A SUSPECTED smuggler has shot dead an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Jigawa State.
The suspect who had been nabbed was trying to evade arrest.
According to the spokesman of the Federal Operations Unit Zone B, of the Nigeria Customs Service, Isah Sulaiman, the victim Hamza Elenwo – an Inspector of Customs – was killed on Friday at Achilafia along Daura-Kano Road in Jigawa State during a stop and search operation.
He said that the incident occurred when a driver with a vehicle suspected to be smuggled into the country hit the officer while trying to evade arrest.
The late Customs operative was rushed to the General Hospital Kazaure and later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Katsina where he was pronounced dead by the doctor on duty.
Sulaiman said the deceased, who hailed from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been laid to rest in Katsina, according to Islamic rites.
The later Inspector Hamza was born on April 15, 1985. He joined the Nigeria Customs Service as Customs Assistant III (CAIII) in the Transport and Logistics Unit on 17 October 2013 and was promoted to the rank of Inspector of Customs (IC) in the year 2022. He is survived by a wife and two Children.
Meanwhile, the Head of Federal Operations Unit Zone B, Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, on behalf of the entire Officers and Men of the Unit, extends his heartfelt condolence to the deceased’s family and prays for his eternal rest.
He said that the incident shows the level of desperation by smugglers operating without recourse to human lives,
The Customs boss said that the incident is also one of the many instances where smugglers kill and maim personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service in an attempt to evade arrest.
The Comptroller, however, vowed to ensure justice is served as one suspect has been arrested and is in the Custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Gwiwa Division in Jigawa State.
