NCS begins probe as customs officer slaps Okowa’s aide

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has commenced a probe into a viral video wherein one of its officers was seen slapping Samson Nwachukwu, an aide to Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta. 

The video, which appeared on social media over the weekend, shows a customs officer slapping a man during a conversation.

In the video, the customs officer asked the man, identified as Nwachukwu, the question ‘who are you?’ before the slap.

While details of what happened prior to the slap are unclear, the incident was said to have happened along the Benin-Agbor expressway on Saturday.

TRENDING VIDEO: Customs officer slaps Okowa's aide pic.twitter.com/n4iviBWT3S

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Reacting to the incident in a statement on Monday, Timi Bomodi, NCS spokesman, said the agency has withdrawn the team involved in the incident from patrol duties.

“This officer and other members of that team from FOU Zone ‘C’ have since been withdrawn from patrol duties and are currently under administrative investigation at the NCS Zonal Headquarters Zone ‘C’ Port Harcourt,” the statement reads.

“Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been trained to carry out their duties with dignity and respect, and are expected to display decorum in all their conduct at all times. Where they fail to carry out their brief as assigned, appropriate sanctions are applied to enforce discipline.

“The NCS would like to reassure the general public of its commitment to the welfare and safety of all citizens and frowns seriously at any act by its personnel capable of misrepresenting its corporate image.

“We ask that all law-abiding persons go about their activities without fear of intimidation or harassment as we work assiduously to bring closure to this unwholesome incident.”