A Nigeria Customs Service inspector named Hamza Abdullahi-Elenwo was killed by a suspected smuggler’s vehicle during a stop-and-search operation in Jigawa State on Friday, July 12, 2024.
Isa Suleiman, Public Relations Officer of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone B where late inspector was attached, disclosed this information on Saturday.
He explained that inspector Abdullahi-Elenwo was struck by a vehicle suspected of being smuggled into the country as it tried to evade arrest. He was taken to General Hospital Kazaure and then transferred to the Federal Medical Centre in Katsina, where he was pronounced dead.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone B is sad to announce the tragic demise of Inspector of Customs (IC) Hamza Abdullahi Elenwo in an unfortunate incident that occurred on Friday, 12 July 2024 at Achilafia along Daura-Kano Road in Jigawa State during a stop and search operation.
“The incident occurred when a vehicle suspected to be smuggled into the country hit the operative while trying to evade arrest.
“The late operative was rushed to the General Hospital Kazaure and later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Katsina, where he was pronounced dead by the doctor on duty,” Suleiman disclosed.
The Head of Federal Operations Unit Zone B, Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, lamented the extreme measures smugglers are willing to take to evade capture, regardless of the potential harm to human life.
He said the fatal incident involving Inspector Abdullahi-Elenwo was just one example among many where smugglers have shown little regard for the safety of Nigeria Customs Service personnel in their desperate attempts to evade arrest.
Shuaibu expressed condolences and vowed to seek justice. He said one of the suspects who hit the inspector had been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force, Gwiwa Division in Jigawa State.