Osun: Police detain two customs officers over fatal shooting in Osogbo

The Osun State Police Command has arrested two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, over a fatal shooting that occurred in the Dada Estate area of Osogbo on Saturday.

The command, in a statement issued by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, and made available by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the arrests on Sunday.

According to the police in the statement, “the suspects were taken into custody shortly after the incident, which reportedly happened while the officers were pursuing vehicles believed to be foreign-used cars.”

Ojelabi, who identified the suspects as Kolawole Suuti and Danjuma Samuel, both serving officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, noted that they were apprehended by police operatives following reports of gunfire in the area.

“The Osun State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been arrested in connection with a shooting incident that occurred today in the Dada Estate area of Osogbo,” the statement read.

Police said the customs officers were reportedly chasing vehicles suspected to be “tokunbo” cars when the shooting occurred during the operation.

The police disclosed that “the driver of an ash-coloured Toyota Corolla, one of the vehicles allegedly being pursued, was hit by a gunshot and later confirmed dead by a doctor at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital.”

The identity of the deceased had not been confirmed as of the time of the police statement, while the body was deposited in the hospital’s morgue pending further identification.

Several items were recovered at the scene, including “a Beretta pistol with breech number 125024, eleven rounds of 9mm live ammunition, one expanded 9mm shell, and two Toyota Corolla vehicles with registration numbers AAA 400 GQ (Lagos) and GFQ 0982 (Texas).”

Ojelabi disclosed that CP Ibrahim Gotan has ordered a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The police also assured the public that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law, while urging residents to remain calm and provide credible information to aid the ongoing inquiry.