Nigerian navy officers have returned to Farasime village, located at the Owode Apa border in Badagry West, Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, to meet with the leaders of the community to smooth things over.
This follows a gun battle in the community, which sources informed SaharaReporters, involved Nigerian Navy officers and local youths.
Sources told SaharaReporters that navy officers returned to the community on Thursday afternoon to meet with its leaders.
“The navy came back right now to settle with the leaders of the community after the shootout early this morning,” a source said.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the confrontation began early Thursday morning when Nigerian Navy personnel stormed the village in an operation aimed at apprehending smugglers transporting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to Cotonou through the Owode Apa border.
WATCH: @NigerianNavy Returns To Lagos’ Badagry Border Town Following Shootout To Resolve Issues After SaharaReporters’ Report pic.twitter.com/3CUOdlSjrg
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A source, speaking from where he was hiding in his house, reported that the village youths resisted the naval officers’ attempt to make arrests. This resistance led to the naval officers opening fire, resulting in a gun battle.
With panic evident in his voice, the source said, “Right now, I’m not sure of my safety. It is Farasimè village Badagry West, Lagos state in Owode Apa border.
“It is that the Navy that came to arrest people who are smuggling fuel through there to Cotonou and youths are resisting, so the Navy officers are shooting.
“Please, somebody help us. My house is by the roadside.
“I’m not involved in smuggling. I don’t do that kind of business. Youths have put a big fire in front of my house to block the road. I’m very scared.”
But when SaharaReporters contacted the Nigerian Navy, it denied the clash between its officers and the local youths of Farasime Village.
Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, Navy spokesperson told SaharaReporters that there was no shootout but admitted that Naval officers prevented smugglers from smuggling petrol products out of Nigeria through the Owode Apa border on Thursday.
Adams-Aliu said, “There was no shootout at Farasime. That location is close to Tongeji Island, where the Nigerian Navy has an outpost in defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“Smugglers were attempting to smuggle petroleum products out of Nigeria and the Nigerian Navy personnel effectively prevented the crime which is an economic sabotage to the nation.”
