Youth Leader Condemns Murder Of Customs Officer

The Agbara Community youth leader, Mr. Ayodele Ajos has strongly condemned last  Friday killing of a serving customs officer at the Agbara Check Point by men of the Nigerian Army, describing it as an act of callousness.
The youth leader urged President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff to see that justice is done in the matter. Failure to properly and conclusively Probe Friday’s killing of Inspector Baba Nyagiyawo of the Anti-Smuggling Units Federal Operations Zone “ A” can have devastating consequences on our young democracy.
He described the deceased customs officer as a man of the people and wondered why anyone could take his life just like that.
The deceased Inspector Baba Nyagiyawo with service No 53225 was until his death an Anti-Smuggling Operative of the Federal Operations Units, Zone “A”, Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The four vehicles suspected to be smuggled into the country under the guise of Army convoy led by a serving captain, according to sources was enroute Owode Apa from neighbouring Benin Republic.
It was learnt that at the point of stop and check, the military convoy led by Captain A.M Murnai with Force No. 45 EB/15 FER driven in Army Operation Vehicle No. NA2021BO5 resisted and forced their way through, thereby  knocking down the officer in order to pave way for the four assorted vehicle to escape.  Two of the smuggled vehicles were alleged to have crushed the officer, Baba Nyagiyawp simultaneously.
The customs it was learnt chased the runaway soldier and intercepted him with the official vehicle while two of the smuggled vehicles escaped.
It would be recalled that in 2010, some aggrieved soldiers from Ibereko Barracks went on rampage along  Badagry round about, leaving behind wanton destruction, chaos and commotion. According to an eyewitness accounts, a  soldier riding on a motor cycle was allegedly knocked down and killed by  a police man while in their usual tradition. Soldiers quickly reinforced to deal with the situation in their own way.  The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Badagry, CSC Salihu, DCO and three other officers were murdered in cold blood with their official Hilux burnt while coming from peace broker meeting with the Ibereko Commander.
The unfortunate Badagry expressway incident has once again brought to public eyes the recurring issues of gross disregard for laws and orders by a few members of the country’s armed forces. There have been quite some instances of a few security operative behaving as if they are above the law. It is for instance, a common sight in the country, especially in major cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kano, to see security behaving as if they are above the law.
Few years back Miss Uzoma Okere was brutalized by Armed Naval ratings officer attached to real Admiral Harry Arogundade in a most dehumanizing manner as she was stripped naked in the full glare of the public for daring to fight for her right in November, 2008. But for the intervention of the Lagos State Government through the court of law that secured judgment in favour of Uzoma Okere as the court awarded the sum of N100Million damaged against the defendant Okere would have suffered in vain, as it is always the case.
Nigeria are awaiting the outcome of investigation over an innocent officer who was killed by an over jealous Amy Officer while serving his father’s land.

 Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos.