Customs patrol vehicle crushes 13-year-old girl, 6 others to death, injures 19 in Katsina

The Nigerian Customs Service patrol vehicle on Monday crushed seven persons to death, including a 13-year-old girl along Jibia-Kauran highway.

It was gathered that no fewer than 19 others sustained serious injuries.

A resident of the area Abubakar Jibia said that the incident occurred around 10 am when the Customs officers in their patrol vehicle were pursuing a J5 Peugeot vehicle that was suspected to be carrying smuggled contraband.

Jibia remarked that the victims who were believed to be farmers were standing by the roadside when the patrol vehicle suddenly veered off the highway and hit them and crushed them on the spot.

He said this attracted the villagers to rush to the scene in order to save lives.

Another eyewitness, Usman Kabir, said: “The patrol vehicle and the smugglers’ vehicle were on top speed and they were just approaching Jibia town when the driver of the patrol vehicle veered off the highway and ran over the people.

“Six people died on the spot, one died while being rushed to the General Amadi Orthopedic Hospital Katsina, while the remaining 19 who sustained injuries are presently on admission at the same hospital.”

He explained that the smugglers escaped while an angry mob at the scene of the incident set ablaze the customs patrol vehicle before the arrival of security personnel.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Katsina Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, Danbaba Isah, confirmed the incident but said the investigation is already ongoing to unravel the circumstances behind the incident.

“Yes, the incident happened. It involved customs officers from the border drill patrol, but we will provide you with details because we are compiling the report.”

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