Smuggling: Customs Officer Kills Innocent Young Man over Bales of Used Clothes
Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Sunday killed a young man during an anti-smuggling operations along Ijebu Ode, Ogun state.
Incidentally, the young man who lost his life had nothing to do with the offensive goods that the Customs operatives had intercepted.
The video of the killing of the young man, identified as Godwin went viral forcing the Customs Service to open up on the true position.
It was gathered that the operatives had stopped a bus carrying passengers for a check during which they discovered bales of used clothings, a development that led to an argument between the officers and some passengers.
The incident had resulted in the accidental shooting of Godwin who was said to be working with the Customs operatives and fetches water for them.
During the incident, one of the customs operatives was said to have sustained an injury and is currently receiving treatment.
The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Mr Joseph Attah, had in a statement described the incident as unfortunate.
Attah’s 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”.
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