Suspected Smuggler Kills Customs Officer while evading arrest

Maureen Aguta

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone B has announced the tragic death of Inspector of Customs (IC) Hamza Abdullahi Elenwo in an unfortunate incident that occurred on Friday, 12 July 2024 at Achilafia along Daura-Kano Road in Jigawa State during a stop and search operation.

The incident occurred when a vehicle suspected to be smuggled into the country hit the operative while trying to evade arrest.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Isah Sulaiman, a Superintendent of Customs, disclosed that the late Officer was rushed to the General Hospital Kazaure and later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Katsina, where he was pronounced dead by the Doctor on duty. He further said that the deceased has been laid to rest in Katsina, according to Islamic rites.

Inspector Hamza, an indigene of Port Harcourt, Rivers State was born on April 15, 1985. He joined the Nigeria Customs Service as Customs Assistant III (CAIII) in the Transport and Logistics Unit on 17 October 2013 and was promoted to the rank of Inspector of Customs (IC) in the year 2022. He is survived by a wife and two children.

The statement further disclosed that the Head of Federal Operations Unit Zone B, Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, “on behalf of the entire Officers and Men of the Unit, extends his heartfelt condolence to the deceased’s family and prays for his eternal rest.”

Comptroller Shuaibu asserted that the incident shows the level of desperation by smugglers operating without recourse to human lives, adding that it is also one of the many instances where smugglers kill and maim Personnel of the service in an attempt to evade arrest.

The Comptroller vowed to ensure justice is served as One (1) Suspect has been arrested and is in the Custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Gwiwa Division in Jigawa State.

He added that the unit’s operatives would not be deterred and would remain unwavering in the fight against smuggling.