The House in passing the resolution asked the committee to report back within six weeks for further legislative action.

In the resolution, the lawmakers further urged the Federal Government to review the rules of engagement of the Nigerian Customs Service as it relates to arms usage, in a motion under matter of urgent national importance, raised by Hon. Shina Peller represents Iwajowa/Kajola/Iseyin Federal constituency, Oyo State.

Debating the motion, Honorable Peller, explained that, on Thursday 13th of May 2021, an eyewitness narrated how men of the Customs Service pursued a sport utility vehicle (SUV) conveying bags of rice, and during the pursuit, started shooting sporadically and in the process, five people were killed.

“It was a sad day as the people were celebrating the EID-El-FITRI in the Oja- Oba area of the ancient town,”  Peller said, adding that five persons who included, Oluwatobi, Timothy, Wasiu, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, and Umar Abu, were killed.

He expressed worries over the attitude of the officers and men of the service, especially in their show of total negligence, abuse of authority, gross misconduct, and disregard for human lives.

According to him, by the rules, the Customs men are to be stationed about 40kms to the border town, wondering if they were properly cautioned and trained in the process of handling arms effectively after recruitment.

He said, “bearing in mind that they carry arms, these tragedies would have been avoided. Killings by custom officers in the guise of pursuing smugglers is a recurring saga in the country and something must be done urgently to put an end to it.

Insecurity: Customs need more men to police nation’s borders – Ali

‘’Relevant questions must be asked: are bags of rice worth more than human lives? Even if they were smugglers, must the custom officers open fire on them? Must they pursue smugglers? These and many more questions need to be asked to forestall a future occurrence”, according to Peller.

He stated that under Chapter II of the Nigerian constitution, which is the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, ‘’it shall be the duty of all organs of government and of all authorities and persons, exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of this Chapter of this Constitution’’. Section 14(2)(b) of this chapter further states that ‘’the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government’’.