Customs Officer Kills America Returnee over N5000 Bribe

Abiola Seun, Tayo Oladipupo

A Customs Officer, ASC1, Destiny Onebamho attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A Ikeja yesterday allegedly shot to death a Nigerian returning from abroad.

The incident which happened at the Lagos-Benin Expressway had a Customs officer shot directly to the American returnee thereby killing him on the spot.

In a video which was widely circulated on social media, a lady’s voice was heard accusing the customs officer of shooting the victim over alleged N5, 000 bribe.

The unnamed lady said, “Customs officers killed somebody because of N5000,” she said repeatedly.

But, the Nigeria Customs Service, in a press statement made available to newsmen denied killing an American returnee.

According to a statement by the National Public Relation Officer of the service, Joseph Attah, the person shot was a Customs friend.

The statement reads, “The attention of Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a disturbing video going viral with conflicting narratives.

https://twitter.com/Odufaj/status/1097125361106722816

https://twitter.com/Odufaj/status/1097125549682642944

While it is painful and totally unnecessary to lose life in anti-smuggling operations, today at Sagamu interchange along Ijebu Ode, attempt to obstruct lawful performance of duty by passengers of a commercial bus (a white Toyota Hiace) suspected to be carrying bales of used clothing led to the death of a young man (Godwin) and serious injury of a Customs Officer, ASC1, Destiny Onebamho.”

https://twitter.com/Odufaj/status/1097126082866806786

The Customs national PRO however stated that the person killed was neither an American returnee nor a passenger of the bus a Nigerian citizen that helps officers of the service.

He said, “Contrary to some narratives, the young man was not a passenger of the bus but a good citizen who always come to fetch water for Customs Patrol men anytime they return to the base.

“Preliminary finding indicate that it was during the skirmishes and struggle to disarm the Officer that the riffle discharged and hit the friend of the Customs (Godwin) who lost his life. The Service is already in touch with the bereaved family.

“Sadly, it should be noted that while attention shifted to the dead and the wounded, the passengers who filmed with inciting commentaries boarded their vehicle and left, leaving the wrong impression that it was one of them that was killed.

“While the wounded Officer is under intensive care at the hospital, the patrol team has been recalled to the office for further investigation.”