The Nigeria Customs Service has confirmed the deaths of three of its officers during a deadly terrorist attack in Kebbi State, where their patrol vehicles were also destroyed.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, revealed this during an official visit to the Niger/Kogi Area Command. He explained that the officers were ambushed in the Bashaka area of Kebbi State by suspected terrorists, who launched a surprise assault, set their vehicles on fire, and opened fire on the team.
Representing the Comptroller General during the visit was Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu, Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Finance, Administration, and Special Duties. He explained that the ambush was sudden and deadly.
“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,” he added.
Ejibunu also shared that another group of customs operatives narrowly escaped a separate ambush in Niger State. This happened after they intercepted 500 jerricans filled with smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the Babanna border. According to him, the fuel was suspected to be meant for terrorists and armed criminals who depend on such supplies to carry out attacks and move around freely.
The Customs boss noted that border regions in Niger, Kebbi, and Borno States have become hotspots for terrorist activities. Groups such as ISWAP, Boko Haram, and Lakurawa are said to be present in these areas, with some members living quietly among local communities. He called on residents to report any strange activities to nearby security agencies.
“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 also mentioned that aircraft and other surveillance tools had been acquired to help monitor the country’s borders and boost the safety of customs officers in the field.
Meanwhile, the Customs Area Controller for Niger/Kogi, Pascal Chibuoke, reported that the seized fuel, including two drums and the vehicle used to transport them, had a total duty paid value of N25.9 million. He credited the successful operation to the teamwork between different security agencies and support from the local community.
