A businessman, Ahmed Abdullahi, said to be the brother of a former governor of Zamfara State has
been arrested and detained by the Nigeria Customs Service in connection with the uproar that resulted in the burning of a Hi-Lux van belonging to the service in Kaduna.There was a clash between the men of the Nigerian Customs Service and some car dealers in Kaduna on Thursday, which caused heavy commotion while it lasted along Ali Akilu Road in Kaduna.
A Hi-Lux van belonging to the Nigeria Customs Service was set ablaze on Thursday along Ali Akilu Road in Kaduna by a group of youths believed to be working for a firm that sells imported used cars.
The vehicle was completely burnt by the suspects before the arrival of fire men. They were said to have pursued the Customs van after confrontation with the men of the Customs Service who had gone and impounded some vehicles at the firm’s showroom along Isa Kaita Road in enforcement of the import duty policy of the federal government.
An eyewitness who narrated what happened said some of the Customs officers in commencement of the enforcement of the import duty policy had impounded a number vehicles from the firm’s showroom along Isa Kaita Road but were turned back by some youths around the place, and stopped them. He said at this stage, the car dealers left for reinforcement and before they could come back the youths had taken away some of the cars on display to avoid impoundment.
The eyewitness said as the Customs officials made to two more cars from the showroom, the car dealers mobilized and gave the officials a hot chase, catching up with the patrol vehicle along the road, setting it ablaze. The incident, which lasted about 30 minutes, caused a commotion as policemen and other security agents were drafted to the place.
Motorists and other users were compelled to use one lane as they tried to avoid the burning van, causing heavy traffic.
A reliable source in the Customs office in Kaduna, who confirmed the detention of the owner of the firm whose name was given as Ahmed Abdullahi said the Customs decided to let the matter die, as they discovered that the youths who burnt the vehicle were not acting on the orders of their boss.
“You know, in very car firm, there are hangers-on and these boys just acted on their own and it is a pity for the owner of firm,” he said. He said only the owner of the firm was arrested in order not to further fuel the matter.
Calm has returned, as the casual workers have returned to their positions at the back of the building.
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