Customs to investigate alleged assault of citizens by officers

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

SC Hussaini Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Seme Area Command, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Seme, Lagos State.

According to the PRO, the command wishes to express its deepest empathy for the affected public.

“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,” he said.

Abdullahi said that Comptroller Kayode Kolade, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), has directed that those officers be withdrawn and interrogated to facilitate decisive disciplinary measures against whoever is found culpable.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

Supreme News reports that on Sunday, two residents were brutalised by some Nigeria Customs Service officers and soldiers at a checkpoint along the Badagry-Seme motorway after they were caught recording a video.

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