By Emegwoako C. Paschal
Abidemi Dairo, a farmer, was allegedly shot in front of his home in Sarumi, Ilaro, in the Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State by some men from the Nigeria Customs Service.
When the incident occurred on Saturday, November 5th, it was discovered that the officers were pursuing suspected smugglers who were riding motorcycles through Ifedapo village carrying bags of rice.
The victim’s home’s walls were covered in bullet holes when the police arrived on the scene, and they are said to have collected spent bullet casings there.
Dairo, the narrator, said “On Saturday, as I was enjoying the sunshine in front of my house, a Customs Hilux van sped through our village in an effort to apprehend smugglers.
“Some of the villagers began shouting at them because kids were running around and there might be an accident at that speed.
“After capturing the smugglers, the officers came back and started shooting in front of my house, striking me with their bullets.
They left as I screamed; my kids and neighbors then drove me to the police station in Ilaro and then to a hospital, where I received medical attention.
Abinuwaye Ajayi, a friend of the victim who confirmed the incident, questioned why the officers shot at Dairo after taking down their intended targets.
“I was among those who carried him to a police station, where we reported the matter, and later to a hospital,” a neighbor named Oladele Mulero said. Only the police have been coming here since this thing happened because the Customs officers didn’t think it was appropriate to visit him.
Peter Duniya, the Customs Public Relations Officer for Zone A, claimed he was unaware of the incident.
After speaking with the local divisional police officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the public relations officer for the Ogun State Police, promised to get back to our correspondent.
As of the time this report was submitted, he still hadn’t done it.
