CUSTOMS OFFICER CRUSHED TO DEATH IN AGBARA BY ARMY CONVOY

An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Baba Nwaguyawo, has been crushed to death while attempting to stop a convoy of the Nigerian Army at the Agbara end of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Friday.

The convoy was reportedly used as a diversion to smuggle some cars into the country.

PUNCH Metro learnt that operatives of the NCS at the Agbara checkpoint had attempted stopping the convoy for a routine search when a Nigerian Army van piloting the fleet killed Nwaguyawo.

Our correspondent gathered that the deceased, with service number 53225, was until his death an anti-smuggling operative of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos.

It was learnt that the four vehicles, suspected to be smuggled under the guise of Army convoy, were two units of Mercedez Benz Sports Utility Vehicle ML 350, one Toyota Venza, and a Mercedez Saloon car.

A source said, “The incident happened on Friday. Actually, three joint units of customs, including the NCS, Seme, Customs Intelligence Unit and Federal Operations Unit, were set to intercept the vehicles which were being piloted by a team of military men, led by Captain A.M. Murnai with Force No. 45EB/15FER with Army operation vehicle no. NA2021B05.

“Each of the smuggled cars had two soldiers in uniforms inside, as an act of subterfuge and deception, with Captain Murnai inside the piloting van.

“At the point of stop-and-search, the military men resisted and forced their way through, knocking down the deceased in order to pave way for the smuggled vehicles to escape. Two of the smuggled vehicles crushed the customs officer simultaneously.”

Our correspondent learnt that the victim’s remains were deposited in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital mortuary, Ikeja.

PUNCH Metro gathered that some of the culprits, who were arrested together with their official vehicle, were detained.

They were later moved to the Ibereko Barracks, Badagry, on the instruction of the Commanding Officer, Ibereko Barracks, for further interrogation.

The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Joseph Attah, confirmed the incident.

He said, “It is true that we lost an officer in that unfortunate incident. Investigations are ongoing by the Army and the NCS authorities.”

The spokesman for the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Olaolu Daudu, said the matter was being investigated.

“I am in Badagry now to investigate the matter,” he said.

Our correspondent learnt on Sunday that officers of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army and the FOU, Ikeja, were in a joint meeting over the incident.

Source: Punchng.com