A Customs officer who exposed how refined petroleum products, particularly Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, are being trafficked to some other African nations
is been maltreated, according to the family.
The family of Owombo Segun John said the detained officer has been forced to undergo psychiatric tests in detention.
According to the brother, he is been maltreated at the Customs headquarters and forced to undergo psychiatry treatment for madness.
Owombo earlier released a video in which he narrated how he arrested so many smugglers on Wednesday, November 2, at Malabo Checkpoint on Belel Road, Adamawa state.
In November, however, Owombo was transported to Abuja from Adamawa State to meet with the Comptroller General of Customs while in detention.
Speaking, his brother has said that there has been threat to his life and that the story of his of his mental illness is untrue.
He said,
“My brother is a very brilliant man. Someone that was posted to Adamawa and has been working there since, how can you now say he is insane? That is a lie. They are just trying to cover up.”
“The claim that he was found naked is also not true. He told me that immediately after he released the video, he was attacked by some customs officers and tanker drivers. He even told me that if he is allowed, he has some evidence to back up his claim,” he added.
In November 2019, the NCS announced a directive that restricted petroleum products from being supplied to fuel stations within 20 kilometres of the borders.
Prior to that, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company had raised the alarm about the increasing number of filling stations in border towns, saying they were funnels for fuel smuggling to neighbouring countries.
With millions of Nigerians grappling with periodic fuel shortages, the porous borders, spanning over 17,000 kilometres, make it possible for the product to be smuggled to these neighbouring countries easily.
