Customs Officer Killed in Ogun Ambush, ₦3.32bn Smuggled Goods Seized
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed the death of one of its officers, Mustapha Akiyode, who was fatally shot by suspected smugglers during an ambush in Ogun State.
Akiyode, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC I), was killed in the early hours of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, while on official duty along the Ilara–Ijoun axis in Imeko-Afon, a border corridor widely known for intense smuggling activities.
The incident was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday via the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Service. Speaking during his maiden press briefing at the headquarters of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, in Ikeja, the Comptroller of the Unit, Gambo Aliyu, described the killing as a painful reminder of the risks faced by officers enforcing Nigeria’s borders.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, has announced with deep regret the loss of an officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs Mustapha Akiyode, who was shot in the line of duty by suspected smugglers during an ambush along the Ilara–Ijoun axis of Ogun State,” the statement read.
Aliyu noted that despite the tragic loss, the command has intensified its operations through a strengthened intelligence-driven anti-smuggling strategy, which has already yielded significant results.
According to him, the unit recorded seizures of contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3.32 billion within the period under review. The seized items include prohibited and uncustomed goods intercepted across various flashpoints in the zone.
The comptroller also confirmed that confiscated consignments of illicit drugs, including cannabis, were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Aliyu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to sustaining the fight against smuggling, assuring that the death of the officer would not deter the Service from carrying out its statutory duties.
He extended condolences to the family of the slain officer and pledged continued collaboration with other security agencies to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
