Violent protest erupts in Ogun market over invasion by customs officers

Violent protest erupts in Ogun market over invasion by customs officers

A protest by angry youths and rice sellers in Ogun is reportedly turning violent at the Sango-Ota area of the state with the participants blocking the two ends of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

Violent protest erupts in Ogun market over invasion by customs officers
The protesters are angry over alleged invasion of their markets by officers of the Nigerian Customs Service

The protesters, according to reports, are provoked by the constant invasion and attacks on rice sellers and other business people by officers of the Nigerian Customs Service.

Sango-Ota is a few kilometres from Benin Republic and there have been usual clashes between custom officers and alleged smugglers.

READ ALSO: Osinbajo meets with governors, ministers over rice

But some of the rice sellers allege that the customs officers often storm their shops and stalls at the Sango-Ota market to confiscate their goods even when they were not found to have smuggled such.

The Punch also reports that the fresh protest engulfed the entire area allegedly after officers of the Nigerian Customs Service stormed some stalls in the morning of Wednesday, February 22, 2017 and took away bags of rice.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, the public relations officer of the NCS in the state, could not be reached as he did not take his calls.

READ ALSO: Two wanted customs officers surrender, arrested

Reports say motorists and commuters are stranded as the expressway is one that links many parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

Source: Legit.ng

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