FIJ
Thompson Inemugha and Gmira Aboribo, superintendent of customs and assistant superintendent of customs II respectively, have been identified by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as the officers whipping and dehumanising two civilians thought to be whistleblowers in viral videos that circulated on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Army has however refused to name the soldiers who were involved, despite admitting their arrest.
On Tuesday, FIJ published two videos first shared by its founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo on X showing the two officers and two soldiers flogging Taofeek Olatunbosun and one other man in the Badagry border community area of Lagos State on Sunday. The officers were active collaborators of Ope Oloko, a known smuggler across the border.
“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has identified and arrested two of its officers involved in the maltreatment of individuals in a viral video,” the NCS wrote in an unsigned statement posted via its verified Facebook page on Tuesday.
“The officers, Superintendent of Customs Thompson Inemugha and Assistant Superintendent of Customs II Gmira Aboribo, were apprehended following a preliminary investigation.
“This was made known by the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Kayode Kolade, during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters at Seme-Krake Border on Tuesday, 3 December 2024.”
According to the statement, the Customs Police Unit would investigate the two erring officers for appropriate disciplinary action.
“He noted that the two officers will be handed over to the Customs Police Unit for further investigation,” the statement stated.
“Stating further, the CAC disclosed that the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has directed that the officers be taken to the NCS headquarters for full-scale investigation and disciplinary measures.
“He requested the complainants to make themselves available to assist in the ongoing investigation.
“The Customs Area Controller restated the service’s commitment to ensuring transparency in all its operational mandates and will continue to work for the overall interest of Nigerians.”
Similarly, the Nigerian Army posted on X on Wednesday morning that it had identified its officers involved in the event. Unlike the NCS, the army refused to name the officers.
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN FIJ
