Three Nigerian Customs officers were killed in a terrorist ambush in Kebbi State, allegedly by ISWAP militants. Patrol vehicles were destroyed, and smuggled fuel meant for extremists was intercepted. The Customs chief calls for tighter security collaboration and surveillance to curb cross-border insurgency in northern Nigeria.
Three officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have been killed in a deadly ambush by suspected terrorists in Kebbi State, northern Nigeria. The attackers, believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), launched a surprise assault in the Bashaka area, setting fire to patrol vehicles and opening fire on the officers.
This incident was confirmed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a working visit to the Niger/Kogi Area Command. Represented by Assistant Comptroller General Hussein Ejibunu, Adeniyi raised concerns about the growing influence of ISWAP and other extremist factions near Nigeria’s porous borders, particularly around the Babanna axis in Niger State.
He revealed that customs operatives had narrowly avoided a second ambush after intercepting 500 jerricans of smuggled fuel, believed to be destined for terrorist groups. “Smuggled fuel is a critical resource for these militants,” he warned, explaining that it enables their mobility and attacks on communities and security personnel.
To combat the rising insecurity, Adeniyi called for stronger cooperation between security agencies and local communities. He also announced that the Customs Service had procured aircraft and surveillance equipment to aid border patrols.
Pascal Chibuoke, Area Controller for Niger/Kogi Command, highlighted recent seizures worth over ₦25 million in smuggled fuel, attributing the operation’s success to inter-agency collaboration and local support. He emphasized the need for more patrol vehicles and communication tools to counter threats along Nigeria’s vulnerable frontiers.
