Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been accused of shooting a farmer, Abidemi Dairo, who sat in front of his house located in the Sarumi, Ilaro, in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to reports, the men of NCS were after suspected smugglers who were transporting bags of rice on motorcycles across Ifedapo village when the incident happened on Saturday.
The walls of Dairo’s house were riddled with bullets and the police, on visiting the scene, picked expended bullet shells.
Narrating his ordeal, the victim said he was outside his compound relaxing when the bullet of the officers pierced his skin.
He noted that the bullet could have killed children who were playing at the scene of the shootout.
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He said, “I was relaxing in front of my house on Saturday when a Customs Hilux van sped through our village in their bid to catch smugglers.
“Some of the villagers started shouting at them because children were playing around, and at that speed, there could be an accident.
“The officers returned after apprehending the smugglers and opened fire in front of my house and I was hit by their bullets.
“As I screamed, they left; my children and neighbours took me to the Ilaro Police Station and later to a hospital, where I was treated.”
A friend of the victim, Abinuwaye Ajayi, who confirmed the incident, queried why the officers shot at Dairo after apprehending their targets.
A neighbour, Oladele Mulero, said, “I was among those who carried him to a police station, where we reported the matter, and later to a hospital. Since this thing happened, the Customs officers have not deemed it fit to visit him; only the police have been coming here.”
The Customs Public Relations Officer, Zone A, Peter Duniya, said he was not aware of the incident.