save us from killer officers of nigeria customs service – ogun west youth leader cries out!

PRESS RELEASE

The leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ogun West, has called on the State Government, Political Stakeholders, and the general public to intervene in the continued unprofessional conducts of men of the Nigeria Customs Service across the borders and towns of Ogun West.

Addressing a gathering of aggrieved youths on Sunday December 27, 2020, the Vice Chairman for the Youth Council in Ogun West Senatorial District, Com. Tajudeen Adeleye lamented the spate of killings of indigenes by Customs’ Officers while on operation.

“It has been a sorrowful year. We’ve lost tens of our youths to the bullets of those who are meant to protect our borders.

“Earlier this year, in May, among several known and unknown killings, we recorded the death of two 15 year old youths; Master Rilwan Bello and Ms. Sekinat Agbelade who were killed, at two different operations at Agosasa and Idiroko, by stray bullets of Customs’ Officers. These young and brilliant youths had their futures shortened by highhandedness.

“On December 22, 2020, another set of unprofessional Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service killed 40 year old Sola Asamu of Rainbow area at Kikelomo in Aiyetoro having injured over five indigenes including Mrs. Ramota Ojeleye.

“On December 26, 2020, there was another blinded operation leading to the death of a boy who was innocently playing football, in the spirit of the season, before being hit by a careless shot from an Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, while one of those who sustained gunshot injuries later gave up today December 27, 2020. We are currently at the mercy of God as other injured indigenes struggle to recover.

“From Ipokia to Idiroko, Ilase, Oja Odan, Owode, Ilaro, Ayetoro, and Imeko, there is rarely an operation carried out by Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service where the bloods of innocent indigenes are not spilled under the guise of arrest and seizure of contrabands. Our situation has now become dismay as our people live in fear of the next household to become a victim of customs’ killings.

“We hereby call on the State Government and our political representatives to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in this unprofessional conducts of these Customs’ Officer. We are also issuing a strong warning to the authority of the Nigeria Customs Service for Ogun State Area Commands to immediately review their modus operandi to ensure that our people’s lives are henceforth prioritized above mere goods.

“Conclusively, the youth leadership will not hesitate to lead a protest across the State to suspend the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service as our lives are far precious to remain at the mercy of unprofessional men in position of authority,” Adeleye said.