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A senior officer of the Nigeria Customs Service has been killed during an ambush by suspected smugglers in Ogun State, showing the dangers faced by security personnel operating along Nigeria’s porous borders.
Assistant Superintendent of Customs Mustapha Akiyode was fatally shot in the early hours of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, while on official duty along the Ilara–Ijoun corridor in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area. The axis is a known smuggling route linking Nigeria with neighboring countries.
The Nigeria Customs Service confirmed the death in a statement issued Friday, describing the incident as a grim reminder of the risks associated with border enforcement operations.
Speaking during his first press briefing as Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Gambo Aliyu said the officer was attacked during an ambush carried out by suspected smugglers while performing his duties.
“This tragic loss is a sobering reminder of the dangers our officers face daily while safeguarding the nation’s borders,” Aliyu said, adding that the service remains committed to its mandate despite the setback.
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In response to the killing, the Customs command said it has intensified intelligence-driven operations across its area of responsibility, recording what it described as major successes against smuggling networks.
According to Aliyu, the revamped strategy led to the interception of 144 smuggling attempts involving prohibited and uncustomed goods. Seized items included thousands of bags of foreign parboiled rice and sugar, used vehicles, jerrycans of vegetable oil, large volumes of petrol, used clothing, and hazardous waste materials such as refrigerator compressors. A 20-foot container of stone-coated aluminum roofing sheets was also intercepted.
“Upon assuming duty, I made it clear that this command would confront smuggling syndicates with renewed vigor, professionalism, and respect for the rule of law,” the comptroller said.
The unit also recorded a significant breakthrough in narcotics enforcement, intercepting 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica weighing 1,431 kilograms. Aliyu said the seizure disrupted key drug supply routes within the zone.
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Warning about the wider security risks posed by drug trafficking, he said such activities fuel violence and instability nationwide by empowering criminal networks.
“Drug trafficking emboldens perpetrators and destabilizes the nation,” he said, urging those involved in illicit trade to abandon criminal activities or face decisive action.
Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, which the Customs Service said have a combined duty-paid value of ₦3.32 billion. Investigations are ongoing.
