Oke-Ogun in Oyo North senatorial district has had enough of Customs carnage. Now, it must end. But it won’t end with scalding press statements by critical stakeholders or public outrage — and masses umbrage against customs menacing audacity, atrocity and rascality — that have gone for years unchecked, underreported, undeterred and unstopped. Only a concerted, actionable and concrete efforts will kick happy trigger customs officers back to the 40 kilometer radius of the border — where they are constitutionally mandated to stay.
As Muslims bask in the glow of Eid Fitr on Thursday 13th of May, 2021, the ancient town of Iseyin, headquarters of Iseyin Local Government was thrown into chaos, pandemonium and bloodbath as men of Nigerian Customs Service went on a sporadic and unprofessionally firing at suspected rice smugglers — only to kill innocent civilians — a motorcyclist who just dropped a passenger included. As these bloodthirsty officers pulled their triggers, four or five precious, innocent and joyous lives became ricocheted by the bullets, then fell into the cold hand of death with many critically and badly injured.
This latest carnage is another in the series of customs rampant and rampaging shooting of civilians and smugglers alike in Oke-Ogun, the region that borders the Republic of Benin where contrabands such as rice are being smuggled and trafficked into the country. Because this has gone for years, with neither justice for the victims, nor deterrence for the shooters, many innocent lives continue to get wasted in the name of chasing smugglers and their accomplices — from the forest into the deep heart of towns!
Precisely on Thursday, 14th of August, 2020, youths in the border town of Saki vent their anger on officers of Nigerian Customs Service over the killing of a rice smuggler. In a swift and retaliatory attack, an officer of the service got hounded and killed in the process. That ugly scenario send chill down the spines of commuters as people scamper for their safety. The end of that incident was the destruction of the service vehicles and office building — plus two precious lives. Safe for the prompt and timely intervention of the Okere of Saki in de-escalating that incident from festering further, hell might have let loose that day and beyond.
There have been instances where innocent lives get killed by officers of Nigerian Customs across the region — and even vice versa. It seems every town in the district has had one harrowing encounter and horrible experience in the hands of these service men. From Iseyin, which is the end point of the region, and where this latest dastard attack took place to Saki, which borders the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin to Igbeti, which links the entire region to other places such as Ilorin and Ogbomosho, the story has always been the same: happy trigger officers testing the water of their bullets on smugglers and innocent civilians.
But customs officers are not just the villains here, they’ve also been victims as well. On the 29th of January, 2014. Suspected rice smugglers in their numbers stormed customs checkpoint in Igbeti, headquarters of Olorunsogo Local Government and attack officers on duty. Though, refrained from a reprisal attack, that incident indicates a disturbingly worrisome turn of things between the service and their host community. For smugglers who are no different from criminals to have the effrontery and gall to attack officers on duty signals the height of danger brewing between the people and law enforcement agencies. Though, that attack was not unconnected with the killing of a rice smugglers by customs officers, it nevertheless shows how deeply rooted the problem has become — and how urgently drastic action must be taken to avert future occurrence.
Again, on the 5th of July, 2014, two officers of Nigerian Custom service were attacked at Ogbomosho on their way back from Ibadan. As reported by newsmen, one of the officer was immediately rushed to UCH, Ibadan for treatment because of the level of injury sustained. Attack on Government establishment is fueled primarily because of mutual mistrust which is not unconnected with injustice in the land. But what primarily fueled customs continuous attacks on innocent civilians? Self defence or what?
Of course there is no justification for killing of civilians in an attempt to nab smugglers same as no reason is enough to attack law enforcement agents by smugglers. And here lies the middle ground: in the face of relentless provocation tied to survival; because smugglers are essentially motivated by the economic proceeds of their illegal exploits, which is connected to many other existential factors, same as customs officers are inspired to justify their fat checks by displaying their diligence and discipline in their duties; there is a need to approach things with a win-win mentality. But win-win approach won’t work without synergy, collaboration, corroboration, and regular interface between the people and the service on how best to ensure smooth ride for the service and the people.
Smuggling is outlaw, no doubt, and must be nipped in the bud right where the law says: 40 kilometer radius of the border. Officers abetting smuggling must be fished out, and justice must be served: an injustice to one is an injustice to all. Essentially because, there are no better way to confront this bloodbath than for the parties to come face to face on a round table and pour out their minds. And this goes beyond the usual rhetorics that have bear no solid fruit in the recent past. The time for the entire region come and address this issue once and for all. No moment is as decisive as now to stop this carnage, for this, all hands must be on deck. A stitch in time saves nine.
OYO101, Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion on issues affecting Oyo State, is published on Saturdays. He can be reached via muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com and 09065176850.
