The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed the death of three of its officers in Kebbi State, following a deadly ambush by terrorists.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, revealed the development during a working visit to the Niger/Kogi Area Command of the Service.
“Three of our officers were recently killed in Bashaka, Kebbi State,” he said. “They were taken by surprise as the attackers shelled them, burnt their vehicles, and opened fire on all of them.”
Adeniyi decried the growing influence of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), especially in border regions. He described the presence of ISWAP as “a serious threat to national security and border operations.”
The customs boss disclosed that officers recently escaped another attempted ambush after intercepting 500 jerricans of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which were allegedly destined for terrorists and armed bandits.
“It would interest you to know that most of these bandits attacking us get their fuel through smugglers, giving the adversaries the power to move around and attack citizens,” Adeniyi said.
He asked Nigerians to report any suspicious activities to authorities, stressing that counter-terrorism efforts require public cooperation. However, he also revealed that the Service had procured aircraft and aerial surveillance tools to strengthen border patrol and deter smuggling activities that support terrorist groups.
The Customs Area Controller for the Niger/Kogi Command, Pascal Chibuoke, detailed recent seizures made at flashpoints. These included 500 jerricans and two drums of PMS, along with the vehicle used for transportation. The confiscated items had a total duty paid value of ₦25.9 million.
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