By Chioma Iruke, The Sight News
Few hours ago, Nigerians were apprised with a viral video of a Customs officer said to have killed a man due to his refusal to hand out N5,000.
The Nigeria Customs Service while reacting through a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, expressed their disappointment on the said incident, assuring Nigerians that investigations are ongoing.
Giving details on the unfortunate incident, Attah noted that the deceased simply identified as Godwin was not a passenger of the bus as alleged on the viral video but was a ‘good citizen’ known by the patrol men as he usually ‘fetched water’ for officers on duty.
According to the statement, “The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a disturbing video going viral with conflicting narratives.
“Contrary to some narratives, the young man was not a passenger of the bus but a good citizen who always comes to fetch water for Customs patrol men anytime they return to the base”.
The Customs spokesman further added that the incident occurred as a result of a struggle to disarm the officer by some of the passengers leading to a riffle discharge that killed Godwin.
He thus noted that the officer ASC1 Onebamho was also in critical condition as a result of Sundays incident, and is currently under intensive care at an undisclosed hospital.
“While it is painful and totally unnecessary to lose life in anti-smuggling operations, today at Shagamu interchange along Ijebu Ode road, 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 a serious injury to a Customs officer ASC1. Destiny Onebamho.
“Preliminary findings indicate that it was during the skirmishes and struggle to disarm the officers that the riffle discharged and hit the friend of the Customs 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, passengers who filmed the inciting commentaries boarded their vehicles 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”, the statement concluded.
