NORMALCY returns at Babura town a hometown of governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state after several hours, fracas when the people of the town in their hundreds went on a rampage and attacked the customs personnel, camps and their checkpoints in the town and environs.

Reports from the state indicated that the people of the town were provoked by the customs in the Nigeria/Niger republic border town (Babura) after one of the customs officers shot a 60-year-old man identified as, Alhaji Umaru Babban Mutum to death and the driver to the old man.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the Babura people were bittered by seeing the lifeless body of Alhaji Umaru, descended to the customs and their official and personal materials.

Report from the state indicated that the deceased was involved in a fierce argument with the customs officials stationed at the border over the arrest of a car he allegedly imported through Niger republic.

The said trouble started when a car was said to have been impounded at the entry point by the customs officials belonging to Alhaji Umaru.

According to the eyewitness who claimed anonymity to our reporter that there was an argument between the customs officials and Alhaji Umaru who came to retrieve his impounded vehicle ‎and in the process one of the officers fired his gun at the driver who was hit on the leg.

The shooting infuriated Alhaji Umaru who challenged them of which he too was said to be shot in the stomach by the same officer and instantly died.

News of the death filtered around and immediately a mob numbered about 500 mobilised themselves and trooped from a distance of 4 kilometres from Babban Mutum under Katsina state‎ carrying weapons attacked all the five custom checkpoints and burnt them down in the process while four cars belonging to the officers were also completely burnt.

According to the Babura local council Chairman Alhaji, Mohammed Ibrahim Zaki who told our reporter that the mob went to the police station threatening to burn the place until the DPO convinced them that the customs officials arrested are not in their custody.

‎The deceased was since buried by his relatives at Babban Mutum under Baure local government area which is about 4 kilometres from Katsina state‎.

When contacted the Jigawa/Kano area command controller of customs which proved abortive as the controller was not in the office.

Also contacted the Public Relations Officer to the command, Mrs Isah Danbaba confirmed the incident said: “We investigated the matter for further necessary action”.

A source in the command who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity said “it was really unfortunate, they burnt five of our vehicles both official and private were burnt.

He also stated that “all our camps and checkpoints and attacked our personnel”.

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The source maintained that “man was a notorious smuggler trying to smuggle some cars in the process we tracked him where he violently responded”.

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