2 Die, Others Injured As Customs Officers Chase Smugglers In Oyo

At least two people have reportedly lost their lives and others injured in a road accident which involved some officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and individuals suspected to be smugglers along the Iseyin-Ibadan road in Oyo State.

Our correspondent gathered that the customs officers were chasing some people suspected to be smugglers when the accident occurred, leading to the death of a customs officer and a resident of the state whose identity was yet to be revealed.

Some customs officers and other residents involved in the accident sustained various degrees of injuries and were still in hospital.

One of the eyewitnesses who asked not to be named said that the vehicle used in chasing the people suspected to be smugglers had been moved to Iseyin.

“There was an accident that occurred yesterday. It was the customs officers who said they were chasing some people suspected to be smugglers.

“In the process, they had an accident and two people died. The vehicle has been towed to Iseyin”.

The public relations officer of the Federal Operating Unit (FOU) Zone A of NCS, Theophilus Duniya, while confirming the accident, said it was a lone accident.

Duniya said that the customs officers were not chasing anyone when the incident happened.

He maintained that only one customs officer died as a result of the accident.

“It was a lone accident. We lost one of our officers. Others are responding to treatment. They were not pursuing anyone”, he said.