Metro
Customs’ stray bullets kill student, injures 15 others while chasing rice smugglers in Ogun
A student has reportedly died after he was shot dead by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service [NCS] in Ogun State who were chasing and shooting at rice smugglers.
The female student, one Sekinat Agbelade, was allegedly killed by a stray bullet in Agosasa in the Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
WuzupNigeria gathered that the bullets also injured 15 residents of the area.
Our correspodent gathered that Agbelade, a Senior Secondary School three , was allegedly hit by the bullet while returning from an errand by her parents on Saturday.
The victim was later rushed to a nearby hospital but gave up before she got to the hospital.
Acting Coordinator, Ipokia Youth Forum, Deji Mawutin, explained that apart from Agbelade that was killed, 15 persons were injured by the stray bullets.
Mawuntin said there was a pandemonium on Saturday when a team of Customs officers invaded Agosasa to bust a smuggling syndicate in the area.
He said in the process of the raid, there was a shoot out between the customs men and the smugglers which lasted for hours.
According to him, Agbelade was preparing for her school-leaving examinations.
He said,
“in this trying times of COVID-19, we regret to announce the untimely death of one of the promising youths in Ipokia local government, Miss Sekinat Agbelade, an S.S.S 3 student preparing for her school-leaving examinations.
“She lost her life to a stray bullet from men attached to the Nigeria Customs Service, Command I, Ogun state.
“Miss Sekinat Agbelade was said to be returning from an errand by her parents when she was hit by the bullet and died before she got to a nearby health centre.
“Eye witness had it that it was a raid by men of the NCS, Ogun command on alleged smugglers that turned to shoot at sight which cut short the life of youthful Sekinat while leaving many Seriously injured in Agosasa ward of the local government.”
Mawutin, however, recalled that a similar incident had occurred not too long ago when a young man, Odushina Opeyemi was shot dead.
He said
“we totally frown at the way and manner the men attached to the NCS domiciled in our local government go about their activities with alleged smugglers.
“We call on the Area Comptroller, Agbara O.M to fish out the perpetrators and ensure they face justice or await a rugged demonstration on our part as youths.
“We can’t continue to live in fear because we are from a border community.”
When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident.
Oyeyemi, however, said he had yet to get the brief from the Divisional Police Officer in Ipokia about the incident.
The PPRO pledged to get back to our correspondent once he got the briefing from the DPO of the local government, but, as of the time of filing the report, he had not got back to our correspondent.
When contacted also for a reaction, the Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdulahi Maiwadah did not reply to the message sent to his mobile.
-
News22 hours ago
Military frees abducted Lagos editor Segun Olatunji
-
featured12 hours ago
Song lyrics are now simpler, angrier, more self-obsessed – Study
-
News14 hours ago
Easter: IGP assures police commitment to public safety
-
Entertainment14 hours ago
Why I became transgender – Bobrisky
-
News13 hours ago
Tinubu appoints new chairman for code of conduct bureau
-
News14 hours ago
Nationwide blackout imminent as national grid collapses
-
News3 hours ago
Lagos postpones Easter boat race
-
News4 hours ago
Woman loses pregnancy in Anambra after eight days detention