At least four persons were reportedly shot dead on Thursday, during a clash between officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and smugglers in Iseyin, a gateway town to Oke-Ogun area of Iseyin Local Government in Oyo State.
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The incident was said to have occurred around 4:00pm at Oja-Oba, when some residents were celebrating the Eid-Fitri festival.
According to Daily Trust, four residents who were celebrating Eid-el-Fitri got hit by stray bullets, when customs officials allegedly exchanged gunfire with suspected smugglers.
One person was also to have been injured during the shooting.
It was gathered that the customs officials started shooting indiscriminately after intercepting smuggled goods coming through the boundaries into Oja-Oba.
“It is true. The personnel started shooting after intercepted smuggled goods coming through the borders. I was around that place when the incident happened. Two old men who were celebrating Eid-el-Fitri and two other minors were affected.
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“Though they were hit by stray bullets, the argument was they couldn’t have opened fire in that place full of residents. Again, there is a festival today. Those people were out to enjoy Sallah celebration and this has caused tension in the community as family and friends of those affected have started protesting,” a resident of Iseyin, Kehinde Adekunle, was quoted as saying.
The Aseyin of Iseyin land, Abdulganiyy Adekunle Salau, who also confirmed the casualties, warned customs officers to keep 40 kilometers distance away from the town.
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The newspaper said the Aseyin, who spoke through his media aide, Semiu Azzez, described the killings of the youths on the festive day as a bad occurrence that must be analysed to prevent future reoccurrence.
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