Custom operatives storms Ogun community kills farmer

A 25-year-old man simply identified as Kehinde in Ebute community along Oja-Odan Road has been reportedly shot dead by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The deceased who was said to be the son of a retired military officer was allegedly shot dead in the early hours of Wednesday by Customs officials who were in search of smugglers in the area.

It was gathered that the deceased, a farmer who also doubled as a labourer, was shot dead on his way to the farm.

An eyewitness explained that the Customs officers stormed the area in the morning to arrest some smugglers who had fled before their arrival.

“They accused the deceased who was holding a cutlass and on his way to the farm of being a smuggler and shot him to death,” he alleged.

The Customs officers reportedly fled the scene leaving the body of the farmer behind and they returned minutes later with about 15 patrol vehicles to carry his remains.

They were, however, reportedly stopped by some Army officers believed to have been contacted by the deceased’s father.

The body of the farmer was later deposited at the morgue in Ilaro General Hospital while the residents of the community have demanded justice.

When contacted, the Customs Public Relations Officer in the state, Abdulah Maiwada, confirmed the incident.

He said the operatives were in the area to trail a military truck being smuggled into the country through the area.

Maiwada explained that the officers were attacked by the residents of the community but they resisted and called for reinforcement to cordon off the area.

He said during the encounter, one of the hoodlums was shot at the upper part of his leg (pelvic girdle) and consequently died.