Customs probes officers for assaulting residents

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has started an investigation into an incident in a viral video where some officers were seeing maltreating some members of the public.

The Customs Public Relations Officer of Seme Area Command, SC Hussaini Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Two Nigerians were on Sunday, December 1, brutalised by some Customs officers and soldiers at a checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme expressway after they were caught recording a video.

The officers suspected them to be informants supplying journalists information about smuggling activities on the expressway.

Abdullahi stated: “The command wishes to equally condemn in strong terms such unethical conduct.

“It is essential to state that the action of these officers contradicts the value and operational standard of the Service.”

Customs hits N5.07trn revenue target for 2024

Abdullahi said Comptroller Kayode Kolade, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), has directed that those officers be withdrawn and be interrogated to facilitate decisive disciplinary measures against whoever is found culpable.

Kolade assured the general public that the outcome of the investigation panel would be made public when concluded.

He called on the stakeholders and public plying the Lagos-Abidjan corridor to go about their lawful activities.

According to him, the command remains committed to creating a safe and conducive atmosphere for Legitimate trade to thrive.

The Star