The Nigeria Customs Service’s Kebbi State Command has confirmed that on Thursday, gunmen in the state who were thought to be bandits killed two of its employees.
In a press release he made available to newsmen in the state on Friday morning, Mubarak Mustapha, the assistant superintendent of customs who serves as the command’s spokesman in the state, confirmed this.
According to the statement, a shootout broke out between the team and the alleged bandits in a Toyota Corolla while they were conducting a stop-and-search operation along the Bunza- Dankingari- Koko road.
“On Thursday, August 24, 2023, at around 01:30 a.m., a team of Kebbi Area Command officers and men of the Nigeria Customs engaged with heavy gunfire while conducting a stop-and-search operation based on reliable information along Bunza – Dakingari – Koko Road.
“In the ensuing brawl, two members of the Command—Customs Inspector Alhaji Kabiru Shehu and Customs Assistant II Abdullahi Muhammad—paid the ultimate price.
The officers were later buried in accordance with Islamic customs.
“While offering prayers for the deceased’s peace, the Command has begun a manhunt for the suspects in an effort to apprehend and bring charges against them.”
The Customs Area Area Controller, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, expressed sympathy to the families for the tragic incident and prayed that God Almighty would give them the strength to endure the loss, according to the statement.
The CAC also exhorts the general public to offer information regarding the whereabouts of alleged smugglers and other criminals, while guaranteeing the strict confidentiality of such informants.
