The House of Representatives has ordered the Nigerian Customs Service to pay N20 million to each Nigerian killed by men of the NCS.
The lower chamber indicted Customs operatives for the killing of 10 people in the Jibia area of Katsina State.
The NSC is to give each family of the victims N20 million.
These were contained in the report of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs who investigated the tragic accident.
N26 million was also awarded to 13 persons who sustained injuries during the accident. Sada Soli, who had moved the motion for the House to investigate the accidents, said the killings happened when the men of the NCS chased rice smugglers.
In the case of Iseyin, the Committee recommended N20 million to each of the four persons killed in the Iseyin area of Oyo State.
Shina Peller had moved the motion on the accident. In addition, N2m is to be paid to a victim who sustained injury.
A similar resolution was pronounced in the case of Igangan, Tapa, Igboora areas of Oyo State.
It would be recalled that Ajibola Muraina had moved the motion for an investigation into the killings.
Leke Abejide, the Chairman of the Committee, while presenting the report, said the committee invited all concerned persons.
The House also resolved that “the officers involved in the acts of killings of innocent Nigerians should be prosecuted and punished accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others.
“That provision should be made for the procurement of ballistic vehicles (Bullet Proof), Bullet Proof Vests, and helmets urgently for Nigerian Customs Service to confront the daredevil smugglers attacking their officers at Border Stations whenever the smugglers open fire on them. This would help the Customs operatives curtail smuggling with fewer causalities on their side.”
