The Nigerian customs service has rejected a video that circulates on social media concerning a shooting accident involving its agents, stating that as an old recording since 2019.
The NCS spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, revealed it in a statement on Tuesday.
The service clarified that, contrary to the statements that suggest that the accident occurred recently, it actually took place on February 17, 2019.
“The attention of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was attracted by a video that currently circulates on social media, which captures a tragic shooting accident involving some service agents.
“The NCS wants to categorically affirm that the accident in question occurred on Sunday 17 February 2019 and not a recent development, as represented by some online platforms.
“Following the bad occurrence in the Shagamu junction in the state of Ogun, the service took immediate measures to face the situation in line with its internal procedures.
“At the time, a public declaration was issued and a disciplinary panel was established to investigate the matter in depth. At the end of the trial, adequate penalties were applied, including the dismissal of the officers found guilty.
“It is pertinent to reiterate that the NCS is a statutory government agency led by rules of involvement and, therefore, will not forgive any misconduct conducted by its staff. Although the video may have been unexpectedly re -emerged, the question had been faced conclusively and justice was served in accordance with the regulations of the service.
The service, while recognizing the concerns expressed by the members of the public regarding the video re -emerged, however, urged the citizens to avoid spreading misleading contents and instead to seek accurate information through the official NCS channels.
“We deeply appreciate the Nigerian supervisory and feedback and reaffirm our commitment to providing a professional and responsible service by supporting the principles of integrity and respect for human dignity.
“Under the guidance of the General Customs Controller, Bashir Adwale Adeniyi, MFR and its management team, the NCS continues to support transparency and respect for the rule of law.
“This is evident in the strategic measures implemented to strengthen internal controls and the development of skills through training programs targeted for staff. These efforts underline the determination of the service to create trust, guarantee integrity and support mutually gratifying partnerships with the public.” The declaration concluded.