The Ogun State House of Assembly has condemned the killing of a taxi driver in the state by men of the Nigeria Customs Service over three bags of rice.
The victim, identified as Saubana, was shot dead on Wednesday last week by a custom officer at Kobape in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.
The House at a plenary session on Tuesday said that it was imperative for it to summon the state comptroller of Customs over the activities of the service in the state.
A lawmaker, Adeyinka Mafe (APC ), representing Sagamu 1 State constituency, said that the killing of innocent people and other nefarious activities of the men of the Nigeria Customs Service in the state remained questionable.
According to Mafe, the men of the NCS were supposed to be officiating at the country’s borders, adding that three lives were lost as a result of the careless operations in the city.
“Where the last incident happened was a road from Abeokuta to Sagamu, where three lives were lost due to the nefarious activities of the Customs, claiming that they were pursuing smugglers.
“Two weeks ago, the same thing happened around Sango Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, though no life was lost,” he said.
The lawmaker, who is the majority leader of the House, submitted that the legislature should pass a strong resolution on the matter and there should be urgent need to summon the state comptroller of the NCS.
Also contributing to the debate, an APC lawmaker, Idowu Olowofuja, debunked the claims that the taxi driver, who was shot dead by men of the NCS was a smuggler, saying that he was, until his death, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
Olowofuja, who represents Abeokuta South 11 State Constituency, noted that the state comptroller of the NCS should be called to order, stressing that customs officers should exhibit professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
Biyi Adeleye (APC) representing Remo constituency, also condemned the activities of the NCS, demanding a law that should restrict their activities to the borders.
The Speaker of the House, Suraj Adekunbi (APC – Yewa North 1), condoled with the family members of the late taxi driver, saying that no amount of sanction would bring the deceased back alive.
Adekunbi , who cautioned the operatives of the NCS against display of recklessness in the discharge of their duties, sounded a note of warning to them not to use their official positions to toy with the lives of the citizens of the state.
“We will continue to engage them; even at the national level, they are having issues. We are not saying you should not carry out your responsibilities, but you should be professional about it, ” he said.