CUSTOMS OFFICER SHOOTS ONE DEAD

However, in a statement Joseph Attah, the customs’ spokesperson said the deceased was hit by a stray bullet, adding that the passengers in the bus, suspected to be carrying second-hand clothing, attempted to disarm a Customs officer.

The customs statement said, “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 lose 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.”

Penpushing further reports that, Attah said the agency is already in touch with the deceased’s family, adding that, “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 customs image maker emphasized,“while the wounded officer is under intensive care at the hospital, the patrol team has been recalled to the office for further investigation.”