Customs Clarifies Viral Shooting Video, Says Incident Happened in 2019, Officers Dismissed
Author: Femi Anamelechi.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has clarified about a video currently circulating on social media depicting a fatal shooting involving its operatives, stating that the incident is not recent but occurred over six years ago.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, by National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS confirmed that the tragic event took place on Sunday, 17 February 2019, at the Shagamu Interchange in Ogun State.
The Service emphasised that the matter was thoroughly investigated and concluded at the time, resulting in the dismissal of officers found guilty of misconduct.
The statement read, “The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to a video currently circulating on social media, which captures a tragic shooting incident involving some operatives of the service. The NCS wishes to categorically state that the incident in question occurred on Sunday, 17 February 2019, and not a recent development, as portrayed by some online platforms.”
Maiwada further explained that following the incident, the NCS immediately instituted a disciplinary panel and ensured that justice was served in accordance with the Service’s regulations. “It is pertinent to reiterate that the NCS is a statutory government agency guided by rules of engagement, and therefore, will not condone any misconduct from its personnel”, Maiwada added.
The Service also appealed to the public to avoid spreading misinformation, urging citizens to seek verified updates through its official communication channels.
“We deeply value the vigilance and feedback of Nigerians and reaffirm our commitment to delivering professional, accountable service while upholding the principles of integrity and respect for human dignity.”
Maiwada stated that the service, under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and his management team, continues to uphold transparency and respect for the rule of law which is evident in the strategic measures implemented to strengthen internal controls and capacity building through targeted training programmes for personnel.
