Customs officer drowns chasing smugglers on waters

Segun Oladipupo

The Western Marine Command (WMC) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has lost an Assistant Inspector of Customs (AIC) Aliyu AA after the boat mishap while trying to intercept a boat suspected to be carrying smuggled items.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Suleiman Isah, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC) 1 who availed our correspondent with the news, stated that the deceased was a part of the Akere surveillance and monitoring team under Idiroko outstation.

He added that the officer with official patrol boat with registration number CPM 191 was acting on credible information along
Vawhe-Isalu creeks when the accident occured.

Isah said, “The body of the deceased was found underneath the river with the assistance of villagers around the axis.

“The body was taken to General Hospital Badagry and later deposited at the mortuary, having being certified dead by the doctor on call.

“The corpse was transported by air on-board MAX air airline to Kano on 23 March 2021 on the request of the family of the deceased.

“AIC Aliyu A.A. hailed from Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State. He was born on the 10 July 1987. He joined the Nigeria Customs Service on the 17 October 2013 as Customs Assistant II (CAII) and got promoted to the rank of AIC on 1 January 2019.

“AIC Aliyu AA died on the 22 March 2021 while on active service and he will be buried today 24 March 2021 in his hometown Funtua Area of Katsina state by 1000hrs according to Islamic rites.

“At these trying times, the Customs Area Controller on behalf of the Officers/Men of the WMC commiserate with the family of the deceased and pray for the repose of his soul and also for God to grant the deceased eternal rest.”