The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has mourned the death of Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC I) Mustapha Akiyode, who was killed during an ambush by suspected smugglers in Ogun State.
Akiyode was shot in the early hours of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, along the Ilara–Ijoun axis in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area while participating in an anti-smuggling operation.
Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Gambo Aliyu, described the incident during his maiden press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, as a “painful loss” and a stark reminder of the risks faced by officers defending Nigeria’s borders.
“We lost a brave and committed officer in the course of duty. His sacrifice will not be forgotten, and it strengthens our resolve to intensify the fight against smuggling,” Aliyu said.
The Comptroller used the briefing to unveil a renewed intelligence-driven anti-smuggling strategy designed to dismantle smuggling networks, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen border security across the South-West corridor.
Since its implementation, the strategy has yielded major results, including the interception of 144 smuggling attempts involving prohibited and uncustomed goods. Items seized include:
- 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice
- 77 bags of foreign sugar
- 21 used vehicles
- 3,362 jerrycans of vegetable oil
- 20,700 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS)
- 915 bales of used clothing
- 581 used refrigerator compressors (classified as hazardous waste)
- A 20-foot container loaded with stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets
In a significant narcotics breakthrough, the Unit also seized 3,029 parcels of synthetic cannabis indica weighing approximately 1,431 kilograms, disrupting major drug supply routes in the operational corridor.
Aliyu warned that drug trafficking fuels banditry, terrorism, and other violent crimes, undermining national security and societal stability. Eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures, which have a combined Duty Paid Value of N3.31 billion.
The seized cannabis was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and legal disposal. NDLEA praised the Customs Service for its professionalism in handling the operation.
Comptroller Aliyu reaffirmed the FOU Zone A’s commitment to intelligence-led operations, officer safety, and inter-agency collaboration in the fight against smuggling and related crimes, vowing to continue confronting criminal networks with vigilance and professionalism.
