Police invade Customs office in Lagos, arrest four

 

                                                                            Police

Policemen and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) yesterday clashed in Ikeja, Lagos State.

 Motorists along Mobolaji Bank Anthony, traders and residents of Ikeja said there was serious crisis and pandemonium at the Customs office, Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Ikeja, when armed policemen, numbering about 50, wanted to force their way into the Customs office  after they  had removed the number plate of vehicles packed very closed to their office.

  While the police claimed they were enforcing a law enacted by the Lagos State government which prohibits indiscriminate parking, the Customs said they had not violated any law because the vehicles were parked neatly and very close to their office where they serve both the state and the Federal Governments.

 Residents and traders in the area  who witnessed the scene said that the police invasion happened at exactly 11.30 am and lasted for about three and half hours.

  The traders said that an Assistant Comptroller  of Customs, Mr Olomu and a former Acting Controller of the Unit who were trying to pacify the police and brought officers and men of the service under control were  harassed and molested by the police.

Four Customs officers, it was gathered, were arrested  by the police at their main gate, while the Customs, in retaliation, managed to arrest and detained an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) .

  One of the residents who identified himself simply as Okwudili blamed the police for the unnecessary show of power.

 “What happened today has shown that there is no synergy between our law enforcement agencies.  What stops the senior police officer who led the team from seeking audience with the controller of the command. Granted that they were sent by the Lagos State Government, but that does not mean that they should molest ordinary citizens talk less a sister agency like Customs.

 “The police manhandled some of the Customs officers they arrested, while the Area Controller of Customs ( CAC)  tried to calm his officers down and restrained them. Would the police have invaded army barracks in the name of enforcing an order? You can imagine what would have happened if it were to be between the police and the soldiers.

  One of the traders in the area, Solomon Adeyemi, also called on the government to promote the relationship between its agencies.

 “Why must the police invade Customs office? Are they not serving the same government? Is part of there salary not being paid by the revenue generated by the Customs? If smugglers had invaded Customs office what would the police do? It is a shame that as the police invaded the area, some area boys who were in their support suddenly went wild and wanted to take advantage of the situation to raid our shops,” he said.

The Deputy National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Mr Attah, who was at the scene told The Nation that  he was not happy because of the situation.

“The police and Customs are agencies that have constituted authority.  I am very sure that those that are misbehaving would be called to order.  The senior officers are going to get on top of this and those that are found wanting would be dealt with.  What I can say is that what is happening is unfortunate and is unprofessional because one would have expected that when there are issues concerning a sister agency, the right thing to do is to call and report such issue to the head of that agency.

 Although, the Customs spokesman could not confirm the number of officers arrested by the police, but he did not deny it.

Police Spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent ( SP) confirmed the incident.

“The task force were carrying out their routine duties and when they got to the Federal Operation Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Ikeja, they were interrupted by a Customs officer. That is what led to the issue. But it has been brought under control.”