Eniola Peters
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has detained four officers from the Federal Operations Unit (FOU),Zone A, over the killing of Godwin Onoja on Sunday at the Shagamu interchange in Ogun State.
The service has already set up a panel led by the Zonal Coordinator, Zone A to investigate the killing.
The investigation panel, headed by the Zonal Coordinator Zone A, ACG Kaycee Ekekezie had interrogated and detained four members of the patrol team.
The Comptroller General of the service, Hameed Ali (rtd) said that any officer caught on the wrong side would be dealt with accordingly.
A statement by the National Public Relations Officer of the Command, Joseph Attah, a deputy comptroller yesterday explained that the service was in touch with the family of the deceased.
Attah explained: “Following the unfortunate incident on Sunday 17th February 2019 at Shagamu interchange involving operatives of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, which led to the death of a fellow citizen, Mr. Godwin Agada Onoja, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has continued to maintain close contact with the bereaved family.
“We are pained by this sad development and share the grief of losing a fellow compatriot in a seemingly avoidable circumstance. We are and will continue to take every necessary step that will cushion the pain associated with losing a dear one.”
Attah added that the comptroller general had directed a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident with the view to ensuring that justice was served.
He further assured that the investigation would comprise the weapon handling skills and actions that must be taken by the service to possibly prevent future occurrence.
The spokesman assured that the outcome of the panel would be made public to Nigerians.
Also he said that the officers whose rifle discharged would also face the panel as soon as possible.
It was learnt that the panel could not immediately conclude the investigation because of ASCI Destiny Onebamho, who is presently receiving medical attention as a result of attack following the unfortunate incident.
The panel said that he would face the panel as soon as he was fit to do so.
On Sunday an Assistant Superintendent Customs (ASCI), Destiny Onebamho shot dead a one Godwin believed to be customs friend in a heated argument with some passengers in a commercial bus over bales of used clothes.
Attah recalled: “Nigerians will recall that in 2017, the Service made public its investigation and dismissal of five (5) officers implicated in the illegal release of the 661-pump action riffles from Apapa Port. The dismissed officers were immediately handed over for prosecution along side the importer and agent. A prosecution that is ongoing at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos.”
“In the same vein, the ongoing investigation will be holistic including looking at the weapon handling skills and actions that must be taken by the Service to possibly prevent future occurrence. We will continue to update the public details of every action taken in the handling of this unfortunate incident.”
