ABUJA: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday said it has launched investigation into the killing of its anti-smuggling operatives, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Maidama Yabo and Assistant Superintendent of Customs I (ASCI) Babandi Nuraddeen Shaba, by suspected armed robbers at Dogon Hawa, Katsina State.
NCS which is mourning the victims said during the incidence, one AK 47 riffle and its magazine loaded with ammunitions, helmet, bullet proof vest and Service shoes were carted away. At its 13th regular meeting for the year, last Wednesday, the management expressed deep sense of sorrow over the loss of the two officers known for their dedication to the course of fighting smugglers. In an emotion laden voice, the Comptroller-General of Customs, retired Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali, bemoaned the fallen colleagues and prayed that Almighty Allah grants them eternal rest. While condoling the families of the deceased officers, he expressed the resolve of the Service to bring the killers to justice. The management, in a statement by the spokesman, Joseph Attah, also lamented the inclination of smugglers and other criminal elements that inflict violence on anti-smuggling operatives carrying out their statutory functions. While lamenting the relative public silence that followed the heinous killing of the officers, the Customs warned that henceforth, anti-smuggling operatives would use appropriate force to defend themselves while enforcing the extant laws governing imports and exports in Nigeria.
