Young Man Crushed to Death by Customs Vehicle While Chasing Rice Smugglers in Kwara

• A young man, Abdulakeem Iwalewa, was killed in Ilorin when a Nigeria Customs Service patrol vehicle allegedly ran over him during a chase with suspected smugglers
• Eyewitnesses said officers fired gunshots to disperse residents instead of helping the victim, who later died from severe injuries
• The incident sparked chaos in the community, with angry residents burning a Customs vehicle and attacking officers, while the service has yet to issue a formal response

A tragic incident has thrown a Kwara community into mourning after a young man identified as Abdulakeem Iwalewa was reportedly killed by a vehicle belonging to operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

The incident occurred on Sunday, August 17, 2025, along the Mandala–Okolowo axis of Ilorin, when Customs operatives allegedly engaged smugglers in a hot chase.

How they tragedy happened

According to family sources who spoke exclusively to Legit.ng, the Customs officials were pursuing a vehicle suspected to be fully loaded with foreign rice when their own patrol vehicle rammed into Iwalewa.

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The source narrated:

“They were chasing a car full of rice. In the process of driving recklessly, their patrol van hit Abdulakeem Iwalewa. His body was trapped under the Customs vehicle, but they did not stop. They continued driving until the body dropped off by the roadside.”

Eyewitnesses told Legit.ng that residents in the area tried to intervene, but the Customs officials allegedly fired gunshots into the air to disperse the crowd instead of helping the victim.

Iwalewa was later rushed to a hospital by sympathisers. Sadly, doctors confirmed that he had lost too much blood and suffered severe body dismemberment, making it impossible to save his life.

The family source continued:

”People around the area were trying to stop them, but instead of stopping and rescuing the guy, they started shooting their guns into the air. So people rushed the body of the guy to help him to the hospital, but unfortunately most of his body parts had been dismembered and lost lots of blood and couldn't make it to the hospital.”

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Tension in the Kwara community

The death sparked immediate outrage in the area. According to the family, some residents, angered by the incident, set fire to a vehicle belonging to a Customs officer parked at a nearby checkpoint. Some officers present at the scene were also attacked and beaten by an irate mob.

The source added:

“Visit ke(They did not visit)? They dare not. The whole thing turned chaotic. One Customs car was burnt, and some officers were seriously beaten. Later, the Alapa Divisional Police Officer (DPO) came to the family and tried to plead on their behalf.”

Customs reacts to incident

When contacted by Legit.ng, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, said he was not yet aware of the incident.

His words:

“Let me make a call and find out what transpired. I am not aware of the incident.”

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However, as of the time of filing this report, Maiwada has yet to provide further feedback or respond to follow-up messages on his findings.

Angry Kwara youths ban truck movements

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that residents of several communities in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state banned the entry of trucks and lorries into their villages, accusing some drivers of collaborating with bandits who have been terrorising Kwara South.

The development followed a massive protest held on Wednesday morning, August 20, which was live-streamed on Facebook by a user identified as Okit Olamide and monitored by Legit.ng.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng