Some members of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have killed three officers of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Kebbi State.
The terrorists also burnt the patrol vehicles used by the officials of the NCS during an operation, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi said.
Speaking during a working visit to the Niger/Kogi Area Command of the Service, Adeniyi decried the activities of ISWAP terrorists at the Babanna border in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
He said that the presence of these terrorists pose a grave danger to national security and scheduled border operations.
Adeniyi who was represented by Hussein Ejibunu, the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration, and Special Duties, said the officers were killed in Bashaka area of Kebbi State.
“Three of our officers were recently killed in Bashaka, Kebbi State. They were taken by surprise as the attackers shelled them, burnt their vehicles, and opened fire on all of them,” the CG stated.
In addition, he disclosed that operatives of the service also escaped an ambush by terrorists after they successfully seized 500 jerricans of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the Babanna border.
According to the CG, the attackers were smuggling the petroleum products to terrorists and bandits within the area.
He further called for collaboration with sister security agencies while urging officers to remain vigilant amid rising threats.
“It would interest you to know that most of these bandits attacking us get their fuel through smugglers, giving the adversaries the power to move around and attack citizens,” he said.