Mayhem broke out at the Seme border area
of Lagos State on Thursday after a 35-year-
old man, Saturday Joel, was shot by officials
of the Nigerian Customs Service.
According to eyewitness account, the
incident occurred when Joel was hit by a
stray bullet, while some customs officers
were trying to arrest a motorist who was
allegedly smuggling a red Volkswagen bus
from Benin Republic into Nigeria.
The incident sparked controversy as
residents of the area took to the streets in
protest, claiming that customs officials had
gunned down at least three persons this
month under the pretext that they were
smugglers. It was learnt that the customs
officials within the area fled immediately
after the incident.
However, a Superintendent of Customs,
identified as J. I Motojelu, was said to have
been driving by at the time.
It was gathered that on sighting his Toyota
Corolla car marked ABJ 663 DW, the angry
mob, led by a community leader, dragged
the officer out of his vehicle, and killed
him.
Eyewitness said the angry mob, also set the
deceased officer’s car on fire and set up
bonfires at the centre of the road.
A police source also disclosed that,
“Motojelu, who knew nothing about the
incident was beaten to death. The mob
opened a customs patrol van stationed
nearby and took a G3 rifle with 30 rounds
of ammunition inside. They then set the
vehicle ablaze.”
Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Razaq
Fadipe, said his men attempted to quench
the fire but all to no avail because of the
sporadic gunshots in the area.
Confirming the incident, the NCS
Public Relations Officer, Seme
Command, Ernest Olattah, in a statement
said that the officer was killed while on his
way to attend a meeting at the Command.
He said, “We announce the gruesome killing
of one of our senior officers by some
smugglers in the Ashipa area of Seme
around 9.50am on Thursday. The deceased
officer, while in his official uniform,
unarmed, and driving to the command’s
headquarters for a routine meeting, was
accosted by a mob who forced him out of
his vehicle.
“Led by an identified chief of the
community, the officer was murdered in
cold blood, while his vehicle was set
ablaze.”
“Customs Area Controller of Seme Border,
Othman Abdu Saleh, has in collaboration
with sister government agencies including
the police, commenced moves to bring the
perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
The controller posits that this unfortunate
incident will not deter operatives of the
command under his watch from carrying
out their lawful duties.
‘’This is indeed a sad day for us here in this
command, but let me emphasised that we
are not relenting in the discharge of our
duty as we will not allow the darkness of
criminality to dampen the light of our
service to Nigeria, he said.
Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi
Braide also confirmed the tragic incident.
He said seven persons had been arrested
in connection with the incident, adding that
they would be transferred to the State
Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.
She said, “Joel is recuperating at Badagry
General Hospital while the slain customs
officer has been deposited at the
mortuary.”
of Lagos State on Thursday after a 35-year-
old man, Saturday Joel, was shot by officials
of the Nigerian Customs Service.
According to eyewitness account, the
incident occurred when Joel was hit by a
stray bullet, while some customs officers
were trying to arrest a motorist who was
allegedly smuggling a red Volkswagen bus
from Benin Republic into Nigeria.
The incident sparked controversy as
residents of the area took to the streets in
protest, claiming that customs officials had
gunned down at least three persons this
month under the pretext that they were
smugglers. It was learnt that the customs
officials within the area fled immediately
after the incident.
However, a Superintendent of Customs,
identified as J. I Motojelu, was said to have
been driving by at the time.
It was gathered that on sighting his Toyota
Corolla car marked ABJ 663 DW, the angry
mob, led by a community leader, dragged
the officer out of his vehicle, and killed
him.
Eyewitness said the angry mob, also set the
deceased officer’s car on fire and set up
bonfires at the centre of the road.
A police source also disclosed that,
“Motojelu, who knew nothing about the
incident was beaten to death. The mob
opened a customs patrol van stationed
nearby and took a G3 rifle with 30 rounds
of ammunition inside. They then set the
vehicle ablaze.”
Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Razaq
Fadipe, said his men attempted to quench
the fire but all to no avail because of the
sporadic gunshots in the area.
Confirming the incident, the NCS
Public Relations Officer, Seme
Command, Ernest Olattah, in a statement
said that the officer was killed while on his
way to attend a meeting at the Command.
He said, “We announce the gruesome killing
of one of our senior officers by some
smugglers in the Ashipa area of Seme
around 9.50am on Thursday. The deceased
officer, while in his official uniform,
unarmed, and driving to the command’s
headquarters for a routine meeting, was
accosted by a mob who forced him out of
his vehicle.
“Led by an identified chief of the
community, the officer was murdered in
cold blood, while his vehicle was set
ablaze.”
“Customs Area Controller of Seme Border,
Othman Abdu Saleh, has in collaboration
with sister government agencies including
the police, commenced moves to bring the
perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
The controller posits that this unfortunate
incident will not deter operatives of the
command under his watch from carrying
out their lawful duties.
‘’This is indeed a sad day for us here in this
command, but let me emphasised that we
are not relenting in the discharge of our
duty as we will not allow the darkness of
criminality to dampen the light of our
service to Nigeria, he said.
Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi
Braide also confirmed the tragic incident.
He said seven persons had been arrested
in connection with the incident, adding that
they would be transferred to the State
Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.
She said, “Joel is recuperating at Badagry
General Hospital while the slain customs
officer has been deposited at the
mortuary.”
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