Community tackles customs over killing of okada rider

Ezekiel

The Idiroko Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has been accused by the residents of Koko Town in Ogun State of killing a commercial motorcyclist (okadarider) during a raid on the community.

In a petition to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, the community said the okada rider, Timothy Ezekiel, was murdered on Feburary 26, 2014 when a team of customs officials raided the town.

The petition, signed by Chief Shina Ogunyale, counsel for the community, said customs officials were guilty of several extrajudicial killings in Ilashe, Ajegunle, Ihunbo, Ogosa, Ajilete and all other communities along the Idiroko Road.

It reads in part, “We were informed by our client that four teams of armed customs officials invaded Koko Town on the February 26, 2014, shooting sporadically and indiscriminately into homes.

“The teams in three Hilux vans were led by one Mr. Ajao on that fateful day before another team that was led by one Mr. Ade joined them, making it four teams all together.

“Before the arrival of the fourth team, the three teams had been shooting indiscriminately into the air to scare people from approaching a house where the officers had gone to recover contraband goods. The house in question is far away from the family house of the deceased where he was killed by one Mr. Ahmed, a member of the fourth team.

“The deceased was moving his children and his 80-year-old father (Pa. Ezekiel) into their family house. It was at that point that Ahmed shot the deceased right in the front of his aged father.

“Immediately after Timothy’s murder, the teams left Koko town, abandoning the contraband goods they came for. Timothy is a gentleman, he was not a smuggler and was not at the scene of the customs’ operation.”

The petition further alleged that the customs officials had not shown remorse since the incident.

The petition added, “A report was made that same day to the police at the Area Command, Ilaro. Although they assured us they would investigate the incident, we have yet to hear from them.  Even the NIS has not deemed it fit to visit the family of the deceased.”

The NCS Public Relations Officer, Idiroko Command, identified simply as Mr. Ngigie, told PUNCH Metro that Timothy’s death was a regrettable incident.

He said, “When a life is lost, we commiserate with the family; the Nigerian customs is not known for this.

“What really happened is that the deceased is a known smuggler. For some time now, we have been trying to combat smuggling which is being carried out by commercial motorcyclists along the Idiroko border.

“To tackle this menace, we decided to watch the okada riders. By the time they have brought in an appreciable number of rice bags, we then strike. On that day, we got information that an appreciable number of rice bags were being kept in the town. When our teams moved in to evacuate the rice, about a 100 youths attacked our officers. It was at that point an officer shot into the air to disperse them.”

Ngigie added that Timothy was shot in the ensuing faceo-ff that followed when the youths who were armed replied with gunfire.

He said, “As it is, we cannot say whose bullet killed Timothy. Still, we have been trying to reach the family of the deceased through the community leaders.”

There was no response from the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, as he did not reply the calls and text message to his phone.