Tragedy: Customs Men Kill Motorcyclist While Pursuing Smugglers In Ogun

It was pure tragedy that struck recently in Asu village, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, when a man was killed by men in uniform.

 

The incident happened on Wednesday when an operational vehicle of the operatives of the  Nigeria Customs Service crushed a motorcyclist, Juwon Mumuni, to death.

 

Our correspondent gathered that the operatives of the Federal Operating Unit of NCS were involved in the fatal incident.

 

It was gathered that the men of the FOU were chasing some suspected rice smugglers when their vehicle crushed the 35-year-old Mumuni, a lotto operator.

 

A lawyer, Ganiyu kusanwo, who spoke with our correspondent  on behalf of the deceased’s family, said, “Juwon was going to the main road on his motorcycle, which he uses as another source of income.

 

“He was at the junction of Asu village when Custom officers who were chasing rice smugglers crushed  him with their  van after  the driver lost control as he was driving recklessly

 

“Juwon sustained serious injuries that affected his ribs and his legs. His face was also damaged.”

 

Kusanwo explained that the officers took  Juwon to the Ijaye General  Hospital and was rejected. He was later taken to Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, where he was declared dead.

 

“The Custom Officers dropped him at FMC and ran away,” he said.

 

The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Ogun Command 1, Ahmed Oloyede, could not be reached as of the time of this report .

 

The state  Police Public Relations Officer, DSP, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he had not been briefed of the incident.

 

Meanwhile, the Ogun State House of Assembly has sought the immediate intervention of the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, along with members of the National Assembly from the state on the need to address the incessant killings of innocent residents of the border by officers and men of the NCS.

 

The Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo made the call while responding to the presentations of the state lawmakers from Ogun West Senatorial District during a plenary at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

 

In a related development, youths under the auspices of the state chapter of the National Youth Council, staged a protest against killings of  people by the men and officers of the Nigeria customs.

 

The group led by its chairman, Jabar Ayelagbe, made   a formal presentation of their resolution on the act they described as unacceptable and inhumane to Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo.