Barely four days after the alleged killing of innocent souls by men of the Nigeria Customs Service in Ayetoro area of Ogun State, another person has been reportedly killed in Ilaro.
As people across the world were celebrating the yuletide and the boxing day, it was a different case for residents of Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government area of Ogun State.
The people, who had earlier woken up to continue with the Christmas festivity on the Boxing day, later became apprehensive when a clash ensued between some suspected smugglers and men of the NCS.
The clash got to its climax after a boy was reportedly killed by stray bullets fired by the customs officers.
Residents of Ilaro were said to have been infuriated by the killing of the innocent boy, who they said was playing football at a primary school when he was hit by the bullet.
The incident was said to have led to pandemonium as youths of the ancient town trooped out to demand justice for the deceased.
“A boy was killed by customs officers who were in Ilaro to make some seizures around Oke-Ola. This led to a serious crisis and the youths came out to make bonfires to express their anger,” a source told our correspondent.
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Ogun 1 Area Command of the NCS, Ahmed Oloyede confirmed the incident on Sunday morning.
Oloyede, in a telephone interview, described the incident as unfortunate, even as he said he did not have details of what really transpired.
“I heard about the incident but I have not gotten detailed information of what happened. What I was briefed was that it was a joint operation that was conducted by the border drill officers and FOU. They made some seizure and there was an altercation between them and the smugglers. They were attacked and all they could do to disperse the smugglers proved abortive. In the process, the smugglers tried to lynch the officers. So, they have to find their way out.
“I don’t have detailed information at hand yet, but that’s just the brief information I have about the incident.
“It is very unfortunate that when officers make an arrest, you see people, hoodlums in their large numbers attacking operatives. Even the so-called innocent ones are being used for this. You see people with arms in their hands, carrying weapons.
“It is unfortunate you see people fighting officers, trying to kill them. This is just exactly like the one that happened in Ayetoro recently. If people continue to attack officers, block their ways, what do you expect officers to do? Operatives are always applying caution in accordance with extant rules of engagement,” Oloyede said.
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