Bamgbola refused to comply with the officers’ request, arguing that he had done nothing…….
By Jumoke Abiodun:
Residents and natives of the Idigbo community in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State are urging the state government to apprehend a Nigeria Immigration Service officer, known as Lamba, who allegedly fatally shot Jacob Bamgbola during a demonstration in the community. According to reliable information from Waffi TV, Bamgbola was transporting his niece on a motorcycle within the community when he was stopped by immigration officers at a checkpoint on the Ijoun end of the Idiroko expressway. The officers demanded N200 as a bribe before allowing him to proceed.
Bamgbola refused to comply with the officers’ request, arguing that he had done nothing wrong to warrant giving them N200. This disagreement escalated, and taking advantage of the officers’ preoccupation with other motorists, Bamgbola quickly drove away.
Upon reaching his sister’s place, Bamgbola dropped off his niece and promptly informed fellow community youths about his encounter with the immigration officers. Some of these youths had also faced similar incidents involving alleged extortion by immigration officers along the same road. In response, they gathered at the residence of Chief Moses Faleye, a prominent figure in the community, to voice their grievances.
During the protest, the immigration officers reportedly arrived at the premises and attempted to disperse the demonstrators, ultimately shooting Bamgbola and causing his death.
According to a source, “Bamgbola was on his way back after picking up his sister’s daughter when he encountered immigration officers on the road. These officers are always stationed at the checkpoint. They halted him and demanded N200, but he refused.”
“He told them that he is a son of Otun village and why should he pay them anything. After he left, he complained to some youths and the youths mobilised themselves to the Baale’s house to register their grievances over the activities of the officers.
“But within some minutes, the immigration officers came in a van and while the Baale was trying to calm the situation, they started shooting and in the process, one of them known as Lamba shot Bamgbola. The youths were rushing Bamgbola to the hospital when he died.”
Adesina Alabi, the leader of the town’s vigilance group, expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, highlighting that security personnel have a tendency to unlawfully extract money from road users on that particular road. When reached for comment, Falaye described the incident resulting in Bamgbola’s death as regrettable, emphasizing that a peaceful resolution should have been sought instead.
“Just come to this side of the road and see how police, Customs officers, immigration officers, and others would just mount roadblocks and extort money from motorists. It is becoming too much,” he said.
He said, “It happened in front of my house. Youths in the town came to register their displeasure over the activities of the immigration officers in our community.
“While I was trying to placate them, some immigration officers came and when they saw the youths, they started to shoot in the air. In the process, one person was hit by the bullet and he died.
“After the incident, the case was reported at the Igbokofi Police Station and the policemen came with cameras and they took statements from us.”
