A 14-year-old-boy, Mushin Ibrahim, lost his life when a J5 Peugeot bus being chased by officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Jibia rammed into bystanders on Saturday.
Witnesses said the bus was being chased by officials of the Federal Operating Unit, Zone B of the NCS when it crushed the boy around 11 a.m. at Jibia, Katsina State, Premium Times reports.
Jibia is on the Nigerian border with Niger Republic and many of its residents engage in cross-border trades.
The accident occurred around Tudun Wada Primary School, Tashar Huraira, in the town.
“We were sitting in front of Mai Masara filling station when the accident occurred. The J5 driver was at high speed trying to run away from the customs officials when he lost control of the steering wheel and ran into a crowd but only the boy got crushed.
“We were lucky too. Other people were lucky to escape,” a witness, who simply identified himself as Buhari, said.
He said the customs van reversed and drove back to their checkpoint after the accident.
Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic had been shut down following the military coup against President Mohamed Bazoum last July, but smugglers have continued to bring in goods, including contraband into the country through unofficial routes.
