Father seeks justice over alleged killing of son by Nigeria Customs officer

Ebenezer Inutayi was allegedly shot dead on May 5 by customs officers.

The father of a 29-year-old man, Ebenezer Inutayi, who was allegedly shot dead by an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service at Ilashe checkpoint along the Idiroko border area of Ogun State has appealed to the President Goodluck Jonathan to help ensure that the killers of his son are prosecuted

Inutayi Itabiyi was at the Iwe-Iroyin Press Centre in Abeokuta on Wednesday morning to express his grievances to journalists, and demand for justice.

Mr. Inutayi appealed to the federal government to prevail on the Ogun Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to surrender its erring officer for prosecution.

He claimed that the Customs rejected the Nigeria Police demand that the culpable customs officer be surrendered for investigation and subsequent prosecution. He gave the name of the alleged killer officer as Tope.

The father said Tope shot and killed Ebenezer on May 5 for allegedly being in possession of contraband goods. He claimed that the deceased had already knelt down as ordered while being interrogated for being in possession of two kegs of 20-litres of ‘contraband’ vegetable oil. Despite kneeling down, the officer corked his riffle, and fired shots at the deceased, the father claimed.

Mr. Inutayi explained that the plea by the late Ebenezer and one of his friends, identified as Azeez, was ignored by the customs officer before firing the shots. He said Ebenezer died on the road while he was being rushed to the hospital by Azeez.

He said the Ogun Command of the Customs refused to surrender the erring customs officer for questioning to the Idiroko Divisional Police Station where the matter was later reported.

The father also alleged that the officers of the customs command had been threatening the life of Azeez for daring to give evidence at the police station against the erring customs officer.

While demanding justice over the death of his son, Mr. Inutayi also appealed to President Jonathan to save Azeez from the threat of customs officers in Ogun.

When contacted, the Ogun Customs’ Public Relations Officer, Chike Ngige, said his office was yet to be briefed about the development.

Mr. Ngige said he had been out of the command for sometime on official engagement, adding that the Area Comptroller had also been off station on official duties. He promised to get back as soon as he had enough information about the matter.