Residents set Customs vehicles ablaze after four die in Sokoto accident

Angry residents of a community near the Nigeria Customs Service checkpoint in Sokoto on Sunday set ablaze two vehicles belonging to the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) following the killing of four persons in an auto crash in the state.

The accident occurred at a Customs checkpoint in the Asara Unit of Illela command on Sunday morning.

An eyewitness told journalists that two Toyota Avensis and a Golf Salon collided while trying to avoid Customs officials at the checkpoint.

“One of the drivers suspected to be carrying rice and vegetable oil from Illela end of the border in an attempt to evade arrest, eventually ran into a customs checkpoint located at Asara village.

They (customs) obstructed the driver in a bid to stop the vehicle caused the driver to lose control. The car had a head-on collision with an incoming vehicle while the other car coming from behind crashed into the two.

“Four persons died on the spot while six people were seriously injured in the accident.”

The angry villagers, who blamed the Customs officials for the accident, destroyed properties and burnt the Service vehicles at the scene.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Customs Service in the state, Tahir Balarabe, who confirmed the incident to journalists on Monday, said two vehicles belonging to the agency were burnt by the mob.

Outrage as Fulani herdsmen kill 36 residents, college students in Benue

Fulani herdsmen have attacked Shikaan Mbagena Kpav, a TIV community in Benue State, killing at least 36 residents including students of the College of Education in Katsina Ala.

According to SaharaReporters, the Fulani attackers stormed the community in the early hours of Thursday, and carried out the massacre.

The incident has sparked outrage among Nigerians on social media who condemned the ongoing silent “genocide” under the current administration.

There are conflicting figures of casualties as some believed the attackers might have killed up to 100 residents.

Nigerians are reacting with the hashtag, #BenueUnderAttack, and lamenting the ineptitude of the federal government and security agencies to address the situation of the killer herdsmen.

A Twitter user wrote; When Israel and Palestine were at war for about eight days, the world was alarmed and everybody was shouting but in Nigeria, serious genocide is ongoing against Christians in total blackout of the press, in Benue today this is what fulani herdsmen killed over 100 people, the world is quiet.

Another tweeted; I write this in Tears, Pain and Anguish. I have a few questions that deserve answers: What have the TIV people done? What have our ancestors done wrong that we haven’t been told to at least beg for forgiveness on their behalf? Pls Retweet to the World to see.

https://twitter.com/ChiefTerhemba/status/1395696535724347396?s=19