The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reacted to the viral video where one of its officers was recorded assaulting an unarmed civilian.
In a statement made available on Monday, the NCS’ National Public Relations Officer, DC Timi Bomodi, reassured Nigerians of its commitment to the welfare and safety of all citizens.
He added that the NCS frowned at any act by its personnel, capable of misrepresenting its corporate image, saying that the team have been recalled back as investigation is currently ongoing.
The statement reads in part; “The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a video making the rounds on social media.
In it, one of our officers was recorded assaulting an unarmed civilian. This action took place on the Benin-Agbor Expressway on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at about 5.00 pm.
“This officer and other members of that team from FOU Zone ‘C’ have since been withdrawn from patrol duties and are currently under administrative investigation at the NCS Zonal Headquarters, Zone ‘C’ , Port Harcourt.
“Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been trained to carry out their duties with dignity and respect, and are expected to display decorum in all their conduct at all times.
“The NCS would like to reassure the general public of its commitment to the welfare and safety of all citizens and frowns seriously at any act by its personnel capable of misrepresenting its corporate image.
“Where they fail to carry out their brief as assigned, appropriate sanctions are applied to enforce discipline.
“We ask that all law-abiding persons go about their activities without fear of intimidation or harassment as we work assiduously to bring closure to this unwholesome incident”.
Mr Samson Nwachukwu, a Special Assistant to Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, was recently slapped and attacked by an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service.
On Sunday, a human rights advocate, Harrison Gwamnishu, took to his Facebook page and posted the video of the incident which reportedly occurred along Benin/Agbor Expressway on Saturday.
In the video, the Customs officer can be heard angrily asking who Mr. Samson Nwachukwu is after he had told him he is a Special Assistant to Delta State Governor before slapping him.
The video ended with the military officer telling the Customs officer to “get this man down.”
