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.”