The Police Command in Ogun State has confirmed that two brothers were killed by some men of the Nigerian Army for allegedly smuggling foreign rice into the country in Owode, Yewa South Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, AbimbolaOyeyemi, who confirmed the development said that the Divisional Police Officer in the area quickly mobilized to restore normalcy.
The incident reportedly caused pandemonium in the area, leading to the killing of a Naval officer.
Angry youths of the area blocked the Sango-Idiroko International Road in protest.
The mob reportedly attacked an officer of the Nigeria Air Force, killing him in retaliation.
It was gathered that trouble started when the officers accosted the elder brother in an attempt to seize his vehicle which contained bags of foreign parboiled rice.
“In the course of the altercation between the man and the soldiers, some people called his younger brother, popularly known as SaheedElegusi. Saheed rushed to the scene and the two of them were shot dead by the soldiers. We don’t know when soldiers become customs officers,” said an eyewitness.
According to the report, the soldiers immediately escaped from the scene after shooting the siblings.
The mob allegedly set bonfires on the Sango-Idiroko International Road, affecting vehicular movements for hours.
Confirming the incident, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer said that the slain Air Force officer was in uniform when he unknowingly ran into the mob who lynched him.
“Yes, the incident happened yesterday. I think it was caused by an argument between them and the men of the Nigerian Army. We are still investigating,” he said.
Meanwhile, investigation into what caused the incident has commenced.
