Physinews: At least four persons were Thursday feared
killed and three others injured after some
trigger-happy Nigerian Customs Service (NIS)
operatives went berserk.
The incidents occurred at Moshalashi and Kola
Bus Stops at Alagbado and Ajegunle in
Alakuko Lagos Nigeria.
It was gathered that the Customs operatives,
allegedly attached to the Federal Operations,
were chasing some rice smugglers while they
suddenly started shooting sporadically in the
crowded areas.
The four persons, who were said to have been
hit by stray bullets, were commercial
motorcyclists.
Among them, The Nation gathered, was a 25-
year-old identified as Saheed, whose wife was
said to be pregnant.
It was gathered that the operatives who rode
on four patrol vehicles, took one of the victims
as they fled. They were said to have injured
about three other persons who were taken to
an undisclosed hospital.
It was gathered that the Customs operatives
while fleeing, threatened to shoot policemen
from Alakuko Division, who attempted to stop
them.
A resident who hinted on the incident said that
the officers acted as though they were drunk.
He said: “It was around 7am. I was inside my
house and suddenly I started hearing
gunshots. I looked through the window to see
what was happening and people were running.
I saw abo ut four Customs vehicle and the
officers were just shooting anyhow.
“Later, I heard they were chasing rice
smugglers but all the people they killed were
Okada riders. Bullet hit one on the stomach;
another person was hit on the leg and another
one on the hand. About four people died. Blood
was everywhere and the Customs men
escaped.”
The Nation gathered that residents of the area
soon took to the streets in protest against the
operatives. They were said to have vandalised
several properties and burnt tyres on the major
roads to ground vehicular movements.
Commercial motorcyclists were said to have
attempted to raze an Oando gas station, where
the Customs officers usually stayed but they
were stopped by policemen led by the Rapid
Response Squad (RRS) Commander, Tunji Disu,
an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
Efforts to get the Customs’ spokesman, Uche
Ejesieme’s reaction on the issue failed at the
time of filing this report.
Contacted, the spokesperson for the Lagos
State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, a
Superintendent (SP) said one person was
killed.
She said: “Some Custom officials were on the
trail of a vehicle, in the process they went
berserk and started shooting. One passerby
was shot to death around Ajegunle in Alakuko.
A patrol team led by the DPO of Alakuko
Division, moved to the area to douse the
tension.
“They fired sporadically and escaped from the
scene. The dead body was evacuated to
morgue. Investigation is ongoing.”
killed and three others injured after some
trigger-happy Nigerian Customs Service (NIS)
operatives went berserk.
The incidents occurred at Moshalashi and Kola
Bus Stops at Alagbado and Ajegunle in
Alakuko Lagos Nigeria.
It was gathered that the Customs operatives,
allegedly attached to the Federal Operations,
were chasing some rice smugglers while they
suddenly started shooting sporadically in the
crowded areas.
The four persons, who were said to have been
hit by stray bullets, were commercial
motorcyclists.
Among them, The Nation gathered, was a 25-
year-old identified as Saheed, whose wife was
said to be pregnant.
It was gathered that the operatives who rode
on four patrol vehicles, took one of the victims
as they fled. They were said to have injured
about three other persons who were taken to
an undisclosed hospital.
It was gathered that the Customs operatives
while fleeing, threatened to shoot policemen
from Alakuko Division, who attempted to stop
them.
A resident who hinted on the incident said that
the officers acted as though they were drunk.
He said: “It was around 7am. I was inside my
house and suddenly I started hearing
gunshots. I looked through the window to see
what was happening and people were running.
I saw abo ut four Customs vehicle and the
officers were just shooting anyhow.
“Later, I heard they were chasing rice
smugglers but all the people they killed were
Okada riders. Bullet hit one on the stomach;
another person was hit on the leg and another
one on the hand. About four people died. Blood
was everywhere and the Customs men
escaped.”
The Nation gathered that residents of the area
soon took to the streets in protest against the
operatives. They were said to have vandalised
several properties and burnt tyres on the major
roads to ground vehicular movements.
Commercial motorcyclists were said to have
attempted to raze an Oando gas station, where
the Customs officers usually stayed but they
were stopped by policemen led by the Rapid
Response Squad (RRS) Commander, Tunji Disu,
an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
Efforts to get the Customs’ spokesman, Uche
Ejesieme’s reaction on the issue failed at the
time of filing this report.
Contacted, the spokesperson for the Lagos
State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, a
Superintendent (SP) said one person was
killed.
She said: “Some Custom officials were on the
trail of a vehicle, in the process they went
berserk and started shooting. One passerby
was shot to death around Ajegunle in Alakuko.
A patrol team led by the DPO of Alakuko
Division, moved to the area to douse the
tension.
“They fired sporadically and escaped from the
scene. The dead body was evacuated to
morgue. Investigation is ongoing.”
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