Suspected smugglers have killed an Inspector of Customs, Hamza Elenwo, while evading arrest.
According to a statement signed by Superintendent Isah Sulaiman, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, Inspector Elenwo was killed during a stop-and-search operation at Achilafia along the Daura-Kano Road in Jigawa State on Friday, July 12.
A vehicle suspected of being smuggled into the country struck Elenwo as it attempted to evade arrest.
Despite being rushed to the General Hospital Kazaure and later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre Katsina, Elenwo was pronounced dead. He has since been laid to rest in Katsina according to Islamic rites.
Inspector Elenwo, born on April 15, 1985, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, joined the Nigeria Customs Service as a Customs Assistant III in the Transport and Logistics Unit on October 17, 2013, and was promoted to Inspector of Customs in 2022. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, Head of the Federal Operations Unit Zone B, expressed deep condolences to the deceased’s family and condemned the increasing desperation of smugglers.
He highlighted that this incident underscores the dangers faced by Customs personnel but vowed to ensure justice for the slain officer.
The Comptroller noted that a suspect has been arrested and is in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Gwiwa Division in Jigawa State.
He affirmed that the unit’s operatives would remain steadfast in their efforts to combat smuggling.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
