A Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) officer has died after a suspected smuggler he was trying to stop ran him over with his vehicle.
Hamzat Abdullahi-Elenwo was an inspector serving with the NCS Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, when the incident occurred on Friday during a stop and search operation at Achilafia, along Daura-Kano road in Jigawa.
NCS spokesman in the area, Isah Sulaiman, revealed the incident in a statement on Saturday.
He said the suspect has been taken into custody.
“The incident occurred when a vehicle, suspected of being smuggled into the country, ran over the officer while he was trying to evade arrest,” Sulaiman said.
“The deceased officer was rushed to Kazaure General Hospital and later shifted to Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Katsina where he was declared dead by the doctor on duty.”
The deceased, an indigene of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was born on April 15, 1985.
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”He joined the Nigerian Customs Service as a Customs Assistant III (CAIII) in the Transport and Logistics Unit on October 17, 2013 and was promoted to the rank of Customs Inspector (IC) in 2022.
He is survived by his wife and two children and his remains were buried in Katsina according to Islamic rites.
Shuaibu, on behalf of all the officers and men of the unit, extended his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased and prayed for his eternal rest.
“Shuaibu said the incident highlights the level of desperation among smugglers who operate with no regard for human life,” Sulaiman added.
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He added that this was one of many cases where smugglers killed and maimed service personnel in an attempt to evade arrest.
The spokesman quoted Mr Shuaibu as promising to ensure justice is done, adding: “A suspect has been arrested and is in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Gwiwa Division in Jigawa.
“The unit’s agents will not be intimidated and will remain steadfast in the fight against smuggling.”
(YAYA)