Real Estate Entrepreneur Calls for Customs Reform After Near-Fatal Shooting
Babatunde Adeyemo, the Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Ltd, has called on President Bola Tinubu to take decisive action to address the excesses of operatives from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), particularly on the highways. This call came after Adeyemo narrowly escaped being shot by Customs officers during an incident on December 8, 2024, in Ogun State.
Adeyemo, who was hosting 150 widows at a charitable event in Abeokuta, Ogun State, shared his harrowing experience with the attendees. The event provided free medical care, including screenings for blood pressure and blood sugar, and distributed food and cash palliatives to the widows in celebration of the festive season.
The real estate entrepreneur described the frightening encounter while returning from the Ibese Asakanran Day festival. As his vehicle passed through a checkpoint manned by Customs operatives along the Ibara-Orile area, he and his aides heard the unmistakable sound of gunfire. The bullet, which struck the back of his vehicle, narrowly missed him, instead hitting the laptop behind his seat.
“I want you all to take a moment and thank God for sparing my life,” Adeyemo said. “An overzealous Customs officer could have robbed these widows of their source of joy this December, but by God’s grace, it didn’t happen.”
The incident has left Adeyemo deeply concerned about the actions of Customs operatives in Ogun State, where numerous allegations of misconduct and violence have surfaced. He urged the National Assembly and relevant authorities to investigate these reports thoroughly.
