Tobias Sylvester
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has
reacted to the viral video which shows it’s personnel shooting a man to death on Sunday.
Earlier, we reported that there was commotion along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, after an official of the Nigerian Customs service, allegedly shot a man coming from abroad because of N5000 bribe.
It was gathered that they custom officers stopped a vehicle conveying a family returning from abroad and they demanded N5,000 bribe from them.
Another man was also reportedly stopped by the Customs official on his way to the Eastern part of the country and he was charged to pay almost N300,000 for a custom charge for his car which he refused and complained that it is too much.
After many arguments and out of annoyance the Custom officer mistakenly shot the man whom he and his family just returned from abroad in cold blood. (Watch the video HERE)
In reaction through a statement released by the NCS public Relations Officer, DC Joseph Attah, the service blamed Passengers of a commercial bus for obstruction of duty which led to the death of the victim. The statement reads:
“The attention of Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a disturbing video going viral with conflicting narratives.
“While it is painful and totally unnecessary to loose life in anti-smuggling operations, today at Shagamu interchange along Ijebu Ode, attempt to obstruct lawful performance of duty by passengers of a commercial bus (a white Toyota Hiace) suspected to be carrying bales of used clothing led to the death of a young man (Godwin) and serious injury of a Customs Officer, ASC1, Destiny Onebamho.
“Contrary to some narratives, the young man was not a passenger of the bus but a good citizen who always come to fetch water for Customs Patrol men anytime they return to the base.
“Preliminary finding indicate that it was during the skirmishes and struggle to disarm the Officer that the riffle discharged and hit the friend of the Customs (Godwin) who lost his life. The Service is already in touch with the bereaved family.
“Sadly, it should be noted that while attention shifted to the dead and the wounded, the passengers who filmed with inciting commentaries boarded their vehicle and left, leaving the wrong impression that it was one of them that was killed.
“While the wounded Officer is under intensive care at the hospital, the patrol team has been recalled to the office for further investigation.”
