The Senate has condemned the Customs over what it described as the indiscriminate shooting of Chief of Staff to Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State , Jabiru Tsauri on July 16
Tsauri was shot at the Gorar Yammama in Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state by suspected personnel of the state command of the Customs.
The Senate made the condemnation following a motion moved by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua (Katsina, APC) who reported the shooting of Tsauri and calling on the Red Chambers to investigate the abuse of firearms by the Customs officers berated the Nigeria Customs Service over the incessant killing and shootings of Nigerians, particularly those living in border communities.
According to Yar’adua, some Customs officials had been found to be unprofessional in the handling of firearms, leading to needless loss of the lives of innocent citizens.
He accused some officers of the NCS on the Gorar Yammama highway in Katsina State of shooting indiscriminately at the vehicle conveying Tsauri, on July 16.
Yar’adua recalled that some Customs personnel also shot at the convoy of a former Katsina State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Umar Gwajo-Gwajo, while he was driving from Daura to Mia’adua LGA around September 2021.
He said the refusal of the authorities to check the abuse of firearms by officers of the NCS might lead to the loss of more innocent lives and possible reprisal by angered civilians.
He, therefore, asked the Senate to condemn the July 13 incident and fish out the officers that shot at the government convoys.
He also requested the Senate to urge authorities of the NCS to improve on the training of personnel in handling firearms, especially fire discipline when dealing with Nigerian citizens.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara, APC), said over 10 of the supporters of former President Muhammadu Buhari have been killed by NCS officers in Zamfara State.
Yari said, “Most of the people that voted for us in 2015, have all been killed. I asked about the cause of their deaths and about 15 of them were killed by the men of the Customs Service.”
Other senators supported the motion.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, while condemning the indiscriminate shootings and killings of people found in possession of bags of rice by officers of the NCS, set up an ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of abuse and human rights violations against the NCS.
Akpabio said, “The lives that are lost are too numerous and we cannot allow it to continue. It is a serious issue that the senate looks into,” Akpabio said.
The Senate then urged the NCS to fish out the erring officers and investigate the incident that led the Customs operatives to open fire on unarmed civilians.
Meanwhile, a highly placed official in Government House, Katsina who craves anonymity has accused the Command of trying to cover up the incident.
The official at the rank of a director, said despite the assurance by the Customs to investigate and hold those accountable to face the full might of the law, “the Customs Authorities in Katsina obstruct the ongoing investigation into the audacious assassination attempt on the Chief of Staff to the Katsina State Governor.
“Despite the unwavering dedication of the police, the culprits responsible for this heinous act remain at large due to the Command Services adamantly refusing to cooperate.”
He told the 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that “It is truly disheartening to discover that among the perpetrators, two individuals are civilians who are currently being shielded from justice by the very Customs Authorities who should uphold the law. Consequently, the Command Services in the state persists in withholding the suspects linked to the attempted murder of the Chief of Staff.”
