Driver allegedly shot dead by Customs operatives in Osun

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo –

A driver was allegedly shot dead on Sunday by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) at Onibueja community along the Osogbo–Iwo Road in Osun State.

It was gathered that the operatives were on patrol in mufti and using a white private vehicle, making it difficult for commuters to immediately identify them as Customs officers.

The incident reportedly occurred around 10 a.m. on Sunday, when the driver, who was travelling along the road, was flagged down by the operatives. Fearing for his safety due to uncertainty about their identity, he manoeuvred his way through the roadblock, after which the operatives allegedly shot at the car.

A video seen by our correspondent showed blood stains on the driver’s seat, while residents of the community were seen carrying the victim away from the vehicle. The victim’s car, a Toyota Camry, was riddled with bullets, attracting residents to the scene, some of whom protested the alleged killing by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service.

A resident of the area, identified simply as Shuiab, said they heard gunshots near the sawmill area of Onibueja, close to the office of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

“Fear gripped us when we heard the gunshot, but we felt the area should be secure. Some of us summoned courage to go there and discovered that a driver had been killed by operatives in mufti. The incident happened at a roadblock mounted by the police, but it was Customs officers that perpetrated the act,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident, noting that the suspected perpetrators were Customs operatives.

“The incident happened, but those that allegedly fired the shot are Customs operatives. We have arrested two people in connection with the incident,” he said.