By Anietie Akpan
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has clarified issues on recent social media viral video, which captured a tragic shooting incident involving some operatives of the Service, saying it is an old incident.
The NCS in a statement dated June 3, from the National Public Relations Officer of NCS, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada for Comptroller-General of Customs, said the Service “wishes to categorically state that the incident in question occurred on Sunday, 17 February 2019, and not a recent development, as portrayed by some online platforms”.
Following the ugly occurrence at the Shagamu Interchange in Ogun State, the statement said, the Service took immediate steps to address the situation in line with its internal procedures. A public statement was issued at the time, and a disciplinary panel was established to investigate the matter thoroughly. At the end of the process, “appropriate sanctions were applied, including the dismissal of the officers found culpable”.
“It is pertinent to reiterate that the NCS is a statutory government agency guided by rules of engagement and, therefore, will not condone any misconduct from its personnel. While the video may have resurfaced unexpectedly, the issue had been conclusively addressed, and justice was served in accordance with the Service’s regulations”, the statement said.
Furthermore, the Service acknowledged the concerns expressed by members of the public regarding the resurfaced video but however, “we urge citizens to avoid spreading misleading content and instead seek accurate information through NCS official channels. We deeply value the vigilance and feedback of Nigerians and reaffirm our commitment to delivering professional, accountable service while upholding the principles of integrity and respect for human dignity.
“Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and his management team, the NCS continues to uphold transparency and respect for the rule of law.
“This is evident in the strategic measures implemented to strengthen internal controls and capacity building through targeted training programmes for personnel. These efforts underscore the Service’s resolve to build trust, ensure integrity, and sustain mutually rewarding partnerships with the public”, the Service added.