One killed, scores injured as Customs, youths clash over rice

By The Citizen

Pandemonium broke out yesterday in Ikokoâ€'Ilashe community along  the Idiroko border in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State when some  Customs officials shot one dead and injured many others along the Idiroko border.

Vanguard gathered that the  violence  erupted  when some  youths  from three communities of Koko, Alaari and Ilashe resisted men of Customs in the state from evacuating over 900 bags of rice already  stockpiled in a warehouse at Koko village.

An eye witness told Vanguard that the Customs officials started shooting at the youths which hit the youth leader identified simply as Timothy while many, including women and children, were allegedly injured.

Vanguard's findings showed that a lot of people in the border areas, including school children,  have been attacked by Customs men while chasing suspected smugglers.

It was gathered that the latest development  started late Wednesday afternoon when scores of youths from the three communities blocked all access routes to Koko village where the warehouse was located.

According to the findings, the youths made bonfires  to prevent the Customs officers from taking their wares which they claimed passed through legal routes.

Some of the officers allegedly pulled the trigger and fired the shot which killed Timothy while scores allegedly sustained various degrees of injury.

Contacted, the Customs Public Relations  Officer,  Chike Ngige, confirmed the incident, saying the deceased was shot when he attempted to snatch the gun from one of the officers who fired the shot. Vanguard