News

Army Shooting Range Bullets Hit Two

By Web News 549

There is pandemonium in some areas close to the 2Division Nigeria Army at Odogbo in Ibadan as two persons were hit by stray bullets from the shooting range within the barracks.

According to report, one of the victims who are around 10 years old is identified as Daniel while the other victim, an adult, is popularly known as Baba Ajeri.

The two victims were said to have been rushed to the hospital inside the barracks and army medical personnel were said to be attending to them.

Residents told our correspondent that the two of them were hit by bullets as the shooting continued on Friday.

They said their buildings, especially roofs, had been damaged by a volley of bullets from the shooting range while many of them stayed indoors in order to escape the flying bullets.

One of the leaders in the community, Alhaji Kareem Ijeru, told our correspondent that the fresh round of shooting was intense on Friday night and many residents had to park their vehicles outside their homes.

“Everybody stayed indoors and we all laid down flat to avoid being hit by bullets right inside our homes. The shooting continued this morning and unfortunately, two persons were hit.

“They have been rushed to the hospital in the barracks. The bullets which hit Baba Ajeri have not been removed but Daniel is lucky, I was told the one that hit him has been extracted.

“We have staged protests, we have complained to the army on many occasions but the situation has not changed.”

Another resident, Ade Owolabi, said many landlords in the area had packed out of their houses to rent accommodation in other places to save their lives.

“Some of our people have developed hypertension as a result of constant fear. But is this how we will continue to live in danger? President Muhammadu Buhari should help us,” he said.

The officer in charge of Information at 2 Division Nigeria Army, Lt. Col Charles Ekeocha, when contacted on the telephone told our correspondent that he was not on the ground but would call and get back.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Stray Bullets Allegedly Kill Four in Customs-Smugglers Face-off

By Web News 775

Four persons were allegedly killed by stray bullets while others were critically injured yesterday in Iseyin, Oke Ogun area of Oyo State when men of the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) engaged in sporadic shootings with some suspected smugglers. 

Radio Nigeria gathered through some residents, who pleaded anonymity that the Customs operatives started shooting sporadically after intercepting certain smuggled goods which were ferried into Iseyin through the borders.

According to the residents, some individuals who were out for Sallah celebrations were allegedly caught up by the stray bullets.

The accidental killing however sparked off confusion in the sleepy town as relations and friends of those affected in the shootings trooped out protesting.

Another resident of the ancient town, who did not want his name mentioned in an interview, pleaded with the Federal Government and Customs Authorities to protect the people of Iseyin from unwarranted killings through stray bullets of men of the Nigerian Customs virtually each time they engage in shooting sprees with smugglers.

Radio Nigeria recalls that similar engagement of smugglers by personnel of the customs recently led to a face-off between them and members of the proscribed National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Iseyin , whose chairman was allegedly hit by their bullets.

The Public Relations Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service Oyo/ Osun Area Command, Mr Kayode Wey and that of the state Police Command, Mr Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached as their known mobile numbers were switched off.

Adewumi Faniran