By Barr. Oludotun Sowemimo
In recent days, social media platforms have been inundated with the circulation of a disturbing video depicting the tragic shooting of a Nigerian citizen by an operative of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). While the content of the video is undeniably painful, what is even more alarming is the deliberate distortion of facts surrounding the incident by unscrupulous individuals who have falsely presented the event as recent, thus misinforming the public and stoking unnecessary outrage.
It is important to emphasize that this incident occurred on Sunday, February 17, 2019, and was promptly addressed by the authorities of the Nigeria Customs Service at the time. The official press statement issued by the NCS on June 3, 2025, serves as a clarion call for public caution and responsible information sharing. The Service detailed the disciplinary actions taken, including the dismissal of officers found culpable, and reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on acts of indiscipline, extrajudicial action, or abuse of power.
The attempt to resuscitate this tragedy and circulate it in 2025 under the pretense that it is a current occurrence is not only mischievous and misleading, but also a clear example of the dangerous trend of fake news and digital manipulation in Nigeria’s information space. Such acts are not harmless. They inflame public emotions, incite distrust in government institutions, and undermine the credibility of ongoing reforms aimed at building a more transparent and accountable public service.
It is also no coincidence that this video resurfaced during a period when the Nigeria Customs Service, under the transformational leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, is recording significant achievements in service delivery, anti-corruption measures, capacity development, and border security reforms. The timing of this false narrative suggests a coordinated attempt to distract from or derail the laudable efforts and institutional progress made by the current management team of the NCS.
We must condemn in the strongest terms the actions of these digital saboteurs and agents of misinformation, who do not have the nation’s best interests at heart. Their actions are not just unethical—they are dangerous, potentially inciting unrest and harming the morale of law-abiding officers committed to public service.
To this end, I urge fellow citizens, members of the press, civil society organizations, and the broader digital community to verify facts before sharing sensitive content. Let us collectively discourage the weaponization of social media through falsehoods. Constructive criticism is always welcome in a democratic society, but it must be grounded in truth and context.
As a legal practitioner committed to justice, human rights, and institutional integrity, I commend the Nigeria Customs Service for its professional handling of the 2019 case and for swiftly debunking the recent misinformation. I also applaud the CGC’s commitment to internal accountability and the transparent reforms he has championed since assuming office.
Going forward, it is imperative that our society becomes more media literate, so that the power of digital tools is used to build rather than destroy, to inform rather than mislead, and to heal rather than inflame.
Barr. Oludotun Sowemimo is a Legal Analyst & Principal Partner, Oludotun Sowemimo & Associates, Abuja, Nigeria
