No fewer than 10 persons have died while about 20 others sustained varying degree of injuries on Monday as a vehicle belonging to the Nigerian Customs Service rammed into a crowd in an accident in Jibya local government area of Katsina State.
Though information about the incident is still sketchy, reports have it that, it was caused as a result of the officers giving a hot chase to some suspected smugglers.
Also Read: Katsina Anti-Smuggling: Customs seize goods worth N61M in 3 weeks
Initial reports making the rounds also had it that as a result of the impact, angry residents burnt the operational vehicle of the officers for allegedly crushing the persons to death while many were injured.
According to an eyewitness, the victims involved in the incident were children and women who were believed to be on their way to the farm.
Speaking to ait.live in a telephone conversation, the Public Relations Officer of the Katsina Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, Isah Danbaba confirmed the unfortunate incident but said, officers involved are from the sector 4 border drill operations.
Danbaba added that the reports that the officers were chasing smugglers are not true, but said, they were involved in an accident as a result of which the vehicle was set ablaze.
He further revealed that those injured are presently receiving treatment at a health facility while the officers involved have been taken into custody by the police in Jibya as investigations are ongoing.
Danbaba added that he will get back to ait.live as soon as there is more detailed information over the incident saying, normalcy have been restored.
(Editor Paul Akhagbemhe)
