OGUN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE CALL FOR PROBE OVER CUSTOMS RAID,KILLING OF RICE CARRIERS
Omooba Risawe
Ogun State Council of Chambers of Commerce,Industry,Mines and Agriculture,OGUNCCIMA, on Thursday called for probe over the killing ,Saubana Onila,a commercial driver, by men of the Customs Service on Wednesday in Ogun State.
It would be recalled that, Ogun State Command of the Customs Service had allegedly shot dead the victim,and injured four others while conveying 25 bags of rice from Abeokuta to Sagamu along Siun-Abeokuta-Sagamu highway.
The customs officials,in the same manner had about two weeks ago broke shops of rice sellers in a market in Sango town of the state, in a midnight raid and carted away number of bag of rice from the shops. They allegedly stole money found in the shops.
President of the Chambers, Mrs Adesola Adebutu, however, in a statement said the action of the customs in the recent time need urgent probe, and caution against repeat of such,hence,the need for the authority to investigate and get to root of the matter.
The chambers boss said,the raid embarked in Ota by the Customs, was better described as armed robbery, having invaded the the shops at midnight without the knowledge of the owners.
She, said in the same manner,the chambers condemned in strong terms the recklessness of the men of the Nigeria Customs Services, stressing that there was no reason for the customs to have gun down anybody in that manner, even if they are smugglers.
Her words ‘The Ogun State Council of Chambers of Commerce,Industry,Mines and Agriculture has condemned in very strong terms the recklessness of the men of the Nigeria Customs Services at Kobape in Obafemi-Owode Local Government, Ogun State on Wednesday 8th March,2017’.
The chambers said it does not support any form of economic sabotage,but condemns the recklessness of the men of NCS,stating that,it believes that there would have been no need for,’this reckless act by men of the NCS if they had exhibited enough patriotism at the border posts and prevented the importation of smuggled goods’
Adebutu posited that,there was a government policy that stipulates that operation of the custom services must not be beyond 40km from the border posts, arguing that it was illegal for the customs to be operating in such manner contrary to the policy laid down.
The Chambers, however, appealed to the people to remain calm,as it continues to engage every one concerned to prevent a recurrence,stressing further,’as the Ogun State Government has demanded detailed and transparent investigation into this ugly incident,Ogunccima joins the state government to appeal to the people to remain calm’
