A video of officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) shooting a man dead has gone viral.
In the video, commuters apparently from a commercial bus are seen exchanging words with the Customs officials as other commuters from other vehicles looked on.
Though the cause of the altercation was not known, a passenger then warns one of the officials not to touch his phone, as others continued arguing with another official.
As the argument continued, a voice is heard saying, ‘Shoot him’ and a gun went off immediately after.
The gunshot then sets everyone fleeing the scene as others are heard repeatedly shouting in pidgin English that the Customs officials have killed someone.
Although the shooter was not captured in the video, however, one of the officials is seen standing beside the body with a gun.
The official then lifts the man’s hand which immediately falls limply to the ground.
Immediately, the officials attempt to get back into their cars, but commuters around the area prevent them from leaving the scene.
NCS spokesperson, Joseph Attah, confirmed that the incident occurred on Sunday (today) at the Sagamu Interchange, along Ijebu Ode.
He said that the man who was shot was a friend of the officials not a commuter.
Mr Attah said the incident occurred during an attempt to obstruct the lawful performance of duty by passengers of a commercial bus.
“While it is painful and totally unnecessary to lose lives in anti-smuggling operations, today at Sagamu Interchange along Ijebu Ode, attempt to obstruct lawful performance of duty by passengers of a commercial bus (a white Toyota Hiace) suspected to be carrying bales of used clothing led to the death of a young man (Godwin) and serious injury of a Customs Officer ASC 1, Destiny Onebanho.
“Contrary to some narrative, the young man was not a passenger of the bus but a good citizen who always comes to fetch water for Customs patrol men anytime they return to base.
“Preliminary findings indicate that it was during the skirmishes and struggle to disarm the officer that the rifle discharged and the friend of the Customs (Godwin) who lost his life.
“The Service is already in touch with the bereaved family.
“Sadly, it should be noted that while attention shifted to the dead and the wounded, the passengers who filmed with incited commentary boarded their vehicle and left, leaving the wrong impression that it was one of them that was killed.
“While the wounded officer is under intensive care at the hospital, the patrol team has been recalled to the office for further investigation,” Attah said.
