Two allegedly dead, car burnt as Customs, residents engage in bloody clash

Two persons were feared killed following a clash between some residents of Saki and Customs officers attached to the areas residential base, on Thursday.

Trouble was said to have ensued when some Customs officers stopped a vehicle driven by an indigene to check for smuggling.

The driver of the vehicle was said to have argued that he was only transporting drinks to his farm and questioned why the Customs officers would think he was smuggling bags of rice to his farm.

It was gathered that the argument between the driver and Customs officer took a violent turn which led to the shooting of the driver.

To avenge the killing of the driver, other occupants of the vehicle and residents at the scene attacked the Customs officers and allegedly killed one of them.

A mob also gathered attacking the Customs residential base in Saki where a Hilux and surveillance vehicle was burnt down.

To prevent the crisis from snowballing, political and traditional authorities in Saki subsequently ordered that residents stay indoors between 6 pm and 7 am.

Town crier of the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Olabisi was said to have gone around town, on Thursday, asking residents to stay indoors for the tension to subside.

Public Relations Officer, Oyo/Osun Command of the Customs Service, Abdullahi-Lagos Abiola said its residential base in Saki was attacked and that officers had to escape.

While confirming the clash and that two Customs vehicles were burnt down, Abdullahi-Lagos said he was awaiting briefing on whether there were casualties.  (Nigerian Tribune)