Customs vows to sanction officer caught assaulting civilian

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has vowed to sanction one of its officers attached to the Federal Operations Unit, FOU Zone ‘C’ caught assaulting a civilian.

The assault took place along the Benin – Agbor expressway on Saturday at about 5.00 pm.

Customs National Public Relations Officer, Timi Bomodi, in a statement said the officer involved and other members of the team from the unit have been withdrawn and are currently under administrative investigation at the NCS Zonal Headquarters Zone ‘C’ Port Harcourt.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a video making the rounds on social media. In it, one of our officers was recorded assaulting an unarmed civilian. This assault took place on the Benin – Agbor expressway on Saturday the 7th of May 2022 at about 5.00 pm.

“This officer and other members of that team from FOU Zone ‘C’ have since been withdrawn from patrol duties and are currently under administrative investigation at the NCS Zonal Headquarters Zone ‘C’ Port Harcourt.

“Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been trained to carry out their duties with dignity and respect, and are expected to display decorum in all their conduct at all times.

“Where they fail to carry out their brief as assigned, appropriate sanctions are applied to enforce discipline. The NCS would like to reassure the general public of its commitment to the welfare and safety of all citizens and frowns seriously at any act by its personnel capable of misrepresenting its corporate image.

“We ask that all law-abiding persons go about their activities without fear of intimidation or harassment as we work assiduously to bring closure to this unwholesome incident.