A Nigeria Customs Service officer attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, was killed on Tuesday in a shootout with suspected smugglers in Ogun State, barely 48 hours after another ambush left two officers wounded in the same axis.
The Comptroller of FOU Zone A, Gambo Aliyu, confirmed the incident, describing the fallen officer as one of the unit’s “promising personnel” who paid the ultimate price while on national duty.
Aliyu said the officer was attacked during an operation against smuggling syndicates, noting that the killing had been formally reported to the Customs high command.
“The Command on February 3, 2026, lost one of its promising officers, who fell to the cold hands of death in the service of our fatherland,” he said.
The latest attack has heightened concern over the growing risks faced by security operatives in border communities and smuggling-prone corridors in Ogun State.
On Saturday, suspected smugglers had ambushed another customs patrol, killing a civilian and injuring four others, including two officers.
Aliyu disclosed that despite the increasing threats, the unit had intensified operations against transnational crime, recently intercepting 3,029 parcels of a synthetic cannabis strain known as “Ghanaian Loud,” weighing about 1,431 kilograms.
He said the seizure significantly disrupted drug supply chains, stressing that the offensive against smugglers and traffickers would not be relaxed.
“These efforts are taking place against the backdrop of rising banditry, terrorism and other vices that threaten national stability,” the comptroller added.
Security agencies have since stepped up patrols across flashpoints in the state, as residents called on the Federal Government to improve protection for frontline officers and dismantle violent smuggling networks operating along Nigeria’s borders.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
