The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed that three of its officers were killed in a deadly ambush by suspected terrorists in Kebbi State.
The attackers, believed to be members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), also torched the officers’ patrol vehicles during the violent encounter in Bashaka.
This was disclosed by Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a recent inspection tour of the Niger/Kogi Area Command.
Represented by Assistant Comptroller General Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu, Adeniyi warned of growing terrorist infiltration at key border zones, particularly Babanna in Niger State’s Borgu LGA.
“Three of our officers were recently killed in Bashaka, Kebbi State,” he stated. “They were taken by surprise as the attackers shelled them, burnt their vehicles, and opened fire.”
In a chilling revelation, Adeniyi said another team of customs operatives narrowly escaped a similar ambush shortly after intercepting 500 jerricans of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), allegedly intended for terrorists operating in forest hideouts.
He noted that the fuel smuggling racket was directly aiding terrorist groups by enabling their mobility and operations across remote regions.
“These bandits get their fuel through smugglers, giving them the power to move around and attack citizens,” Adeniyi said.
According to him, the Customs Service is now deploying aircraft and aerial surveillance to boost patrols along high-risk borders.
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He emphasized the need for increased cooperation with the military, police, and other agencies.
Terror groups such as ISWAP, Boko Haram, and Lakurawa are reportedly expanding their presence in parts of Kebbi, Niger, and Borno States.
Adeniyi warned that many of them live undetected among local communities, urging citizens to report suspicious activity.
The Customs Area Controller for Niger/Kogi Command, Pascal Chibuoke, said that the intercepted fuel was seized across known smuggling corridors such as Kabe/Tunga Madugu Road and Dekara/Gidan Zana Road.
He placed the total duty paid value at N25.9 million and attributed the operation’s success to community intelligence and inter-agency collaboration.
Chibuoke appealed for more logistical support to match the evolving threat landscape. “We urgently need additional patrol vehicles and communication equipment to protect our officers and our borders,” he said.
The attack highlights the deadly intersection between smuggling, insecurity, and terrorism in Nigeria’s porous border regions — and the urgent need for stronger, tech-enabled security coordination across agencies.