One passenger was reportedly killed and several others injured as a suspected smuggler ran into a commercial vehicle while trying to escape arrest.
The incident, which occurred at Asara village along Sokoto-Illela road, however, ignited tension in the area as a result of which two vehicles, including a patrol vehicle and private vehicle of a Customs officer, were torched by hoodlums.
The spokesman for the Sokoto Area Command of Customs, ASCI Tahir Yusuf, who confirmed the incident, said operatives of the service, based on credible information carried out a stop and search operation at Asara village.
“At about 8am, a vehicle, Toyota Avensis with tinted glasses believed to be conveying smuggled items was stopped for a search but the driver tried to escape and in the process almost knocked down one of the officers but unfortunately, the vehicle ran into a coming commercial vehicle, which led to a head-on collision that resulted in the death of one passenger while others sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.’’
“However, some unscrupulous elements who disguised as sympathisers mobbed our officers at the point and in the process set one patrol vehicle and a private vehicle belonging to one of the officers ablaze.’’
He said reinforcement had been sent to the area to restore law and order.
