Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service have reportedly shot a member of the Nigerian Union of Road and Transport Workers (NURTW) at Garki Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
A statement by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Public Relations Officer, CSC Adamu Shehu, on Thursday said the NURTW member was allegedly hit by a stray bullet of the customs operatives that were pursuing suspected smugglers.
He said the victim identified as Abdurrahman Mohammed was dusting off his car outside Garki Motor Park when he saw a fast approaching vehicle of Nigeria Customs Service with No. 16 boldly written on it.
It was gathered that the customs operatives suddenly stopped and one of them shot him despite the plea of a soldier. Shehu said the customs men immediately fled the scene.
The bullet inflicted a deep wound on the victim, who was rushed to the hospital by sympathisers.
In August 2021, SHIPS & PORTS reported that no fewer than 30 unarmed citizens have been killed by trigger-happy officials of the Nigeria Customs Service in the past five years.
Calls by the National Assembly and traditional rulers demanding an end to the extra-judicial killings by customs officials and prosecution of erring customs men have been ignored by the NCS management.
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