The Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) has released a statement on a viral video online, where an officer was alleged to have shot dead a passenger of a Bus in Ore, saying that preliminary investigation has shown that the victim was actually a friend of the Customs named Godwin, and it was during the struggle to disarm the officer by some passengers from the said Bus, that the rifle discharged and hit Godwin who lost his life.
The Nigerian Customs Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Attah, who disclosed this said the incident emanated from its anti-smuggling operation at Shagamu interchange along Ijebu Ode.
According to the statement, the deceased was a friend of one of the Nigerian Customs officer and not a passenger as insinuated in a circulated video clip.
The statement noted that the Nigerian Customs Service sympathizes with the victim and the wounded Customs officer was in an intensive care unit.
He said that: “Preliminary finding indicates that it was during the skirmishes and struggle to disarm the Officer that the rifle 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.”
The PRO explained that its attention was 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.
“While the wounded Officer is under intensive care at the hospital, the patrol team has been recalled to the office for further investigation.”
