Authorities in Osun State have arrested two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service following a deadly shooting incident in Osogbo that resulted in the death of a driver during a vehicle pursuit on Sunday.
The Osun State Police Command confirmed the arrest of the officers after a swift response to reports of gunfire in the Dada Estate area of the state capital. According to police officials, the incident occurred while the customs officers were reportedly chasing vehicles suspected to be carrying tokunbo, or foreign-used, automobiles.
Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi disclosed that the suspects were identified as Kolawole Suuti and Danjuma Samuel. Both officers are currently in custody as investigators examine the events that led to the fatal shooting.
Witness accounts and preliminary reports indicate that several vehicles were being pursued when gunshots were fired during the chase. One of the targeted vehicles, an ash-coloured Toyota Corolla, was struck during the incident.
The driver of the vehicle sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed for medical attention. However, a doctor at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital later confirmed the driver dead upon arrival.
Authorities said the identity of the deceased has not yet been determined. The victim’s body has been deposited in a morgue pending further investigation and identification.
Police Investigation Into Osogbo Shooting
Police operatives who responded to the scene carried out an immediate operation that led to the arrest of the two customs officers involved in the pursuit. Investigators also recovered several items believed to be connected to the incident.
Among the items retrieved were a Beretta pistol bearing breech number 125024, 11 rounds of live 9mm ammunition, and one expanded 9mm shell casing. Two vehicles were also taken into custody as part of the investigation.
The vehicles include a white Toyota Corolla with Lagos registration number AAA 400 GQ and the ash-coloured Toyota Corolla, identified by registration number GFQ 0982, which was the vehicle driven by the deceased victim.
Police authorities said the recovered items would be examined as evidence to determine exactly what occurred during the pursuit and shooting.
The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Gotan, has ordered a full and thorough investigation into the case. According to the police command, investigators will examine whether proper procedures were followed and determine the circumstances that led to the fatal outcome.
Officials emphasized that the investigation will be transparent and that any individual found responsible for wrongdoing will face the full force of the law.
The police also urged residents of Osogbo and surrounding communities to remain calm while the investigation continues. Members of the public were encouraged to cooperate with law enforcement by providing any credible information that could help clarify the sequence of events.
Security analysts note that vehicle chases involving suspected smuggling or illegal imports sometimes escalate into dangerous confrontations. The tragic outcome in Osogbo has renewed calls for improved coordination among security agencies and stricter adherence to engagement protocols during enforcement operations.
For now, authorities say the priority remains uncovering the facts behind the incident and ensuring justice for the victim whose life was lost during the pursuit.
The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected as police gather more evidence and question the suspects involved in the case.
