Man shot dead while protesting extortion by NIS officers

Man shot dead while protesting extortion by NIS officers

One Jacob Bamgbola has been shot dead by an Immigration officer in the Idigbo community, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Bamgbola was reportedly gunned down by the officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, identified simply as Lamba, during a protest in the area.

Trouble began when immigration officers at the checkpoint on the expressway stopped him along the Ijowun end of the Idiroko Expressway and demanded N200 before allowing him to continue his journey

It was gathered that Bamgbola who was transporting his sister’s daughter on a motorcycle to a destination in the community refused to grant the officers demand.

Bamgbola was said to have pointed out that he did nothing wrong so he could be not part with the money.

The situation led to an minor altercation and while some of the officers were busy questioning other motorists, Bamgbola slip out of their grasp and proceeded with his journey.

On getting to his sister’s place, Bamgbola dropped his niece and proceeded to inform some youths in the community about his encounter with the immigration officers.

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The youths, some of who had also been a victim of similar encounters, mobilised other youths to the house of a chief in the community, Moses Faleye, to protest about the development.

According to Punch, during the protest, the immigration officers stormed the premises and while trying to disperse the protesters, allegedly shot Bamgbola dead.

Falaye, when contacted, said the events that claimed Bamgbola’s life was unfortunate, adding that the matter should have been settled amicably.

He said, “It happened in front of my house. Youths in the town came to register their displeasure over the activities of the immigration officers in our community.

“While I was trying to placate them, some immigration officers came and when they saw the youths, they started to shoot in the air. In the process, one person was hit by the bullet and he died.”

The spokesperson for the NIS in the state, Olajide Oshifeso, said, “The matter is already being investigated.”

Man shot dead while protesting extortion by NIS officers