Customs officers can use rifles for self defense, national security– Says DC Attah
.Condemns smugglers attacks on officers in Ogun
By Silas Onuoha
DC Attah:
The National Public Relations Officer (PRO), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), DC Joseph Attah has declared that officers can use official rifles in self defense when their lives are in danger, also for national security, to ensure that the interest of the nation is protected.
DC Attah, made this known while speaking on national television.
His position becomes necessary following the recent attack on an Inspector of Customs, Abdullahi Mohammad Kuso, attached to Ogun Command.
The national PRO frowned at the level of attack on Kuso, stressed that Kuso’s case is just one of several attacks on Customs officers while on duty.DC Attah gave vivid explanation, even as he presented video recordings on how the officer was abducted to an unknown location, tortured severely and was about being set ablaze by smugglers when the rescue team of other officers intervened and released him.
He said, “Such action portrays lawlessness and no doubt a clear demonstration of moral depravity on the part of these criminal elements. While the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Ali Hameed is not encouraging indiscriminate use of rifles at the disposal of our anti-smuggling operatives, but in a situation where life is involved, the officers have to use such official rifles in self defense and to ensure that the interest of the nation is appropriately protected at all times”.
Picture showing the officer being tortured by smugglers:
Attah emphasized that distraction by smugglers would not deter them from carrying out their core functions of revenue generation for government, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations in accordance with the law.
