Four killed as Customs, smugglers clash in Iseyin-Oyo

Four people have reportedly killed in a shootout between suspected smugglers and officers of the Nigerian Customs Service in Iseyin, Oyo State.
The exchange of gunshots was said to have caused panic among residents of Iseyin on Thursday while celebrating the Eid-el-Fitr as they tried to flee from the area to safety.
Former Caretaker Chairman of Iseyin Local Government Council, Mr Muftau Abilawon, confirmed the incident a telephone interview on Thursday night.
“I have been duly informed by a traditional Chief, the Ikolaba of Iseyin, Chief Ismail Tikalosoro, who called me and narrated the incident to me on phone.
“He advised that I brief the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security about the matter, which I did immediately and he has promised to intervene.
“I understand that the four corpses were taken to the palace of the Aseyin of Iseyin, where the chiefs appealed for calm and asked the aggrieved residents to deposit the corpses at Fadoks hospital.
“The chiefs also begged them not to set the Customs base in Iseyin ablaze, which they yielded to but it was too late for the Toyota Hilux van as it was on fire already before the appeal.”
Abilawon, who had resigned from office to participate in forthcoming council elections, appealed for calm and order in the ancient town.
There was no immediate police response to the incident as of the time of filing in the report.