Suspected smugglers kill Customs officer in Ogun

A Customs officer was killed by suspected smugglers in Ogun State on Tuesday, February 3, the Nigeria Customs Service has confirmed. 

Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC I) Mustapha Akiyode was fatally shot during an ambush along the Ilara–Ijoun axis in the Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, a region known for illicit cross-border activities.

In a statement released on Friday, February 6, the Service’s Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ announced the officer’s death with “deep regret.” Comptroller of the Unit, Gambo Aliyu, described the incident as “a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by officers engaged in border enforcement.”

Despite the attack, Comptroller Aliyu, during a briefing, detailed significant operational successes resulting from a renewed, intelligence-driven anti-smuggling strategy. He reported the interception of 144 smuggling attempts involving a wide range of contraband. The seized items include 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 77 bags of foreign sugar, 21 used vehicles, 3,362 jerrycans of vegetable oil, and 20,700 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS).

In a major drug bust, officers intercepted 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica, weighing 1,431 kilograms. Aliyu warned that drug trafficking fuels broader criminality, stating it “fuels threats by providing chemical catalysts such as methamphetamine and others that embolden perpetrators, erode morale, and destabilise the nation.”

The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all seized goods was put at ₦3,319,893,255.00. Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the interceptions. The seized cannabis has been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution and lawful disposal.