The Senate has commenced investigation into the activities of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) officers who are allegedly killing Nigerians at the border.
The investigation followed a motion raised by Sen Abdulazeez Musa Yar’Adua (Katsina Central) that Nigerians are being killed by trigger-happy customs officers at checkpoints.
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But the Senate, while condemning the action, especially the incident that took place on the 13 July, 2023, involving the secretary to the state government of Katsina State when his vehicle was fired at, urged the Nigerian customs to punish officers killing unarmed Nigerians.
According to the Senate, the Nigerian Customs Service should train their personnel on handling firearms and that they should have discipline and account for every bullet given to them.
“Customs should collect money at all entry points in Nigeria and ensure that all their officers account for the bullets they are given.
“The Nigerian Senate condemned the killing of innocent Nigerians in totality. This is enough to attract capital punishment,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio said, adding that Nigerians are being killed in the night by bandits, noting that further killings by the customs officers in the daytime is something that must be addressed urgently. Akpabio said this while announcing a committee headed by Francis Fadawunsi (PDP Osun East) to investigate the matter.
The members of the committee are: Shuaibu Lau (PDP, Taraba North); Kawu Suleiman (NNPP Kano South); Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra North); Umar Sadiq (APC, Kwara North); Akpan Ekong Samson (PDP, Akwa Ibom -South); Olajide Ipinsagba (Ondo North); Muntari Dandutse (Katsina South); Solomon Olamilekan; (APC Ogun west); Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central) and Napoleon Bari (Plateau South).
They were given six weeks to bring back a report after visiting Katsina, the Seme border and other areas experiencing such incidents.
In his motion, Senator Yar’Adua said some officers of the NCS who should be civil and professional in their engagements and handling of firearms have had series of shootings of innocent citizens.
“Recall that on 14th August 2021, the former Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, threatened to sue the NCS over the killing of residents during border drills in the state. During this same period, the House of Representatives invited the former Comptroller General of Customs Col Hamid Ali (rtd) to appear before it to explain the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident.
Disturbed by the recurring killings of innocent people by customs operatives in Katsina, the House of Representatives on 3rd February 2022 ordered the NCS to pay N390 million as compensation to families of 10 victims that were killed and 13 others injured in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
In September 2021, personnel of the NCS shot at the convoy of the former Katsina State commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Alhaji Umar Gwajo-Gwajo while driving from Daura to Mia’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“Worried that the inability to checkmate this recurring abuse of firearms by officers of the NCS, might lead to loss of innocent lives and possibly reprisal attacks by angered civilians,” he said.