Senator Odebiyi says Nigeria Customs officers unruly, as Senate orders probe of Ipokia killings
The Senator representing Ogun West senatorial district, Tolu Odebiyi has accused men of the Nigeria Customs Service of conducting themselves “in a very unruly manner and in commando-like style around the Idiroko and Ipokia state constituency.”
According to Odebiyi, “on October 7, 2019, around 2.00 p.m. some Customs men allegedly shot and killed a student of Ojumo Community High School, Ihunbo in Ipokia Local Government Area, while several other students sustained injuries from gunshots.”
The Senator added that in another reported incident, men of the NCS drove an impounded vehicle recklessly in a densely-populated market which led to the killing of another student when the driver lost control.
The lawmaker further lamented that a member representing the area in the State House of Assembly, Sikirat Ajibola, almost lost her life as she was shot at by men of the Nigeria Customs Service while attempting to pacify aggrieved residents following an incident which claimed the life of a student.
Raising a point of order at the floor of the Senate Tuesday, Odebiyi said, “While many of the actions and excesses of the men of Nigeria Customs Service, including the recent killings were not only breaches, they are offences against the state; sadly, there’s yet any report of any of the men or officers involved being reprimanded or brought to book.”
Meanwhile, the Senate, DAILY POST learnt, had directed its Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff to investigate the recent extrajudicial killings of some residents of Idiroko/Ipokia Constituency in Ogun State by men of the Nigeria Customs Service.
In a statement signed by Ezrel Tabiowo, Special Assistant (Press) to President of the Senate Wednesday, the directive was given after consideration of the motion raised during the plenary by Odebiyi.
DAILY POST recalls that three students of Ojumo Community High School, Ihunbo were reportedly killed on October 7, while market women were injured, when Customs officers were conveying a ‘tokunbo’ vehicle they said was smuggled into the country.
