Abuja — The Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, yesterday narrowly escaped death when a middle-aged man (names withheld) suspected to be an agent of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, unsuccessfully attempted to ram another vehicle suspected to be on suicide mission into CG's official convoy.

The incident took place at about 4: 45 pm when the CG's convoy was negotiating from the NCS headquarters into the Sultan Abubakar Way separating Wuse Zones 2 and 3.

Eyewitnesses, including this reporter, noticed that as soon as the Comptroller-General came out from his office, apparently for another official assignment and hit the Sultan Abubakar Way, the Boko Haram suspect, meandered through all the other vehicles which had been stopped by the CG's outriders and made straight for the CG's vehicle in terrific speed but for the expertise exhibited by the convoy drivers.

The outriders and other convoy drivers who were yet to hit the major expressway had used hand signal to stop the man but he made straight for the Abdullahi's vehicle in a terrible speed and followed the vehicle after the CG's driver had sped off.

Apparently sensing that something terrible was about to happen, the convoy drivers and other Customs personnel on security patrol around the headquarters premises gave the driver a hot chase on foot and surprisingly, with the assistance of the Abudllahi's outriders and other drivers in the convoy, caught up with the suspect and brought him back to the Customs headquarter for interrogation and proper investigation.

While this happened, the Customs security personnel opened a volley of shootings all along the way and completely barricaded the road for the less than three minutes the incident happened.

They shot several volley of bullets into the air apparently to alert passers-by and other road users that there was great danger in the area which made people to literally scamper for safety while people who lived in the adjourning Wuse Zone 2 as well as people whose offices were located around the precincts of the Heritage House and AMAC Plaza, rushed out to ascertain what caused the panic.

Daily Champion recalls that similar incident which took place at the Government House, Kaduna, led to the killing of the Director of Finance at the Government House when he failed to stop at the check-point to the Government House.

When the man refused to stop, the security personnel detailed to provide security concluded that the man must have been Boko Haram agent who was on a suicide mission.

With the claimed impressive strides being made by the customs boss, coupled with the propensity of the Boko Haram to constantly attack security outfits, including the Customs, which have forced all arms of security and paramilitary in Abuja to either cordon off completely or partially, all roads leading to their headquarters, the Boko Haram theory seems most plausible.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Mr. Attah U. Attah, said he is not aware of the development as he was out of the office and was yet to return when our reporter called.

"I am in Gwagwalada as you are calling me. I went there for something and I am yet to come back to the office. You have just told me what happened and I will call the office and get back to you," he stated.

But a visit to the NCS headquarters showed both customs officers and civilians who own shops around the NCS and Federal Civil Service discussing the matter in small groups.

There was palpable tension all over the places while security was beefed up at the place and movement of vehicles controlled more than it used to be.

A senior Customs officer, who would not want his name in print, confirmed the development, saying "my brother, our CG narrowly escaped death. Can you imagine how these people operate?. Just because we received intelligence that they were planning to attack the office by opening fire on the premises from outside and the CG ordered the premises fence heightened, they now waited for him as he was leaving the office and made for his vehicle.

"These Boko Haram people have been changing tactics every time and they strike at the least expected place. Today's incident is a lesson that these boys need to be completely crushed and not to be let alive at all. If they catch them, they should finish them," she stated.