Federal House of Representatives has adopted a motion moved by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Shina Peller, to investigate the alleged killing of five civilians by men of the Nigeria Customs Service in Iseyin local government area of Oyo State.
Hon. Peller, in a motion moved under matter of urgent public importance, argued that the act of men of the Nigeria Customs Service shows total negligence, abuse of authority, gross misconduct, and disregard for human lives, and that it should be investigated while the earring officers must be prosecuted.
Similarly, he added that the killings by the customs officers in the guise of pursuing smugglers is a recurring saga in the country, and that something must be done urgently to put an end to it.
He also argued that there is no way any reasonable person or organization will justify the action of the Customs, adding that Customs officers are supposed to protect our boarders and not more than 40kms to the border.
“If the officers had been properly trained and were efficient enough to carry out their duty at the boarders, there would be no need chasing people around town; there would not have been any need for them to start shooting sporadically in the town which sadly led to the death of innocent indigenes,” he said.
“Bags of rice, which they were chasing, can never equal human lives that have been lost,” he concluded.
Hon. Peller therefore pray that:
(i) The House mandates the committee on Customs to investigate the incident and report back to the House within two weeks for further legislative action.
(ii) Urges the Federal Government to review the rules of engagement of the Nigerian Customs Service as it relates to arms usage.
(iii) Invites the Comptroller- General of Customs to liaise with the committee on Customs so as to ensure compensation for the affected families, prosecute the erring officers and make sure of adherence to the rule of customs officers not exceeding 40km from the borders.
The motion was referred to the House Committee on Customs for further legislative actions.
It would be recalled that two days ago when Hon. Peller visited the families of the deceased in Iseyin, he had offered scholarships to their children numbering nine.
