OGUN TRADITIONAL RULERS SET TO DRAG CUSTOMS TO COURT OVER ALLEGED INCESSANT KILLINGS OF SUBJECTS

The monarchs made reference to recent killings of five of their subjects, adding that till date, the perpetrators of the killings are  yet to be  brought to book for prosecution, having being established of committing the crime.

Penpushing further reports that Olugbenle also recounted his ordeal in the hand of the customs officials sometimes ago, when he was pursued in the town, as a suspected smuggler, adding that it was a ridiculous experience for him.

He said they(customs) were driving recklessly with guns when pursuing him, and had to halt his car, adding that, it was after he introduced himself that they let him go, explaining that he thereafter reported the incident to the Comptroller of Customs, who he said till date, did nothing to address the ugly incident.

The royal fathers expressed shock over the mode of operations of the customs, which include pursuing alleged smugglers to the town, in efforts to seized alleged smuggled goods, arguing that, ’what were they looking before such smuggled goods get into the town’.

The council noted that over forty-five check points are mounted between Idiroko border town to Sango-Ota, pointing out that, if goods were taken out from the border and passed through forty-five check points unnoticed, that shows the customs lapses, hence, it is senseless for them to storm the town in a bid to recover such.

‘They should tell us the law that says when customs kill innocent people, they should go scot free. We are not only speaking as Yewa people but speaking on behalf of all Nigerians. Infact, our investigations revealed that, smugglers are not those killed, but innocent people’,Olugbenle emphasized

The royal father declared that, the activities of the customs should be limited to border, arguing that, it is absurd for them to be pursuing people to the town, under the guise of trying to recover smuggled goods

Penpushing further reports that, the traditional rulers disclosed that, they had already employed the service of lawyer, to challenge the alleged killings by the customs, in view of the fact that, the authorities deliberately kept mute to unveil the alleged killers, and do the needful.

The council also called of the Federal Government on the need to turn around the border communities for the betterment of the residents and indigenes, mostly the youths who are the bulk of residents, but  have  no means of livelihood.

The monarchs noted and lamented that, majority of the youths are graduates, who needs to be gainfully employed, hence, the need for government to provide employment for them, and also drew the attention to the fact that, many of the communities lack basic amenities.

Penpushing also reports that, the traditional rulers said they observed that, larger number of the customs officials swho engaged in the dreadful activities are from the Northern part of the country, and cautioned them not to push their subjects to the wall for retaliation to avoid ethnicity face-off.

‘We are not at war, and we want to appeal to the customs officials who are majorly from the northern part of the country, not to push our people to the wall, to avoid ethnicity crisis. I called the comptroller in Abuja, he didn’t respond, I sent text to him, he didn’t reply. Even the Command boss here in Ogun State  is not communicating with any traditional rulers, who are known to be close to the subjects. This is uncalled for’,Olugbenle stated.

The council passionately appealed to President Mohammed Buhari to intervene over the issue, which they declared is becoming unbearable for them and their subjects, stressing that, they are more interested in peace, than violence being introduced by the customs.