By Bose Adelaja

One person was feared dead yesterday, at Sango-Ota, Ogun State after a shootout between men of the Nigeria Customs Service and some rice smugglers.

According to eyewitnesses, problem started at Ota area around 11.30am when the smugglers were coming from Idiroko and ran into the law enforcement agents, but refused to stop.

The law enforcement agents chased the smugglers to the flyover bridge at Sango, where the smugglers were said to have engaged the officials in a gun battle, leading to the death of a resident.

An eyewitness, Mr. Fakolujo Opeoluwa, said the deceased, a female, was on her way to a local food vendor to buy food, when a stray bullet hit her.

Other accounts said five people were killed in the shootout that caused pandemonium and sent residents fleeing.

In a related development, two persons were said to have been feared dead yesterday, at Onibukun, near Atan, Ogun State, when a mini bus, popularly called Danfo, collided with a Sports Utility Vehicle.

Efforts to reach Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, proved abortive as he did not pick his calls.