By Atoyebi Nike
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has condemned a violent attack on officers in Adamawa State and warned smugglers nationwide that the Service will no longer tolerate assaults on its personnel.
Speaking through Deputy Comptroller General Kenyide Ejibunu during a press briefing in Yola on Thursday, the CG described a July 16 ambush in Murjara, Mubi South LGA, as a premeditated attack involving stones, sticks, daggers, and threats to set officers and vehicles ablaze. One officer, Isah Mohammed, was injured, and a suspect died from a ricocheted bullet during crowd dispersal.
Ejibunu cited the Nigeria Customs Act 2023, Section 240(3)(a), warning that anyone obstructing or assaulting officers faces up to five years in prison or a ₦5 million fine.
The CG said the incident aimed to intimidate law enforcement and disrupt border security operations. “Such a violent act is a betrayal of community values and must be met with justice,” he said.
He revealed that in the past six weeks, the Customs Service seized 69,375 litres of petroleum products valued at ₦95.7 million—in Adamawa and Taraba States. The fuel, hidden for illegal export, was intercepted across several smuggling routes, including Malabu-Belel and Mubi-Sahuda axes.
The seized products will be sold to the public at ₦10,000 per 25-litre jerrican, Adeniyi added.
