3 FEARED DEAD AS CUSTOMS AND SMUGGLERS CLASH IN LAGOS

3 feared dead as Customs, smugglers clash in Lagos

MARCH 8TH 2017,

Three people were feared killed yesterday in a clash between the men of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) and suspected smugglers at the Alakuko area of Lagos.

The AUTHORITY gathered that some customs officials from Federal Operation Unit who were pursuing suspected smugglers conveying rice and other contraband materials allegedly shot at their vehicle, killing three persons instantly.

The alleged shooting and death of the victims attracted the attention of policemen from Alakuko Division who also fired sporadically in a bid to apprehend the Customs officials

An eye witness who pleaded for anonymity said the Customs officials allegedly shot back in the air apparently to pave way for their escape which caused panic in the area.

The eye witness who is a senior police officer at the division said the incident caused pandemonium as motorists, passengers as well as passers-by ran for safety.

Shops and stalls were temporarily shut just as all vehicles stood still thereby causing vehicular traffic jam.

Our correspondent who visited the area said sympathizers including street urchins took vantage of the incident to loot shops while protesting the death of the three victims.

He said: “Some vehicles were smashed and there was traffic gridlock along the Lagos-Abeokuta road as the hoodlums barricaded the road.”

Also, another witness, John Ogbu said: “It was around 7 am, I was standing in front of my shop when I saw two vehicles driving recklessly and they were being pursued by a Customs patrol vehicle. The customs officials were firing at the vehicles. Some passers-by were hit by bullets.

“I also saw some policemen trying to block the customs men from escaping and there was exchange of gun firing between the customs and the police.”

However, a senior customs official who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We were doing our job of arresting some rice smugglers but the Police were aiding and abating them. In the process, there was a shootout be­tween us. I can’t say what transpired, three persons were shot. I learnt that one person died while others were rushed to the hospital.

From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos

The Lagos State out­fit popularly known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) on Thursday demolished illegal structures at the popular Alaba Suru Market in Lagos.

A senior KIA official who refused to men­tion his name told The AUTHORITY that the operation was in line with the state govern­ment’s directive that no illegal structure should be seen around school fences.

The demolished shops were erected by the fence of the aban­doned Alaba Primary School near the Alaba Market.

Speaking to The AUTHORITY, a trader who gave his name as Chuks bemoaned the exercise: “Some of us are not against what the state government is do­ing to protect schools, but in this case there are no school activities going on in this school, the school has long been abandoned because it was affected by the new Lagos-Badagry Express Road construction.

Meanwhile, the KAI official stated that enough notice was served the traders, but the traders were stubborn.

On whether the illegal structures will not resurrect as soon as the demolition was over, the KAI official answered that the out­fit had cordoned the location with caution tape and that is enough warning to any erring trader or collaborator that might want to do something against the law.

The exercise was carried out by KAI officials numbering more than 30 and heavily armed mobile policemen to forestall breakdown of law and other as traders lament their losses.