Customs’ thug causes accident, death of trader

Firstclass newsline learnt that a trader, Kabiru Mohammed, has been
killed at a checkpoint of the Nigerian Customs Service in the Ijanikin
area of Lagos after a hoodlum threw an object at the tyre of his
moving vehicle.
Firstclass newsline learnt that Mohammed's vehicle thereafter
somersaulted, and swerved off the road, leading to a lone accident.
It was learnt that the victim reportedly died on the spot.
Firstclass newsline learnt that on Friday, July 10, 28-year-old
Mohammed, who was said to be dealing in second-hand shoes, was
returning from the Seme area in his car at about 5am.
It was learnt that the trader was stopped at a checkpoint manned by
customs officials around the Federal Government College area in
Ijanikin.
Firstclass newsline learnt that after the inspection by the NCS
officials, Mohammed was asked to go.
However, one of the thugs, reportedly working with the NCS officials,
was said to have given Mohammed's vehicle a chase and thrown an object
at the car tyres, which made the vehicle to swerve and somersault.
It was learnt that before Mohammed could be rescued, he had died.
Policemen from the Ijanikin division and soldiers at another
checkpoint in the area took Mohammed's corpse away.
A commercial driver, identified only as Suleiman, said when the
officers and the thugs realised that Mohammed was dead, they fled the
checkpoint.
He added that the thug hurled the object in error, thinking that
Mohammed did not "settle" the customs officials.
He said, "It was about 5.30am. The man was coming from the Seme area
and packed second-hand shoes in his vehicle. He was stopped by the
customs officers, and he settled them.
"They asked him to go, but one of theKelebes(thugs) lurking around the
checkpoint did not know the man had been cleared. He ran after him and
threw the metal object under his tyre. The car climbed the object and
the driver lost control of the vehicle.
"The car somersaulted, and went off the road. The officers and the
thug took to his heels immediately. I later heard it was the police
and some soldiers who came to remove the corpse."
A source in the area alleged that the thugs, who were commonly
calledAjaorKelebe, usually worked with customs officers at the
checkpoint to arrest traders carrying contrabands or those who refused
to bribe them.
"TheKelebesdo not wear uniforms, but you will see them lurking around
the checkpoints. They collect money from the drivers, and harass
people as if they were the customs officers. They always share the
money collected," he added.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu,
confirmed Mohammed's death. He added that the family had, however,
requested the corpse from the Ijanikin division for burial.
He said, "The police at Ijanikin recovered the corpse. What we have is
a case of a fatal accident. Meanwhile, the family members have shown
up at the division to request the body of their relative. It has been
released to them."
The Public Relations Officer, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja,
Lagos, Uche Ejesieme, said the comptroller had ordered a detailed
investigation into the incident. He added that the findings would soon
be made public.
He said, "We are investigating the cause of the incident. It is
pertinent to note that it is not in our character to exhibit conducts
capable of putting people's lives at risks.
"The comptroller has ordered an investigation into the matter.
"Meanwhile, our hearts and condolences go to the family and dependents
of the deceased."
Firstclassnewsline.net