An official of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) shot Adeyemi Quadri, a clearing agent, at Mile 2 along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway on Wednesday, an eyewitness has told FIJ.

As a result, clearing agents are currently blocking the gate of the PTML (Grimaldi) Terminal at Mile2 in protest.

The vehicle that caused yesterday’s incident, a Toyota RAV4 2019 model, was being driven along the expressway when it was intercepted by Customs officers belonging to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Ikeja.

The vehicle had been cleared from the Tin Can Island Port but the officers faulted the clearance.

They said the agent had under-paid but he insisted he paid the due amount. An argument ensued.

“The Customs officers wanted to collect the key from him but he refused to release it, so they shot him twice in the leg and at close range,” the witness told FIJ on Thursday. “Then they drove the car away. I won’t be surprised if the leg is already broken.”

Customs officers and clearing agents often disagree over the clearance of vehicles, but the witness told FIJ that “there is nothing like normal pay”.

“When you get to Customs, they give you a quotation. You pay it, but then at subsequent levels of clearance you still have to pay,” he said. “Then even after the car has been cleared, the Federal Operation Units (FU) of Customs on the road will still disturb you.”

He confirmed that agents are still obstructing traffic in and out of the PTML (Grimaldi) Terminal gate at Mile2.

“They’re saying there will be no work. How could Customs shoot an agent in the leg and still go away with his vehicle?”

The victim has since been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment, with videos of surgery on the leg sent to FIJ.

FIJ cntacted Theophilus Duniya, Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja for comments, but calls and an SMS to his phone were not answered.