The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has disclosed that two officers of the agency paid the supreme price while confronting suspected bandits—known as ‘Lakurawa’ terrorists—at two checkpoints located in the Tuga community of Bagudu Local Government Area, Kebbi State.
He made this known on Wednesday at the fourth biennial international conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences at the University of Ilorin.
A security source had earlier hinted that the gunmen attacked two checkpoints situated close to one another, shooting one officer and burning a three-star officer alive during the assault.
According to Adeniyi, the incident occurred on Wednesday morning during a counter-offensive against the armed group.
ALSO READ: Energy Commission Boss Denies Arrest by EFCC
He identified the slain operatives as Assistant Superintendent of Customs Bamigboye and Deputy Superintendent of Customs Dom.
The Customs chief described the incident as deeply painful, noting that operatives of the service continue to play frontline roles in security operations alongside the military.
“This morning, two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service paid the supreme sacrifice while warding off threats from Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi.
“Apart from the military, the Nigeria Customs Service remains the last shield in several of these border communities,” he said.
Adeniyi further assured that the deaths of the officers would not weaken the resolve of the service in confronting criminal networks operating around Nigeria’s borders.