Abiodun urges restraint in use of lethal arms by law enforcement officers

• Intervenes in Customs, residents face-off over Imasayi’s unrest

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has urged restraint in the use of arms by law enforcement officers in the state.

The unrest erupted in Imasayi in the Yewa North Local Council of the state when officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) strike team and youths of the community had a fatal clash, which resulted in the untimely death of an officer.

The governor said he had been in contact with relevant authorities in the Army and the NCS.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, said that talks were ongoing towards apprehending the suspects who allegedly killed the uniformed officer in the melee and took away his rifle.

“A manhunt has yielded result with the retrieval of the said stolen rifle, but the search to discover and arrest the culprits continues under the strict directive of the governor.

“Suspects already arrested in connection with this criminal act are giving useful information that would lead to the arrest of the main suspect.

“Investigation will continue until the murder suspect and other culpable persons are apprehended,” the statement said. Abiodun, however, pleaded with the customs officers to be humane in the discharge of their activities.

He, therefore, cautioned that the state government would not condone assault on any serving officer of the military, Nigeria Police and para-military who daily sacrifice their private lives to serve the public.

However, the governor has commiserated with families of the slain officer and promised that no stone would be left unturned to unearth the circumstances that led to the crisis.

He also urged the law-abiding residents of the community to go about their usual activities, saying that peace had since returned to the axis with the presence of riot police and officers of the Nigerian army.