By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate has set up an ad-hoc committee to probe the alleged indiscriminate use of firearms by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The upper legislative chamber lamented that the development had resulted in killings of Nigerians at land borders and checkpoints across the country.
Senate’s resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion at plenary sponsored by Senator Abdul-Aziz Yar’Adua (APC-Katsina Central).
The motion was titled” Urgent Need to Investigate the Abuse of firearms by officers of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Katsina State”
The Committee, which has Senator Francis Fadahunsi (PDP-Osun) as Chairman, has six weeks to present the report of its findings to the Senate.
Other members of the committee include Senators Shuaibu Lau (PDP-Taraba) Kawu Sumaila (NNPP- Kano), Tony Nwoye (LP Anambra), Umar Sadiq, (APC-Kwara) Akpan Samson, (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) and Senator Solomon Adeola,(APC-Ogun)
Others are Senator Abdul-Aziz Yar’Adua (APC-Katsina), Olajide Emmanuel (APC-Ondo), Mohammed Muntari (APC-Katsina), and Napoleon Bali (PDP- Plateau)
Yar’Adua had in his lead debate said it remained a fact that officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) were authorised 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.
He, however, 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, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari threatened to sue the NCS over the killing of residents during border drills in the state.
He said during the same period, the House of Representatives invited the former Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hamid Ali (retd) to appear before it to explain the circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident.
He said that given the recurring killings of innocent people by customs operatives in Katsina, the House of Representatives on February 3, 2022, ordered the NCS to pay N390m as compensation to families of 10 victims that were killed and 13 others injured in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Yar’Adua said, “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.
“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 concern 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 added that 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.
He expressed worry that the inability to checkmate the recurring abuse of firearms by officers of the NCS might lead to the loss of innocent lives and possibly reprisal attacks by angered civilians.
Contributing, Senators Ahmed Lawan, Solomon Adeola, and Abdul’Aziz 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 residents 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.
Fadahunsi, who chaired the ad-hoc panel said the NCS in the last seven years has been militarised.
He urged the new administration to begin the de-militarisation of the NCS.
He said his committee during the 8th Senate had raised the matter of militarisation of NCS officers, saying that their complaint 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 customs operatives to open fire on unarmed civilians.
It urged the NCS to improve on the training of its personnel in handling firearms, especially fire discipline when dealing with Nigerian citizens.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio 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.
