The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, has confirmed the death of one of its officers, Assistant Superintendent of Customs, Mustapha Akiyode, who was killed during an ambush by suspected smugglers in Ogun State.
Akiyode was shot dead in the early hours of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, while on official duty along the Ilara–Ijoun axis in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, a border route known for intense smuggling activities.
The Comptroller of FOU Zone ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, disclosed this during his maiden press briefing at the unit’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by officers enforcing border laws.
In a statement posted on the Service’s official X handle, Aliyu said the late officer was attacked in the line of duty, adding that the command was deeply saddened by the loss.
Despite the killing, the comptroller said the unit had intensified operations using an intelligence-driven anti-smuggling strategy, which has led to significant seizures across its area of responsibility.
According to him, the renewed approach resulted in the interception of 144 smuggling attempts involving various prohibited and uncustomed items, reflecting the command’s resolve to dismantle cross-border smuggling networks.
He listed the seized items to 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, 915 bales of used clothing, 581 used refrigerator compressors classified as hazardous waste, and a 20-foot container of roofing sheets.
Aliyu also revealed that operatives intercepted 3,029 parcels of synthetic cannabis indica weighing 1,431 kilograms, a development he said dealt a major blow to drug trafficking routes within the zone.
He warned that drug trafficking fuels violence and instability, urging perpetrators to abandon illegal trade or face the full weight of the law, noting that eight suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures with a combined Duty Paid Value of ₦3.32bn.
The seized cannabis was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation, as the Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders despite the risks faced by its personnel.