The Senate has upbraided the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over the indiscriminate use of firearms by its operatives resulting in alleged killings of Nigerians, particularly those living in border communities. The red chambers particularly condemned the indiscriminate shooting by Customs officers in Katsina State on July 13.
Consequently, the Senate on Wednesday under the leadership of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio set up an 11-man ad-hoc committee to carry out a “holistic investigation” into the matter and report back in six weeks.
The resolutions were sequel to a motion titled “Urgent need to investigate the abuse of firearms by officers of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Kastina State” moved by the senator representing Katsina Central, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua.
Ad-hoc Committee Members
The Committee has as its Chairman as Senator, Francis Fadahunsi, a retired Customs officer. 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 Abdulaziz Yar’adua (APC-Katsina), Olajide Emmanuel (APC-Ondo), Mohammed Muntari (APC-Katsina) and Napoleon Bali (PDP- Plateau)
Matters Arising
Earlier in his presentation, Senator Yar’adua who noted that it remained a fact that officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) were authorized to carry firearms while discharging their duties, said that it 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.
In his contribution, Senator Francis Fadahunsi who noted that the NCS in the last seven years has been militarized, while urging the new administration to begin the de-militarisation of the NCS, said that his committee during the 8th Senate had raised the matter of militarization of NCS officers, saying that their complaint was not considered.
