The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has assured Nigerians that justice will be served in the fatal shooting incident in the Dada Estate area of Osogbo, Osun State, while urging members of the public to remain calm as investigations continue.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, the police acknowledged the growing public interest in the incident, which led to the death of a citizen and has attracted reactions from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The police noted that while the Customs Service has statutory responsibilities in anti-smuggling operations, the protection and sanctity of human life remain the highest priority of the state.
According to the statement, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has taken note of the NCS’s call for a harmonised investigation into the incident and assured the sister agency and the public that the probe will be carried out with transparency and professionalism.
The investigation is currently being handled by the Osun State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), which the police said is applying the highest level of forensic diligence to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The statement added that two suspects, Kolawole Suuti and Danjuma Samuel, remained in police custody to aid the ongoing investigation.
Recovered exhibits from the scene, including a Beretta pistol with Breech Number 125024 and 9mm ballistic evidence, are currently undergoing specialised forensic analysis as investigators work to align the facts with established operational Rules of Engagement.
The police further emphasised that the NPF maintained a strong professional relationship with the Customs Service and urged the public to refrain from sensationalising the incident as an inter-agency conflict.
“This incident is being treated as a matter of individual professional accountability,” the statement noted, stressing that both the police and the Customs Service remain united in the pursuit of justice for the deceased.
The Force also extended its condolences to the family of the victim and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the outcome of the investigation upholds the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
