Customs confirms one death in accident at Sokoto checkpoint

The Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto and Zamfara Area Command has confirmed the death of one person in a checkpoint accident, which occurred at Asara village, Sokoto-Illela Road.

The Command’s spokesman, Balarabe Yusuf, made this known in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Sokoto.

Yusuf said the accident occurred on Sunday when the driver of a car, suspected to be conveying contraband items, refused to be searched at the checkpoint.

He explained that in an attempt to dodge the stop and search checkpoint, the driver was involved in a head-on collision with a vehicle coming in the opposite direction in which one passenger died and others sustained injuries.

He, however, refuted reports that four persons died during the accident, adding that a Customs officer narrowly escaped being knock down by the vehicle.

He said that a group of people who disguised as sympathisers later attacked Custom Officers at the checkpoint.

He said that in the process, the mob set one patrol vehicle and a vehicle belonging to one of the officers ablaze.

Yusuf said: “In order to contain the situation from further escalation, the Customs Area Controller, Mr Abdulhameed Ma’aji, dispatched a reinforcement team who succeeded in restoring law and order in the area.

“The area controller has sympathised with the accident victims and appealed to the general public to always support the service in its effort to block all contraband goods coming into the country through the borders.

“The country is faced with security challenges and the NCS as an institution is doing its best to stop illegal smuggling and the situation needs collective efforts,” he said.