Two Transporters Brutally Attacked by Nigerian Customs Service Officers and Soldiers at Checkpoint
Naijawebinfo has learned that two transporters, Taofeek Olatunbosun and Rafiu Abdelmalik, were subjected to brutal attacks by Nigerian Customs Service officers and soldiers at a checkpoint on the Badagry-Seme Expressway on December 1, 2024.
The incident occurred after they were accused of recording videos suspected to expose alleged smuggling activities in the area.
Olatunbosun recounted that the ordeal began when he and his assistant stopped at a fuel station to refuel. While attempting to send a location update to a customer, his assistant started recording the surroundings, unwittingly drawing the attention of the officers, who accused them of gathering footage for journalists investigating smuggling.
Suddenly, an officer attempted to seize his assistant’s phone, which sparked a commotion. The officers suspected that they were recording evidence of smuggling activities and began to harass them.
The officers took them to a secluded area, where they contacted their team leader, Officer Adamu Zakari, a soldier. Despite recognizing Olatunbosun, Zakari did not believe their story and became aggressive, starting the brutal beating.
Abdelmalik recalled that he and Olatunbosun were subjected to physical abuse by the officers and suspected smugglers, who demanded to know which journalists the video was intended for. The residents of the area who witnessed the assault quickly contacted the police, intervening and bringing an end to the abuse.
Their ordeal comes following investigative reports by journalist Fisayo Soyombo, which exposed alleged complicity between Customs officers and smugglers along the Lagos-Badagry corridor.
The reports highlighted the unchecked transportation of goods, including rice, poultry, and potential contraband, through Customs checkpoints.
In response to the incident, Abdullahi Hossein, Public Relations Officer for Seme Border Customs, stated that the officers involved would be immediately withdrawn from the checkpoint. He acknowledged that their actions did not reflect the values of their organization and took full responsibility for their actions.
Regarding the role of military personnel, Hossein noted that due to the volatile nature of some patrols, military personnel were attached to them. While he was unsure whether military officers were involved in the incident, he urged the victims to reach out to them.
