Terrorists have continued their deadly reign in the Northern Nigeria, as they ambushed a team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), killing three of its officers in Kebbi State.
The hoodlums also burnt patrol vehicles during the attack.
This comes amid renewed onslaught by terrorists in different parts of the country, with Boko Haram said to be occupying at least three communities in Borno State.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who confirmed the latest ISWAP attack during a working visit to the Niger/Kogi Area Command of the Service, expressed over the activities of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) at the Babanna border in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
He described their presence as a serious threat to national security and border operations.
Adeniyi said the officers were ambushed in the Bashaka area of Kebbi State.
“Three of our officers were recently killed in Bashaka, Kebbi State.
They were taken by surprise as the attackers shelled them, burnt their vehicles, and opened fire on all of them," he said.
He added that customs operatives narrowly escaped another ambush by ISWAP militants after seizing 500 jerricans of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the Babanna border. The smugglers were suspected of supplying fuel to terrorists and armed bandits.
Adeniyi, represented by the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration, and Special Duties, Hussein Kehinde Ejibunu stressed the need for enhanced collaboration with other security agencies and urged officers to remain vigilant amid rising threats.
“It would interest you to know that most of these bandits attacking us get their fuel through smugglers, giving the adversaries the power to move around and attack citizens,” he said.
He warned that terrorist groups now operate in border areas of Niger, Kebbi, and Borno states, including ISWAP, Boko Haram, and Lakurawa, some of whom, he claimed, live among local communities.