*Sets up adhoc C’ttees to probe Incidences
By George Mgbeleke
Alarmed at the increasing rate of killing of innocent Nigerians by officers of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the Senate on Wednesday at plenary set up an adhoc committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of indiscriminate killings of arm less Nigerians at custom and Police posts.
The Red Chamber asked the Nigeria Customs Service to fish out the erring officers and investigate the incident that led the custom operatives to open fire on unarmed civilians.
It also urged the Nigeria Customs Service to improve on the training of its personnel in handling of firearms, especially fire discipline when dealing with Nigerian citizens.
These resolutions of the Senate and sponsored by Sen Abdulazizi Musa Yar’adua were sequel to a motion on Urgent national importance.
Anchored on a motion entitled,”Urgent need to investigate the abuse of firearms by officers of the Nigeria customs service in Katsina,” was sponsored by Sen Abdulazizi Musa Yar’adua.
The motion were sequel the upper chamber Condemned the indiscriminate shooting by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service on 13th July 2023 in Katsina State.
In his lead debate, Sen Yar’adua noted that on 14th August 2021, the former Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, threaten to sue the NCS over the killing of residents during border drills in the state. During this same period, the House of
“Representatives invited the former Comptroller General of Customs Col Hamid Ali (rtd) to appear before it to explain the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident.
He noted that ,”by the recurring killings of innocent people by customs operatives in Katsina, the House of Representatives on 3rd February 2022 ordered the NCS to pay ₦390 million as compensation to families of 10 victims that were killed and 13 others injured in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“Further disturbed that on 13th July 2023, the Chief of Staff to the Katsina state, Governor Alhaji Jabiru Tsauri had a narrow escape from a harrowing assault from (NCS) officials.
“Worried that officers of the NCS at a location near Gorar Yammama highway shot indiscriminately at the vehicle conveying the Chief of Staff to the governor with other aides and close family members.”
He future noted that officers of the NCS at a location near Gorar Yammama highway shot indiscriminately at the vehicle conveying the Chief of Staff to the governor with other aides and close family members.
The lawmaker also observed that officials of the NCS are yet to apprehend or arrest the earring officers or bring them to book for the unfortunate incident.
