The Area 1 State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service have described the death of some students in Ihunbo, Ipokia local government Area of Ogun state as unfortunate saying that the incident was caused by an accident and not a case of stray bullets or pursue as insinuated in some quarters
The Command however confirmed that only one person died in the said accident
The Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Customs Area 1 Abdullahi Maiwada in a statement said, "at about 1330 Officers of Nigeria Customs Service Ogun Command on routine patrol arrested a vehicle (Mercedes Benz ML) suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria" .
The statement added 'In the process of conveying the said vehicle driven by an Officer of the Service fully escorted by official patrol vehicle, an okada man conveying a passenger crossed their path. In a swift response by the driver to avoid collusion with the said okada rider, he lost control and rammed into some group of people coincidently on a market day of Ihumbo Community".
"Unfortunately, one of the victims, a twenty years old student of Ojumo Community Secondary School by name Opeyemi Odusinan instantly died and three people sustained various degrees of injuries".
"As at the time of filling this report, two of the injured have been discharged with only one Sunday Adeniyi receiving treatment at General Hospital Idiroko", Maiwada added.
While commensurating with families of the victims of the accident, the NCS image maker noted that the Command is also working assiduously to carter for the injured and to cushion the effect of this unintentional tragedy.
He condemned those he described as mischief makers who he said hijacked the situation and attacked Customs vehicles within sight in a community known for upholding peace and rule of law.
He said normalcy has returned to the community with the intervention of Police, Military personnel and other sister security agencies.
"The matter is purely an accident and not the narrative of stray bullets or pursue as insinuated by some citizen journalists and a section of the traditional media
Meanwhile, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday disclosed that his administration would investigate the circumstances of the death of three students alleged killed by the vehicle of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Monday.
The Governor, who made the disclosure in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said “We respect the sanctity of human lives in Ogun State and government exists to provide security and welfare for the people. No matter the circumstances, we found this condemnable. We would not fold our arms and watch our future leaders killed in that manner”. .
The statement added that while the governor was shocked at the sad news of the death of the three students of Ojumo Community High School, Ihunbo in Ipokia Local Government Area of the State, he warned security men, chasing suspected smugglers or hoodlums to be wary of the rights of citizens in all circumstances.
The students, according to reports, had just closed from school, when they were reportedly hit by a vehicle being driven by an official of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), who were in hot chase of suspected smugglers.
While the three students were reportedly killed, other students and market women were also said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries, as the Customs officials chased suspected smugglers.
The Governor said it was reprehensible that young children with promising futures could be lost to such a manner.
The State Government, the statement added, would not just investigate the circumstances of the gory killings of these potential leaders of tomorrow, but would do everything possible to prevent a recurrence and would ensure that indicted persons are brought to justice.
The Governor prayed that the Almighty God would "grant the families of these innocent children the fortitude to bear the loss" and pleaded with the people not to take laws into their hands in dealing with the unfortunate situation.
The Governor, however, advised security personnel, especially NCS officials, to apply moderate engagements with suspected smugglers or hoodlums along the border towns to avoid such loss of lives and property in future.
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