Customs officer shoots driver, swoops on bags of rice

Traders at Daleko Market, Isolo, Lagos State, have kicked against the manner a bus driver, operating at the market, was shot by a Customs officer and abandoned while writhing in pain.

The Customs officer, attached to the Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Ikeja, Lagos State, was alleged to have simply drove away with the victim’s vehicle and bags, after shooting him.

The bus driver, Sunday Umaru, 37, is presently battling to stay alive in the hospital.

Umaru was said to have been shot on August 23, while heading to Ilupeju area of the state metropolis to deliver some bags of rice.

It was further gathered that Umaru was flagged down by some Customs officials who were on patrol around the area. He heeded the command to stop, but allegedly refused to allow his vehicle to be impounded.

Alfa Tijani, a trader at the market, said: “It was during argument that one of the Customs officers brought out a gun and shot Umaru. Immediately after shooting him, they drove off with his vehicle and bags of rice, leaving him writhing in pain. It was a Good Samaritan, who later rushed him to the hospital. The matter was also reported at Ilupeju Police Station.”

Traders at Daleko Market, where the driver started his journey, said that an argument ensued between the Customs officials and the bus driver, after Umaru refused his vehicle to be impounded.

One of the Customs officials allegedly fired Umaru on the arm and shoulder.

 Tijani further said: “On that fateful day, Umaru, after loading the bags of rice and some other foodstuffs from the market, went through Ilupeju to deliver his wares. He was stopped by the Customs officials. After explaining to the Customs officials that the bags of rice were not smuggled ones, they still insisted on impounding his vehicle and the bags of rice. They claimed that Umaru brought the rice from Benin Republic.”

 Tijani continued his narration: “We were shocked when we got to Customs office at Ikeja, to find out that the seized vehicle and bags of rice were labelled as smuggled goods.”

 Mr. Adekunle Kupoluyi, another trader in the market, said: “This is not the first time Customs officials would attack our colleague, claiming they were smuggling rice into the country. We are not smugglers! The rice we sell in Daleko Market are brought to us by those who went to Cotonou to buy them. Some of the people that brought the rice into our market are never arrested by Customs. Rather, they would come to the market, to attack ordinary traders, looking for what to feed family members.”

He added: “Two of our colleagues’ vehicles and about 150 bags, were seized by Customs officers last month. We are law abiding citizens. We are not into smuggling. We have reported the matter at Ilupeju Police Station. We urge the federal government to come to our aid. We don’t want to be out of business.”

When contacted, the Customs spokesperson on phone, his number was not going through as at the time of filling in this report.