ABUJA: At least two people were killed in a bloody clash between men of the Nigerian Customs service attached to Federal Operation Unit, FOU, and rice smugglers in Sango Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Two persons died during the clash while two others who sustained injuries are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the area.
An eyewitness who was identified as Obi Peter narrated to PM news the ordeal. According to him the Customs men chased the smugglers to Sango Motor Park and seized one lorry load of second hand clothes and 10 cars loaded with rice.
He said after the seizure, the smugglers blocked the road to prevent the customs from taking away the seized goods and vehicles.
Peter added that in an attempt to force the smugglers out of the road, the Customs started shooting randomly. In the process of shooting, a 27-year-old Kogi indigene who was identified as Angela Abba, who was preparing food in front of her shop was hit by a stray bullet on her head and she died on the way to hospital.
Three other persons who sustained injuries were rushed to the hospital and one of them died at the hospital.
Another eye witness who wanted to remain anonymous also told the paper that the blame of the fracas should be directed at the customs, adding that there are many Customs check points in all the routes the smugglers pass before getting to Sango motor park and wondered why they were not arrested on the way before getting to Sango where innocent lives were cut shot.
It will be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted the movement of about 1,480 cartridges of live ammunition concealed in 15 bags of rice from smugglers along the Abeokuta-Igboora bush path.
