Muhsin Ibrahim, a 14-year-old teenager, died in an accident in Jibia Local Government Area, Katsina State, when a J5 Peugeot vehicle driver rammed into bystanders.
Jibia is one of Nigeria’s borders with the Niger Republic, and most locals have been involved in various cross-border industries for decades.
Surajo Aliyu, an eyewitness, told reporters in a telephone interview on Monday that the incident occurred on Saturday at 11 a.m. near the Tudun Wada Primary School in Tashar Huraira Bus Stop, while officials from the Nigeria Customs Service’s Federal Operating Unit, Zone B, were on their way to buy food in Jibia town.
He further stated that the J5 driver, who was transporting soy beans, believed that the NCS authorities were pursuing him. In his state of uncertainty, the astonished motorist collided with a nearby vehicle and drove towards a petrol station.
“The unfortunate development happened on Saturday around 11:00 a.m. when the customs officials were on their way to buy food in Jibia town.
“A J5 driver who was conveying soy beans upon sighting them frightened and matched brake and hit a car close to him; they both found their way into a filling station,” he said.
Chronicle NG recalled that in August 2021, five people were confirmed killed and several others wounded after officers of the Nigeria Customs Service in their numbers rammed into a gathering while pursuing a suspected rice smuggler in the same Jibia town.
Aminu Masari, the then-Governor of Katsina State, pledged to test the legal system that allowed Customs personnel to recklessly kill innocent people in the state.
