Customs officer killed in Ogun ambush ₦3.32bn smuggled goods seized
A Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officer was fatally shot by suspected smugglers in Ogun State as enforcement efforts intensified along the nation’s porous border routes, the service has confirmed. The tragic attack occurred during an anti-smuggling operation that also yielded the seizure of contraband goods with a combined duty paid value of ₦3.32 billion — a figure that underscores both the scale of cross-border smuggling and the risks confronted by officers enforcing Nigeria’s trade and border laws. 
The slain officer has been identified as Assistant Superintendent of Customs Mustapha Akiyode, who was killed in the early hours of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, along the Ilara–Ijoun axis in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, a corridor notorious for illicit trade and smuggling. The attack occurred as the federal government continues to step up border enforcement to stem illegal imports, drug trafficking and fuel diversion that have long undercut legitimate commerce and revenue generation. 
The Customs officer killed in Ogun ambush was part of a Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ patrol tasked with combating smuggling syndicates along critical border points between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. According to the Nigeria Customs Service, the ambush took place as the patrol team was carrying out routine enforcement duties when they were met with gunfire by suspected smugglers. 
Ambush, Violence and Smuggling Networks
At a press briefing held at the FOU Zone ‘A’ headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, the Comptroller of the Unit, Gambo Aliyu, described the killing of the Customs officer as “a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by officers engaged in border enforcement.” He said the service would not be deterred by violence and reiterated its determination to confront smuggling networks with “renewed vigour, professional discipline and respect for the rule of law.” 
The Customs officer killed in Ogun ambush occurred in a location that has repeatedly surfaced in reports of violent resistance to enforcement. Border communities in Imeko-Afon and surrounding areas are frequently targeted by syndicates trafficking rice, refined petroleum products, used cars, textiles and other contraband, as well as illicit drugs — a situation that has made routine patrols both hazardous and complex. 
Aliyu said the anti-smuggling approach adopted by the unit is intelligence-driven, a tactic that has led to the interception of 144 smuggling attempts within the command’s area of responsibility since the current operational regime began. He said that while the loss of an officer was deeply regrettable, the seizures reflect significant progress in disrupting sophisticated smuggling networks that profit from Nigeria’s long, open borders. 
Massive Seizures Amid the Violence
The ambush, which led to the Customs officer killed in Ogun ambush, coincided with the announcement of major seizures that highlighted the scale of smuggling activities along the border. The Nigeria Customs Service reported confiscating a wide range of contraband items with a combined duty paid value of ₦3.32 billion, a sum that represents the economic impact of enforcement operations in a short period. 
Among the items seized were:
• 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice;
• 77 bags of foreign sugar;
• 3,362 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil;
• 20,700 litres of premium motor spirit (PMS);
• 915 bales of used clothing;
• 21 used vehicles;
• 581 used refrigerator compressors classified as hazardous waste;
• A 20-foot container of stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets;
• 3,029 parcels of synthetic cannabis indica weighing 1,431 kg — which were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation. 
Eight suspects were arrested in connection with some of the seizures, and Customs officials say the investigations remain ongoing. Inter-agency cooperation, especially with the NDLEA, has been central to prosecuting narcotics-related cases following seizures of thousands of kilograms of illegal drugs across the zone. 
https://ogelenews.ng/ogun-customs-ambush
The Toll on Enforcement Personnel
The Customs officer killed in Ogun ambush is the most recent fatality in a string of violent encounters between smugglers and enforcement personnel in the region. Gunfights, ambushes, and coordinated attacks have been reported, with officers sometimes operating in difficult terrain and threats from armed groups resisting interdiction. 
In a separate but related incident in late January, Customs operatives were engaged in a gun duel with suspected smugglers in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, also in Ogun State, as smugglers attempted to reclaim seized contraband. That confrontation resulted in one assailant’s death and the arrest of suspects connected to the seized goods. 
The loss of an enforcement officer has drawn reactions from stakeholders across the security and customs communities, with many emphasising that such sacrifices highlight the need for enhanced protective measures, community cooperation and intelligence sharing to support enforcement personnel at the frontline of anti-smuggling operations. 
Border Security, Smuggling and National Impact
Smuggling remains a persistent challenge for Nigeria’s economy, depriving the Federal Government of billions in revenue, promoting corruption, and creating dangerous networks that traffic not just goods but drugs and weapons. The Customs officer killed in Ogun ambush thus symbolises the human cost of this struggle as the Nigeria Customs Service intensifies efforts to secure borders, enforce tariffs, and protect legitimate trade flows. 
Experts say that while seizures valued at ₦3.32 billion represent a significant blow to smugglers, the continued prevalence of contraband shows that enforcement must be sustained and backed by community trust and strong legal action. They argue that improved surveillance technology, fuelled patrols, and cooperation with neighbouring border states, could further disrupt illicit networks and reduce the likelihood of violent resistance. 
Outlook and Enforcement Strategy
In response to the ambush and the deaths, the Nigeria Customs Service has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders despite the risks involved. The service has called on citizens to assist by reporting suspicious movements and supporting lawful officers as they execute their duties under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. 
As the nation watches the legal process unfold, the Customs officer killed in Ogun ambush will likely be remembered not just as a casualty of smuggling violence, but as a catalyst for renewed determination within the service to confront illicit trade boldly and systematically.
Customs officer killed in Ogun ambush ₦3.32bn smuggled goods seized
