Stray bullets from the guns of officers of the Nigerian Customs Service [NCS] has, once again, killed another civilian in Ogun State.
The deceased, a 17-year-old student named Rilwan Bello, was killed by a stray bullet fired by Customs operatives on Friday in Owode-Idiroko in Ipokia local government area of the state.
The death comes days after Customs officers killed a farmer in Iselu, Yewa North local government area of the state.
WuzupNigeria learnt that the incident happened when NCS operatives raided locked-up shops in the area in search of suspected smuggled rice and other contraband goods.
About a dozen of the NCS Operatives were reported to have stormed the Idiroko area in the morning and broke into many shops, making some traders scamper for safety.
The operatives were alleged to have taken away many bags of rice, sugar among others.
It was further learnt that while the raid lasted, the operatives also shot repeatedly into the air and in the cause of that stray bullets from the Operatives hit the boy on the head.
Many people, including the traders, were also said to have sustained injuries during the raid.
A witness said Rilwan, a student at the Area Community High School, Owode died in a pool of his blood, allegedly, following the impact of the gunshot wound.
“This boy was killed this morning at Owode Idiroko by custom men. The boy’s name is Rilwan, a student at the Area community high school Owode,” The Punch quoted an unnamed source as saying.
“He is 17 years old boy. The customs men broke into shops, parked away bags of sugar and rice. They were shooting into the air to scare away reprisal attacks and in the process, their stray bullet hit the boy on the head.”
Abdullahi Maiwada, the Public Relations Officer for Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Command confirmed the incident.
