Governor Masari Threatens Legal Action If Customs Fails to Compensate Families of Those Killed by Patrol Van
*Describes Customs CG, Ali, as anti-people
The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, on Monday, threatened legal action against the Nigerian Customs Service if it failed to compensate families of those who were either killed or injured by a patrol van used by the operatives of the Service.
Masari who did not hide his bitterness against the Comptroller General of the Customs, Rtd. Col Hameed Ali described him as working against the people of Katsina state, particularly those in the border communities.
The incident occurred on August 9 at Jibia Lacal Government of the state when operatives of the Customs were pursuing smugglers.
The governor who received the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, Assistant Controller General (ACG), Uba Mohammed in his office called for the arrest and prosecution of the officers who were involved in the incident.
He condemned reckless shooting by operatives of the customs, adding that what they should do was to liaise with other security operatives to identify where contraband are kept for arrest.
He said, “We are not condoling smuggling in any form but then you have criminalised people living within the border communities of Nigeria. You don’t even care. Life means nothing to you, because in the end you are going to declare in the federation account amount collected by the Customs.
“Today, if you are taking pure water from Katsina to Jibia you will pass not less than 28 checking points. Those 28 check points, they are not check points but toll-gates. You are making life miserable for people you suppose to serve.
“You are pursuing somebody on a motorcycle with five bags of rice as if you a pursuing a bandit. Look, for me, you have to compensate these people. Secondly, you must prosecute the driver and the officer, who directed him.
“We will not accept anything short of this. We are ready to test the legal system that gave you right to kill right inside the town. There are only two things that will stop us from testing; you compensate those lives that you killed and prosecute the driver and the officer who is directing to pursue recklessly..
On his part, the Customs ACG said he the delegation was mandated by the CG to interact with communities, leaders, the bereaved families and the victims of the accident and report back.
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