Customs Officers Shoot Farmer In Ogun While Trailing Suspected Rice Smugglers

Customs Officers Shoot Farmer In Ogun While Trailing Rice SmugglersThe victim: Abidemi Dairo

Some officers of the Nigeria Customs Service reportedly shot at a farmer in a community in Ogun State while trailing some rice smugglers over the weekend.
The incident according to reports, happened in the Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that the officers were chasing after the suspected smugglers who were transporting bags of rice on motorcycles across Ifedapo village when the incident happened last Saturday.

While going after the smugglers, one of the Customs officers reportedly fired a shot and the bullet hits Abidemi Dairo who was relaxing at the front of his house.

It was learnt that some police operatives visited the scene and found expended bullet shells at the victim’s house, whose walls were riddled with bullets.

Narrating his ordeal in an interview with The PUNCH, Dairo said, “I was relaxing in front of my house on Saturday when a Customs Hilux van sped through our village in their bid to catch smugglers.

“Some of the villagers started shouting at them because children were playing around, and there could be an accident at that speed.

“The officers returned after apprehending the smugglers and opened fire in front of my house, and their bullets hit me.

“As I screamed, they left; my children and neighbours took me to the Ilaro Police Station and later to a hospital, where I was treated.”

Commenting on the incident, a friend of the victim, Abinuwaye Ajayi, queried why the officers shot at Dairo after apprehending their targets.

Also, one Oladele Mulero, said, “I was among those who carried him to a police station, where we reported the matter, and later to a hospital. Since this thing happened, the Customs officers have not deemed it fit to visit him; only the police have been coming here.”