Customs officer drowns in attempt to intercept boat carrying smuggled items

A customs officer attached to the Western Marine Command drowned Monday, March 22, while chasing smugglers along the Badagry water channel.

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Western Marine Command, on Wednesday, March 24, announced that it lost an officer in a boat mishap.

The Public Relations Officer, Idaho Sulaiman, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos.

He said the incident occurred at about 6:10 p.m. on March 22, while operatives of the command, Akere Surveillance/Monitoring team under Idiroko Outstation, were acting on credible information along Vawhe-Isalu creeks.

Mr Sulaiman said the team, led by Inspector of Customs (IC) Ajayi A.S., had the mishap while trying to intercept a boat suspected to be carrying smuggled items.

“The accident resulted in the death of Assistant Inspector of Customs (AIC) Aliyu AA by drowning.

“The body of the deceased was found underneath the river with the assistance of villagers around the axis.

“The body was taken to General Hospital Badagry and later deposited at the mortuary, having been certified dead by the doctor on call.

“The corpse was transported by air on-board MAX air airline to Kano on March 23, on the request of the family of the deceased,” he said.

He said the deceased, who hailed from Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina, was born on July 10, 1987.

Mr Aliyu joined the NCS on October 17, 2013, as Customs Assistant II and got promoted to the rank of AIC on January 1, 2019.

Sympathising with the family of the deceased, Mr Sulaiman said: “At these trying times, the Customs Area Controller, on behalf of the officers/men of the WMC, commiserate with the family of the deceased and pray for the repose of his soul and also for God to grant the deceased eternal rest.”

SOURCE: Lindaikejisblog.com