An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service on
Sunday allegedly shot dead a passenger, who was travelling in company of some
of his relatives in a Toyota Hiace Bus along Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
Sunday allegedly shot dead a passenger, who was travelling in company of some
of his relatives in a Toyota Hiace Bus along Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State.
Contained in a video that has gone viral on the social media, a supposed sister of the deceased is heard weeping and saying the customs officer shot
and killed the man for refusing to part with five thousand Naira (N5,000) inducement.
In the video, some officer of the customs service is seated on the floor
and being manhandled by a mob, while the deceased is seen stretched inside a
vehicle in a pool of his blood.
Reacting to the video and allegation of the
killing, the Customs Spokesman, Mr. Joseph Attah, in a statement, refuted
claims that the deceased was a traveler and that the killing done intentionally.
killing, the Customs Spokesman, Mr. Joseph Attah, in a statement, refuted
claims that the deceased was a traveler and that the killing done intentionally.
Attah said the bus was carrying bales of used
clothing, and that some of the passengers had engaged in a struggle with the
officers trying to prevent them from carrying out their duty, a situation that eventually
led to the killing of the man.
clothing, and that some of the passengers had engaged in a struggle with the
officers trying to prevent them from carrying out their duty, a situation that eventually
led to the killing of the man.
Below is the customs statement:
The attention of Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a disturbing
video going viral with conflicting narratives.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
patrol team has been recalled to the office for further investigation.
DC Joseph Attah
Public Relations Officer
