Customs: Ogun community seeks FG’s intervention over killings

THE People of Owode-Yewa in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun, have urged the Federal Government to intervene over alleged nefarious activities of some Customs officers in the area.

Leaders and youths in the community are furious over alleged recent killings of their people by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some people were killed on Monday during a clash between Customs and smugglers in Owode-Yewa town.

The Olu of Owode-Yewa, Oba Mathew Akindele, at a news conference on Friday in Owode-Yewa town hall, condemned the action of the Customs men.

He explained that innocent people were killed during the incident when they started shooting sporadically.

“What happened on Monday was so unfortunate. It was a sad day in Owode-Yewa. We are not saying that Customs should not do their job but lives must not be wasted.

ALSO READ: Customs, smugglers exchange gunfire, one killed, three injured

“We learnt that the Customs officers invaded a shop along Elekute in Owode-Yewa where bags of rice were stored and they were trying to evacuate them.

“An action which the shop owners and some youths objected to, leading to chaos between the shop owners and the Customs officers. The Customs officers started shooting sporadically, not in the bush but within the town which led to five of my people being killed,’’ he said.

The monarch listed the names of the deceased as Jamiu Bello 32, Taiwo Oni 48, Taiwo Adeleye 39, Serifat Ogunsina 34 and Olabode Sunday 41.

He urged the Federal Government to take drastic action by ensuring that the perpetrators of the act were brought to book, saying that protection of lives and property was non-negotiable.

Also speaking, the Akinrogun of Owode-Yewa, Alhaji Yusuf Akanbi, said that the attitude of the Customs Service in the area was becoming worrisome, demanding that the officers responsible for the dastardly act be punished.

“The goods in question passed through seven communities before entering Owode, Why were they not arrested at the border before getting to Owode community, ‘’ he questioned.

Those present at the conference included the Chief Imam of Owode -Yewa, Imam Maroof Olohunyeagbami, representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Adeyemi Dele and the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC).

Mrs Bolanle Adeniji, the mother of Jamiu, one of the deceased, told NAN that his son had always been the breadwinner of the family since the demise of her husband.

Adeniji noted that her son had never engaged in smuggling activities, saying that he was only passing by when he was hit by a stray bullet from the men of the NCS.

Ajara Bello, Jamiu’s wife, speaking amidst tears told NAN that they got married five years ago and were blessed with a three-year-old boy.

The NCS Public Relations Officer in Ogun, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the incident between the NCS personnel and suspected smugglers in Owode -Yewa area of the state was initiated by the suspected hoodlums.

ALSO READ: Customs seizes tramadol, rice, worth over N54m in Kaduna

“At about 12 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, some smugglers and their accomplices ganged up against an Anti-smuggling Team from discharging its legitimate functions at Owode Yewa community.

“The officers were on an operation to save the Nigerian economy from the mayhem of smugglers who stocked a place of worship and some houses nearby with rice suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria.

“The team faced stiff resistance from some armed criminals who inflicted serious injuries on two officers and minor injuries on other members of the team and further destroyed official patrol vehicles.

“The encounter led to an exchange of fire between Officers and smugglers with their accomplices. For peace to reign, the team resorted to tactical withdrawal.

“However, the hoodlums took laws into their hands by barricading the main road leading to Idiroko, scouting for Customs officers to attack.

“They also battled with law enforcement agencies to gain access to Customs formations for further confrontation,’’ Maiwada said.

He commended the patriotic roles of sister agencies and law-abiding citizens in assisting the Command to achieve its lawful duty of revenue collection and curbing smuggling in the interest of the country.

“We wish to categorically state that we will continue the anti-smuggling crusade against all odds,’’ Maiwada said.