phone.

“I understand that the four corpses were taken to the palace of the Aseyin of Iseyin, where the chiefs appealed for calm and asked the aggrieved residents to deposit the corpses at Fadoks hospital.”

Community leaders calls for ban of customs in Iseyin

Following the deadly clash, some youths in Iseyin protested and also called for the prosecution of customs personnel.

The Aseyin of Iseyinland, Salaudeen Ajinese held stakeholders meeting with his chiefs on Friday and they resolved outrightly expelled men of NCS from the community.

Also, a group, Iseyin Elders Council (IEC), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order arrest and immediate prosecution of officers who shot at their residents.

The group in a statement by its Vice-chairman and former Commissioner for Works and Transport in Oyo State, Bolaji Kareem also asked the federal government to restrict activities customs officials to designated border posts while Justice should be done and families of the slain innocent people should be adequately compensated.

“We are tired of killings of innocent harmless, defenceless citizens of Iseyinland and Oke Ogun by blood thirsting, criminals in uniform,- IEC lamented. We wondered why is only in this part of the country that men of Customs abandoned their duty posts to chase shadow and recklessly massacre our law abiding innocent people.”

Customs react

In reaction to the report, the spokesperson of NCS in the axis, Theophilus Duniya in a statement said they were attacked by mob during a routine patrol.

He said they tried to arrest smugglers in two Nissan Pathfinder vehicles fully loaded with smuggled foreign parboiled rice at Iseyin.

“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 mobilized by the smugglers.”

The NCS said its officers were later attacked with dangerous weapons which led to the infliction of serious injuries on two officers.

“In an attempt to abduct one of the officers who was brutally attacked. The assailants had taken the injured officer with his rifle before his team members 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 officers were able to successfully evacuate the intercepted smuggled rice, while the injured officers are currently receiving treatment.

“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.

“While appealing for compliance to extant rules, he assures of the resolve of his men to remain resolute on discharging their duties in the best interest of Nigerians,” NSC read.