Ogun anti-smuggling war claims Customs officer’s life; NCS seizes prohibited goods worth N3.3bn in renewed border crackdown

Assistant Superintendent of Customs, Mustapha Akiyode, has been shot dead during an anti-smuggling operation in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, Ogun State, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed.

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The fatal ambush occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, along the Ilara–Ijoun axis while Akiyode was actively participating in intelligence-driven enforcement operations.

Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, head of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, disclosed the officer’s death during his maiden press briefing at the Unit’s Ikeja headquarters on Friday, describing the loss as a painful reminder of the dangers faced by officers defending Nigeria’s borders.

Aliyu stated that Akiyode’s sacrifice would strengthen the Unit’s determination to disrupt smuggling networks. “We lost a brave and committed officer in the course of duty.

His sacrifice will not be forgotten, and it strengthens our resolve to intensify the fight against smuggling,” he said.

During the briefing, Aliyu unveiled a renewed anti-smuggling strategy that prioritises intelligence gathering, targeted surveillance, and coordinated operations.

He reported that officers intercepted 144 smuggling attempts across the South-West corridor.

Seized items include 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 77 bags of 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, and a 20-foot container of stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets.

In a major breakthrough against narcotics trafficking, the Unit confiscated 1,431 kilograms of synthetic cannabis indica across 3,029 parcels.

Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, with the total Duty Paid Value estimated at N3.31 billion.

Aliyu warned that drug trafficking fuels banditry, terrorism, and other violent crimes.

He pledged that the Unit would continue intelligence-led operations, ensure officer safety, and collaborate with sister security agencies to combat smuggling and illicit trade.

Also read: Customs Officers Repel Violent Attack in Ogun over Rice Seizure

The seized cannabis has been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and legal disposal.