Customs, smugglers in gun duel in Ogun

Men of the Nigeria Customs invaded Ipokia community, a border town in Ogun State in the early hours of Thursday, shooting sporadically and injuring few people.

Our correspondent gathered that the custom men who drove into Iwaye, palace of the Onipokia of Ipokia land, Oba Raufu Adeole, where they injured a number of people, were on the trail of some rice smugglers.

Residents were thrown into panic as many run into bushes and canals.

A woman was seen running with her nine-day-old baby in escape for her dear live.

Some residents who spoke with our correspondent condemned the actions of the Custom describing it as unbecoming, especially at a time when people were still celebrating Eid-il-fitri.

It was learnt that the Customs officer were chasing rice transporters who they suspected to be smugglers.

Youths in Ipokia were said to have stood against the Customs, saying it was an aberration to shoot sporadically within a highly populated Iwaye compound, where the Oba’s palace is.

Many parked vehicles and Okadas were said to have been vandalised by the Customs as they shot at them.

A young man was said to have been whisked away by the Customs Officer.

All efforts to get the reaction of the Custom image maker in the state proved abortive as he was not picking calls put across to him.