8th April, 2011
The resident of Ihunbo town in Ipokia Local Government of Ogun State were thrown into mourning on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 when stray bullets from the Customs patrol team hit Mr. Karimu Olajonlu in front of their family house and killed him.
The deceased 26 years old who until his death was a petrol attendant at a petrol station in Ajegunle was said to have come to Ihunbo that day with his uncle a retired police officer, Mr. Bashiru Olajonlu, from Idiroko for a family meeting.
According to ASP Bashiru Olajonlu (retd), the late Karimu was eating food under the tree in the front of their family house when the bullets fired by the customsmen who had arrested a “Tokunbo” vehicle from smugglers hit him in the right side of his abdomen and he died before he could receive medical attention at the General Hospital, Idiroko, Ogun State.
An eye witness told P.M.NEWS that the customs patrol team that killed Kamiru Olajonlu had arrested a second hand vehicle known as “Tokunbo” from the smugglers and the smugglers then mobilised some hoodlums to assist them recover the vehicle. They used broken bottles, cutlass, dane guns etc. to fight back and seize the vehicle from the customs men.
“The customs men were attacked by the hoodlums with dangerous weapons and in an effort to protect themselves they started shooting indiscriminately and their bullets him Kamiru Olajonlu who was in front of their house eating.
“The customs men called for re-inforcement from the soldiers in Owode Yewa before they could take away the seized vehicle to their base in Idiroko,” the eye witness said.
Rasheed Idowu, 18, another victim who was also shot on the left thigh, is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in the town.
Residents of the town accused the leader of the smugglers simply identified as “WARRIOR” from Ajilete town as the cause of the incident.
Meanwhile, the Customs PRO, ASC Ngige told P.M.NEWS that attacks on the customs men in the recent time have become rampant. He mentioned the recent attack on one of their patrol team at Akojaja village along Owode-Idiroko expressway on Thursday, 31March 2011 in which ASC Oderi was shot dead by smugglers while another officer, PSO Okafor is still receiving treatment at a private hospital after sustaining gun shot injuries as well. He however assured that the attack will not deter them from performing their duties.
The secretary of Ihunbo community Development Association, Mr. Babatiunde Kareem and a one time member of Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeye Gabriel Gbadebo, have called on the customs to re-orientate their men in the use of arms at a public place especially in a situation like that of Ihunbo encounter. This is to prevent the death of innocent people.
Meanwhile, the monarch of the town has called on the Federal Government to investigate the incident and bring to book the killer customs officer.
—Adefemi Omoniyi
