A bystander, identified as Kazeem, was fatally struck by a stray bullet during a clash between Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) officers and suspected smugglers in the Obada Idi-Emi area of Imeko-Afon Local Government, Ogun State, on Monday, November 25.
The confrontation began when Customs officers received intelligence about a Mazda 323 car carrying bags of smuggled foreign rice. The driver of the vehicle abandoned it upon realizing he was being trailed. As the officers attempted to transport the seized rice to a government warehouse, the vehicle broke down in Obada town. While transloading the goods into their patrol vehicle, they were attacked by suspected hoodlums, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
During the chaos, Kazeem was hit by a stray bullet, and an officer sustained injuries. The Ogun Area 1 Command Public Relations Officer, Hammed Oloyede, confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are ongoing.
