The Peoples Democratic Party candidate for Kajola, Iseyin, Itesiwaju and Iwajowa Federal Constituency in Oyo State in the 2015 general election, Shina Oyedeji, has urged the Nigeria Customs Service to review its operation in the zone in a bid to end the recurrent killings in the area.
Oyedeji gave the urge following the recent killing of five persons in Iseyin by some men of the Nigeria Customs Service on the Eid El Fitri day.
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In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday, Oyedeji expressed shock over what he described as an ‘avoidable incident’.
The statement reiterated that it is expedient for the NSC to modify its operations by using a friendly but effective strategy to combat smuggling.
It reads, “I received with great shock news of the killing of five of our youths in Iseyin by the men of the Nigeria Customs Service on Eid el Fitri day over a lame excuse that they were prevented from carrying out a seizure of some purportedly smuggled items. This is a very unwholesome development that must be criticized by every right-thinking Nigerian.
“It should be noted that such killings have become one too many with the Customs of late. A method where prohibited items are ferried into Nigeria with the knowledge and connivance of some of these Customs men only for another group within the same organization to go and cart away the goods from the shops/warehouses of traders is repulsive and should be discarded.
“While not supporting the idea of smuggling (an act of economic sabotage), I implore the Customs to look into better ways of barring smuggled goods before they get to the market. The Comptroller-General of NSC should modify the current operational style to avert loss of lives.
“I pray for the repose of the souls of the dead while also praying that God grants their families and loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. I also enjoin the youths to refrain from actions that may breach the peace in Iseyin in particular and the Oke Ogun zone in general. I sympathize with the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganeey Salawu, on the loss.”
