By Haruna Salami
Senate has set up an ad- hoc committee to investigate the indiscriminate use of firearms by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) resulting in alleged killings of Nigerians in Kastina state.
Senate resolution was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a motion on “Urgent Need to Investigate the Abuse of firearms by Officers of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Kastina State sponsored by Sen. Abdulazize Yar’adua(APC-Kastina).
The Committee, which has Sen. Francis Fadahunsi (PDP-Osun) as Chairman, has six weeks to present report of its investigation to plenary.
Other members of the committee include Senators Shuaibu Lau (PDP-Taraba) Kawu Sumaila(NNPP),Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra),Umar Sadiq, (APC-Kwara) Akpan Samson, (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) Solomon Adeola, (APC-Ogun) Abdulaziz Yar’adua (APC-Katsina), Olajide Emmanuel (APC-Ondo), Mohammed Muntari (APC-Katsina) and Napoleon Bali (PDP- Plateau).
Earlier, Yar’adua in his lead debate said it remained a fact that officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) were authorized to carry firearms while discharging their duties.
This, he said was aimed at assisting the service to effectively counter activities of smugglers, who have recently become emboldened in their attack on customs personnel in many cases using sophisticated weapons.
However, he expressed worry that some officers of the NCS, who should be civil and professional in their engagements and handling of firearms have had a series of shootings of innocent citizens.
According to him on August 14, 2021, the former Governor of Katsina state, Aminu Bello Masari, threaten to sue the NCS over the killing of residents during border drills in the state.
He said during same period, the House of Representatives invited the former Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hamid Ali (rtd) to appear before it to explain the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident.
He said given the recurring killings of innocent people by customs operatives in Katsina, the House of Representatives on Feb. 3, 2022 ordered the NCS to pay N390 million as compensation to families of 10 victims that were killed and 13 others injured in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
“Further disturbed that on July 13, the Chief of Staff to the Katsina state. Governor Alhaji Jabiru Tsauri had a narrow escape from a harrowing assault from NCS officials.
“Worried that officers of the NCS at a location near Gorar Yammama highway shot indiscriminately at the vehicle conveying the Chief of Staff to the governor with other aides and close family members.”
He expressed concerned that officials of the NCS were yet to apprehend or arrest the erring officers or bring them to book for the unfortunate incident.
Yar’adua also said in Sept 2021, personnel of the NCS shot at the convoy of former Katsina State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, Alhaji Umar Gwajo-Gwajo while driving from Daura to Mia’adua Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Yar’adua further expressed worry that the inability to checkmate the recurring abuse of firearms by officers of the NCS, might lead to loss of innocent lives and possibly reprisal attacks by angered civilians.
Contributing, Senators Ahmed Lawan, Solomon Adeola, Abdulaziz Yari among others commended the sponsor for the motion and decried the alleged killings of Nigerians by the NCS.
Adeola, who said part of his constituents were resident in the border communities of Ogun state decried the killings.
He said Senate must take the matter seriously, saying that the killings had become recurring.
However, Senator Francis Fadahunsi (PDP-Osun) said the NCS in the last seven years has been militarised, while urging the new administration to begin the de-militarisation of the NCS.
He said his committee during the 8th Senate had raised the matter of militarization of NCS officers, saying that their compliant was not considered.
Senate further in its resolutions condemned the indiscriminate shooting by officers of the NCS on July 13. in Katsina State.
It urge the NCS to fish out the erring officers and investigate the incident that led the custom operatives to open fire on unarmed civilians.
It urged the NCS to improve on the training of its personnel in handling of firearms, especially fire discipline when dealing with Nigerian citizens.
President of Senate , Godswill Akpiabio in his remark, said the senate must look at the issue holistically, given the submissions of lawmakers on the motion.
He said the contributions by senators revealed that people have been shot at different times, hence the need to holistically investigate the matter.
