The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Oyo/Osun Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Oteri Richard, in front leading other Customs officers into Agbaja forest, during inspection of the seizures of 40 vehicles loaded with rice, intercepted in the forest by his Command.
By Daud Olatunji
ABEOKUTA—Five persons were feared dead, yesterday, following a shoot-out between men of Ogun State command of Nigeria Customs Service and suspected smugglers of Tokunbo vehicles at Oju-Oore, Ota, Ogun State.
An eyewitness told Vanguard that the Customs officers were on the trail of the smugglers from Owode area in Yewa South Local Government and caught up with them at Oju-Oore.
It was gathered that the smugglers had successfully smuggled in three expensive cars, including a 2014 model Range Rover, but were intercepted at their base in Ota.
According to the source, the smugglers alighted from their vehicles in the densely-populated Oju-Oore bus stop and attacked the Customs officers with dangerous weapons.
The gun battle, which reportedly lasted for about 45 minutes, left five people critically injured and were rushed to the general hospital at Ota.
It was also gathered that one of the vehicles conveying the Customs officers hit a passer-by, who was taken to the same hospital.
However, state Public Relations Officer of Customs, Usman Abdullahi, said he was unaware of the incident, but would revert after investigation.
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