Customs Officers Allegedly Kill Resident During Smuggling Chase

​Tension enveloped the Oko-Afo community along the Badagry Expressway on Monday evening following a violent anti-smuggling operation by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, allegedly accompanied by military personnel. The operation, aimed at intercepting a commercial bus suspected of conveying smuggled foreign rice, resulted in the tragic death of one resident and left two others hospitalized with severe injuries.

​According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. near the Oko-Afo Bus Stop, adjacent to the Oyobo Filling Station. Witnesses stated that the security operatives abandoned designated checkpoints to pursue a commercial vehicle allegedly carrying three bags of smuggled rice.

​As the driver attempted to evade arrest, the operatives reportedly drove into a residential street, disembarked from their patrol vehicles, and opened fire indiscriminately.

​A local resident, identified as a passerby stepping out of a residential street, was struck directly in the chest by a live round. He collapsed immediately and succumbed to his injuries. Eyewitnesses disclosed that attempts to secure emergency medical attention failed when nearby medical personnel allegedly declined to admit the victim before he passed away.

​Casualties and Community Aftermath

​Two other individuals sustained serious injuries during the chaos:

• ​The Kiosk Operator: A trader operating a shop near the Oyobo Filling Station was struck by a stray bullet, sustaining a severe arm fracture. He was rushed to the General Hospital, Badagry, for urgent medical care.
• ​An Unidentified Resident: A third bystander sustained varying injuries amidst the panic and stampede that ensued following the gunshots.

​The sudden burst of gunfire plunged the community into chaos, with commuters and shop owners fleeing in different directions for safety.

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​Family and Police Response

​A family source confirmed that the tragic event has been formally reported at the Morogbo Police Station. While police authorities advised that the remains be transferred to a morgue to facilitate forensic investigations, the grieving family insisted on proceeding with burial arrangements in accordance with Islamic rites. As of the time of filing, the deceased’s body remained inside the pursued commercial bus amid ongoing community deliberations.

​Public Outcry

​This latest incident has reignited intense public debate and community anxiety regarding the rules of engagement and the deployment of lethal force by security operatives during anti-smuggling operations within densely populated civilian areas. Residents of Oko-Afo are urgently demanding a comprehensive, transparent investigation by federal authorities to ensure accountability for the lives lost and those injured.

​Efforts by media correspondents to reach the Public Relations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service for an official statement were unsuccessful as of press time.