The rising threat of smuggling across Nigeria’s northern borders has claimed the lives of five Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers in a brutal string of attacks that have left dozens of others also injured, an investigation by Shipping Position Daily has revealed.
According to data provided to our correspondent by the National Spokesman of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, within just five months; that is from April to August, these officers lost their lives in the line of duty while fighting smugglers at different border posts
The data gives the picture of the risks that Customs officers face daily. The fallen officers who were victims of smuggling-induced violence epitomizes the deadly risks in Nigeria’s fight against smuggling, as officers lose their lives while protecting the country’s borders.
The wave of fatalities for 2024 began on April 17, when Customs Assistant 1 Auwal Haruna was brutally gunned down at the Gamji Makaho checkpoint in the Dankama area of Katsina State. The checkpoint, notorious for being a smuggling hotspot, became the site of Haruna’s untimely death as he confronted a group of heavily armed smugglers.
The Customs spokesperson explained that trouble started at the border when a team of officers attached to Katsina Area Command attempted to intercept a convoy of over 50 vehicles suspected to be illegally transporting goods out of the country.
“Haruna and his fellow officers exhibited remarkable courage in their duty to thwart these audacious economic saboteurs. Their actions sparked a confrontation with an enraged mob who viciously attacked Auwal Haruna,” Maiwada stated. He added that the deceased had since been laid to rest according to Islamic rites in his hometown, Kayawa, in Dutsi Local Government Area in the state.
Just months later, on July 12, 2024 precisely, Assistant Inspector of Customs (AIC) Hamza AE met a similar fate at Achilafia along the Daura-Kano Road in Jigawa State. Hamza’s death, occurring under similar circumstances, sent shockwaves through the Customs community, emphasizing the growing brazenness of smugglers in the region.
According to Isa Suleiman, the Customs Zone ‘B’ Public Relations Officer, the incident happened during a stop-and-search operation when a vehicle suspected of being smuggled into the country struck the officer while attempting to evade arrest. Hamza was rushed to General Hospital in Kazaure and later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, where he was pronounced dead.
Similarly, in Birnin Kebbi, Inspector of Customs Aminu Abdullahi was killed on July 13, 2023, at Mararraba Junction checkpoint in Yauri. Abdullahi, who had been on high alert following increased smuggling activities in the area, was ambushed by smugglers who opened fire without warning. His death marked the second within two days, highlighting the perilous conditions under which these officers work.
The violence escalated further on August 24, 2023, when Alhaji Kabiru Shehu, an Inspector of Customs, and Abdullahi Muhammad, a Customs Assistant II, were killed along the Bunza-Dakingari-Koko Road in Kebbi State.
The two deceased officers were on routine patrols when they encountered a convoy of smugglers. The confrontation quickly turned deadly, with the officers outgunned and overwhelmed by the attackers.
These tragic incidents have sparked widespread outrage and calls for increased security measures along Nigeria’s borders.
Reacting to the spate of killings, Mr. Olugbenga Leke Oyewole, a security expert and former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Ebele Jonathan on Maritime Services, expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity faced by Customs officers.
Oyewole highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive review of border security strategies, pointing out that the current approach leaves officers vulnerable to well-armed and organized smuggling syndicates.
“The killing of these Customs officers underscore a critical flaw in our border security apparatus,” Oyewole stated, even as he warned that without significant reforms, the situation could deteriorate further, potentially leading to an increase in smuggling activities and greater loss of life. “We cannot afford to allow these criminals to continue to outmaneuver and overpower our security forces. It’s a clear signal that our strategies need an urgent overhaul,” he emphasized.
Oyewole also called for better equipment and training for Customs officers, stressing that the lack of adequate resources puts them at a severe disadvantage. “Our officers are often outgunned and outnumbered, facing adversaries who are better equipped and more ruthless. The government must prioritize the provision of modern equipment and intelligence support to ensure that these officers can effectively carry out their duties,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller General of Customs; Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has vowed to arrest and prosecute the killers of the officers. He gave the assurance when he visited one of the families of the deceased. He said the Service was doing everything humanly possible to apprehend the perpetrators of the evil act. Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service has since commenced an investigation into the incident and will fish out those responsible for the act.
The Comptroller General also described the killing of the NCS operatives as unprovoked, expressing profound grief over the needless deaths of the gallant officers and commiserated with their families.
He said the “brutal attack” on the Customs operatives demonstrates the dangers faced by men and officers of the Service in the line of duty, while saluting their heroism, courage, uncommon grit and patriotism.
