Two transporters, Rafiu Abdelmalik and Taofeek Olatunbosun, have accused officers of the Nigerian Customs Service and soldiers stationed at a checkpoint on the Badagry-Seme Expressway of brutality.
The victims alleged they were attacked on Sunday, December 1, 2024, after being caught recording a video to update their customers on their location.
According to the victims, the officers accused them of being informants supplying journalists with information about smuggling activities along the route.
Recounting the ordeal, Olatunbosun said, “We were on our way to Apa and stopped at a fuel station to refuel.
“My customer kept asking for my location, so I asked my assistant to record a video of our surroundings.
“Suddenly, someone approached him and tried to seize the phone.
“This drew the attention of security operatives at the checkpoint, who accused us of recording videos for journalists.”
He added that they were dragged to a secluded area near the checkpoint, where they were interrogated and tortured.
Olatunbosun said the officers summoned their team leader, identified as Officer Adamu Zakari, a soldier.
“When Zakari arrived, he recognized me and even mentioned knowing my brother, yet he still ordered the beating.
He even questioned why his men hadn’t killed us and dumped our bodies in the water,” Olatunbosun recounted.
Abdelmalik, the second victim, added, “One of the smugglers collaborating with the officers slapped me and tried to seize my phone.
“They tortured us, demanding we confess which journalists we were sending the video to.”
Their ordeal reportedly ended only after local residents intervened, alerting the police to the brutality.
“If not for the residents, we might not have survived,” Abdelmalik said.
This incident has renewed focus on allegations of smuggling facilitation by security operatives along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
Abdullahi Hossein, the Public Relations Officer for Seme Border Customs, condemned the attack, stating, “The officers involved will be withdrawn from the checkpoint immediately.
“Their actions do not reflect the values of our organization, and we take full responsibility.”
Hossein acknowledged the presence of military personnel attached to the patrols, explaining it was due to the volatile nature of the route.
“I’m not sure if soldiers were involved in this incident, but we take responsibility and urge the victims to reach out to us,” he added.
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