Customs officer gunned down in Ogun border ambush

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, has confirmed the death of an officer following a deadly ambush by suspected smugglers in Ogun State.

The officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC I) Mustapha Akiyode, was shot and killed in the early hours of Tuesday, 3 February 2026, during an enforcement operation along the Ilara-Ijoun corridor in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area. The axis is widely regarded as a major smuggling route along Nigeria’s border.

The incident was disclosed in a statement posted on the Service’s official X handle on Friday. Speaking during his first press briefing at the FOU Zone ‘A’ headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, the statement said, the Comptroller of the Unit, Gambo Aliyu, described the killing as a grim reminder of the risks faced by frontline officers.

“A sobering reminder of the dangers faced by officers engaged in border enforcement,” he said.

The statement further read:“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, has announced with deep regret the loss of an officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC I) Mustapha Akiyode who was shot in the line of duty by suspected smugglers in the early hours of Tuesday, 3 February 2026, in an ambush along the Ilara–Ijoun axis in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State.”

Despite the loss, Aliyu said the command had strengthened its anti-smuggling operations, deploying what he described as a restructured, intelligence-led strategy that has already yielded significant results.

According to him, the renewed approach led to the interception of 144 smuggling attempts involving a wide range of prohibited and uncustomed goods across the zone.

Items seized include 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 77 bags of foreign sugar, 21 used vehicles, 3,362 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 20,700 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), 915 bales of second-hand clothing, 581 used refrigerator compressors categorised as hazardous waste, as well as a 20-foot container of stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets.

Reaffirming his stance against smuggling syndicates, Aliyu said: “Upon assumption of duty a few weeks ago, I made a clear commitment that we will confront smuggling syndicates with renewed vigour, professional discipline, and complete respect for the rule of law and human dignity.”

The Comptroller also announced a major breakthrough in the battle against drug trafficking, revealing that Customs operatives intercepted 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica, weighing a total of 1,431 kilogrammes. He said the seizure dealt a significant blow to narcotics distribution networks operating within the zone.

Warning of the wider security consequences of drug-related crimes, Aliyu said:

“Drug trafficking fuels threats by providing chemical catalysts such as methamphetamine and others that embolden perpetrators, erode morale and destabilise the nation.

“I urge perpetrators of this illicit trade to be patriotic enough to change their ways and embrace legitimate trade or face the consequences of their actions, as our determination is resolute.”

Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, which have a combined Duty Paid Value of ₦3.32 billion.

The seized cannabis was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.