Punch Metro gathered that the Customs officers attached to the Seme Border Command, reportedly led by one Abu Yusuf, were trying to evacuate bags of smuggled rice found around the F. O. Filing Station in the Badagry area of the state on Tuesday, November 20, 2018.
Our correspondent learnt that the officers allegedly shot in the air to scare people away and to prevent the residents from disturbing the evacuation of the bags of smuggled rice.
It was gathered that Patience, who had gone to the market situated around the scene of the operation, was said to have been hit by a stray bullet allegedly fired by the officers.
The deceased’s husband, John Oni, said Patience, while struggling for life, gave a good Samaritan her phone to call him, adding that she was dead before he could get to the Badagry General Hospital.
The 45-year-old police inspector said, “A good Samaritan, who was at the scene of the incident, called to inform me that my wife had been shot. When I rushed to the scene, I was told that she was still alive and that the Customs officers had rushed her to the Badagry General Hospital. I am yet to recover from the shock of not meeting her alive when I got to the hospital.
“I learnt that the Customs officers were chasing after some smugglers carrying rice before they opened fire on some boys, who reportedly struggled with them. I was told that my wife was at the bus stop close to a filling station around the Badagry roundabout where she was hit by a stray bullet from the Customs officers’ guns.
“I want the government to help me fight for my right, because my late wife was my helper. I have four children who are still in school, and I don’t know how I will cope without her. My life is ruined.”
The deceased’s son, Liberty, said his mother was a pillar to the family, adding that the trigger-happy officers, who allegedly killed her, must be prosecuted.
The deceased’s elder sister, Ruth, 38, said Patience’s death was untimely, adding that the family wanted justice but did not know how to get it.
