The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says three of its officials were killed by terrorists in Kebbi State, and their patrol cars were also set on fire.
This was revealed by Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi while on a working visit to the Service’s Niger/Kogi Area Command.
He expressed concern over the actions of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) near the Babanna border in Niger State’s Borgu Local Government Area, characterising their presence as a major danger to border operations and national security.
Represented by the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration, and Special Duties, Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu, Adeniyi said the officers were ambushed in the Bashaka area of Kebbi State.
“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 further stated.
He stated that after capturing 500 jerricans of illegal Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the Babanna border, customs officers barely avoided another attack by ISWAP fighters. The smugglers were accused of providing armed bandits and terrorists with fuel.
Adeniyi advised police to maintain their vigilance in the face of growing threats and emphasised the necessity of improved cooperation with other security agencies.
He mentioned that in order to bolster border patrol activities, planes and aerial surveillance equipment had been purchased.
“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,” he said.
He cautioned that terrorist organisations including as ISWAP, Boko Haram, and Lakurawa currently operate in border regions of Niger, Kebbi, and Borno states; some of these organisations, he said, reside among local people. He urged people to notify security services of any questionable activity.
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Pascal Chibuoke, the Niger/Kogi Command’s Customs Area Controller, had stated that the confiscated PMS and two gasoline drums were stopped at many flashpoints along the Babanna border region, such as Kabe/Tunga Madugu Road and Dekara/Gidan Zana Road.
He credited inter-agency cooperation and community involvement for the achievement, stating that the total duty paid worth of the confiscated gasoline and the vehicle used to carry it was N25.9 million.
Chibuoke also appealed for additional logistical support, including patrol vehicles and communication gadgets, to help combat the growing threat, especially in areas now under terrorist influence.
