The Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, on Wednesday said the alleged killing of a customs officer recently at Seme near Badagry, Lagos will not deter the service from fighting smuggling.
Abdullahi gave the assurance during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased, Mr John Moto, at Ibereko, near Badagry.
He was represented by Mr Victor Gbemudu, the Coordinator, Zone `A’ of the NCS.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, on Wednesday said the alleged killing of a customs officer recently at Seme near Badagry, Lagos will not deter the service from fighting smuggling.
Abdullahi gave the assurance during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased, Mr John Moto, at Ibereko, near Badagry.
He was represented by Mr Victor Gbemudu, the Coordinator, Zone `A’ of the NCS.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that a mob on August 29 allegedly killed Moto, a Superintendent of Customs in charge of the Aradagun Customs Checkpoint in Seme.
Moto was said to be driving into the Seme Area Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for a meeting when he was attacked and killed.
The mob was allegedly protesting the shooting of a suspected smuggler by the customs on the same day.
Abdullahi said that it was worrisome that some people still engaged in extra-judicial killing.
He described the act as barbaric.
“This setback will not stop us from discharging our duties; we will remain committed to anti-smuggling activities,’’ he said.
The controller-general said that the deceased contributed to the development of the Ibereko Community.
“I know that the controller of the command holds a customs/community parley with the people every month.
“I do not know why this happened. As you can see, the officer lived in the midst of the people.
“Our officers live and even build houses so as to be part of the communities where they work,’’ he said.
Abdullahi said that some arrests had been made in connection with the alleged murder, and gave the assurance that suspects would be prosecuted.
He urged that the customs-community relations should be more efficient to prevent breakdown of law and order.
He said that the NCS would take responsibility for the education of the deceased’s children up to university level.
Shipping Position Daily recalls that the Seme border command area controller; Mr Saleh Othman had also recently vowed that his men remain undaunted even with the death of their colleague.
He was quoted as saying that: “Our colleague was lost but this had further strengthened our resolve to give in our best and we would not tolerate any form of smuggling into the country.”
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