Mayhem In Seme Border, Customs Officer Killed...

There was pandemonium at the busy Seme Border, linking Nigeria with the Benin Republic, yesterday, when a large mob unleashed mayhem at the border.

Eyewitnesses said a 35-year-old man, Saturday Joel, had being shot by officials of the Nigerian Customs Service when the customs officers were trying to apprehend a motorist who was smuggling a red Volkswagen bus from Benin Republic into Nigeria.

Punch reports that after the shooting, some residents took to the streets in protest, alleging that 

customs officials had killed at least three motorists this month under the pretext that they were smugglers.

It was learnt that in the ensuing pandemonium, the customs officials stationed in the area fled. However, a Superintendent of Customs, identified as J. I Motojelu, was said to have been driving by at the time.

So, in retaliation, the angry mob, led by a community leader, dragged the officer out of his Toyota Corolla car marked ABJ 663 DW, and killed him.

The irate mob also set the deceased officer’s vehicle ablaze and set up bonfires at the centre of the road.

The culprits were said to have used the opportunity to steal some items that had previously been seized by customs.

A police source said:

Motojelu, who knew nothing about the incident was beaten to death. The mob opened a customs patrol van stationed nearby and took a G3 rifle with 30 rounds of ammunition kept inside it. They then set the vehicle ablaze.”

Sources told Punch correspondent that some customs officials and policemen later returned to the scene and fired shots to disperse the mob.

Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, told Punch correspondent on the telephone that seven suspects had been arrested, adding that they would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

She said, “Joel is recuperating at Badagry General Hospital while the slain customs officer has been deposited at the mortuary.”