A Nigeria Customs Service officer has died after being shot during an ambush by suspected smugglers in Imeko‑Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, the agency has confirmed.
Authorities also reported that smuggled goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3,319,893,255 were seized in related enforcement operations, the service said on Friday.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, along the Ilara–Ijoun axis, according to a statement issued by the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Customs service identified the slain officer as Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC I) Mustapha Akiyode. He was reportedly shot while carrying out routine border enforcement duties.
The service described his death as a painful reminder of the risks taken by officials in combating smuggling.
At a press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, the Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Gambo Aliyu, reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to confronting smuggling syndicates with renewed vigour.
Customs officials also disclosed that a series of intelligence‑led anti‑smuggling operations resulted in significant interceptions of prohibited and uncustomed goods. Items seized included:
- Thousands of bags of foreign rice and sugar
- Hundreds of units of used vehicles
- Thousands of litres of premium motor spirit
- Used clothing and hazardous waste components
The combined Duty Paid Value of the seized goods stood at ₦3,319,893,255, the statement said. Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
The unit handed over intercepted cannabis indica narcotics to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution and lawful disposal.
Comptroller Aliyu said the anti‑smuggling strategy emphasises intelligence‑driven enforcement, professional discipline, and respect for the rule of law.
He listed the interception of 3,029 parcels of synthetic cannabis indica weighing over 1,400 kilograms as a major disruption to drug supply networks in the operational corridor.
The Nigeria Customs Service’s report underscores continuing efforts to curb smuggling and related crimes along border routes in southwest Nigeria.
