A Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC I) Mustapha Akiyode, was shot and killed by suspected smugglers during an ambush along the Ilara–Ijoun axis in Imeko‑Afon Local Government Area, Ogun State, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A announced in a press briefing.
The attack occurred while officers were engaged in anti‑smuggling enforcement, according to a statement by the unit’s comptroller.
The comptroller of FOU Zone A described the death of the customs officer as a tragic loss for the service, reaffirming the risks border enforcement personnel face in the line of duty.
He said the unit remains committed to combating smuggling and protecting Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
At the same briefing, the unit displayed a range of seized smuggled and prohibited goods associated with ongoing operations.
The haul included 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 77 bags of foreign sugar, 21 used vehicles, 3,362 jerrycans of vegetable oil, and 20,700 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), among other items.
Also recovered were 915 bales of used clothing, 581 used refrigerator compressors and a 20‑foot container of stone‑coated aluminium roofing sheets.
In a significant narcotics enforcement outcome, the unit said it intercepted 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica weighing 1,431 kilograms.
These illegal drugs were subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution and lawful disposal.
Eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the various seizures, which the unit reported have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3,319,893,255. The seizures represent a major enforcement success under the unit’s intelligence‑driven anti‑smuggling strategy.
Customs officials underscored that combating smuggling remains a priority as illicit trade undermines legitimate commerce, weakens border security, and fuels other criminal activities.
The unit’s leadership reiterated its commitment to sustained enforcement and collaboration with other agencies to disrupt smuggling networks.
