Shina Oyedeji Condems Eid El Fitri Killings in Iseyin, Calls for Change in Tactics by Custom

Shina Oyedeji, a full time member of Oyo State Local Government Service Commission and PDP Candidate in the last general election for Kajola , Iseyin, Itesiwaju and Iwajowa federal constituency, has condemned the killing of five youths in Iseyin by men of the Nigerian Custom Service on Eid El Fitri day. 

Oyedeji, in a statement, he personally signed, said that he was shocked by the news of the incident and called on the federal government to modify the operational style of the Custom and adopt a more people-friendly, but equally effective strategy to combat smuggling.

The statement reads: 

I received with great shock the killing of five of our youths in Iseyin by the men of the Nigeria Customs & Excise on Eid el Fitri day over a lame excuse that they were disturbed/prevented from carrying out a seizure of some purported smuggled items. This is a very unwholesome development that must be criticized by every right thinking Nigerian. It should be noted that such killings have become one too many with the Customs of late. A situation where prohibited items are ferried into Nigeria with the knowledge and connivance of some of these Customs men, only for another group within the same organization to go and cart away these same goods from the shops/warehouses of traders is repulsive and should be discarded.

While not arguing in favour of smuggling (it's actually an act of economic sabotage and condemnable), I implore the Customs to look into better ways of preventing and confiscating such smuggled goods before they get to the market, to prevent future occurrences of such wanton killing of Nigerian youths. I, therefore, call on Mr. President to direct the Comptroller-General to look seriously into modifying this operational style and adopt a more people-friendly, but equally effective strategy to combat smuggling. On the part of the mourning youths of Iseyin, I sympathize with you and pray for the repose of the souls of the dead, while praying that Almighty Allah grant their families and loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Meanwhile, I enjoin the youths to refrain from actions that may breach the existing peace in Iseyin, in particular, and the entire Oke Ogun region in general; while also assuring them that the government will not be insensitive to their plight (of course, with this almost becoming a recurring issue). I will also want to sympathize with our monarch, the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdulganeey Adekunle Salawu, on the loss of these young men, who were part of the future of the town until they were cut down in their prime. I equally sympathise with Kabiyesi on the unfortunate attack on his palace. I implore Baba to forgive the youthful exuberance.

✍️Signed: Hon.Najim Oyeshina Oyedeji Ireakari Oshine.