The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, has confirmed the death of an officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs Mustapha Akiyode, who was shot dead by suspected smugglers during an ambush in Ogun State.
Akiyode was killed in the early hours of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, while carrying out official duties along the Ilara–Ijoun corridor in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area, a border route known for intense smuggling activities.
In a statement shared on the Service’s official X handle on Friday, the Comptroller of FOU Zone ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, described the incident as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by officers involved in border enforcement. He spoke during his first press briefing at the unit’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.
Aliyu said the command remained undeterred by the loss and had intensified operations through a revamped, intelligence-driven anti-smuggling strategy, which has already yielded significant results across the zone.
According to him, the new approach led to the interception of 144 smuggling attempts involving prohibited and uncustomed goods, reflecting the unit’s renewed determination to dismantle smuggling syndicates along Nigeria’s borders.
Items seized included 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 77 bags of foreign sugar, 21 used vehicles, 3,362 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 20,700 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS), 915 bales of used clothing, 581 used refrigerator compressors classified as hazardous waste, and a 20-foot container of stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets.
Aliyu also disclosed a major breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking, revealing that operatives intercepted 3,029 parcels of a synthetic strain of cannabis indica weighing 1,431 kilograms. He said the seizure significantly disrupted narcotics supply routes within the zone.
Warning about the wider security implications of drug trafficking, he noted that such crimes fuel violence and instability by emboldening criminal networks and undermining national security. He urged those involved in illicit trade to abandon criminal activities and embrace legitimate businesses or face the full consequences of the law.
Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures, which have a combined Duty Paid Value of ₦3.32 billion.
In line with inter-agency collaboration, the seized cannabis was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution. The agency commended the Customs Service for its vigilance and assured that the drugs would be disposed of in accordance with the law.
The Customs command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders despite the risks faced by its officers in the line of duty.
