The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, announced on Saturday the tragic death of Inspector of Customs, Hamza Abdullahi-Elenwo. During a routine stop-and-search operation, The incident occurred on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Achilafia along Daura-Kano Road in Jigawa State.
Isa Suleiman, the Zone B Public Relations Officer, provided details of the incident in a statement from Kaduna. According to Suleiman, the fatal event occurred when a vehicle suspected of being smuggled into the country struck Inspector Abdullahi-Elenwo as it attempted to evade arrest. The injured officer was immediately taken to General Hospital Kazaure before being transferred to the Federal Medical Centre in Katsina. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead by the attending physician.
Suleiman expressed the deep sorrow felt by the NCS, stating, “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. According to Islamic rites, the deceased has been laid to rest in Katsina.”
The Head of Federal Operations Unit Zone B, Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased on behalf of the officers and men of the unit. He emphasized the alarming desperation of smugglers who risk and often disregard human lives to avoid capture. Comptroller Shuaibu assured that justice would be pursued, noting that one suspect had been apprehended and was currently in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Gwiwa Division in Jigawa State. He reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to the ongoing battle against smuggling, stating that their resolve remains unshaken.
Inspector Hamza Abdullahi-Elenwo, a native of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was born on April 16, 1985. He joined the Nigeria Customs Service as Customs Assistant III (CAIII) in the Transport and Logistics Unit on October 17, 2013, and was promoted to the rank of Inspector of Customs (IC) in 2022. He is survived by his wife and two children.
This incident is a stark reminder of the perils faced by customs officers in their line of duty. It follows another tragic event in April when NCS announced the death of Customs Assistant II Auwal Haruna, attached to the Katsina Area Command. Haruna was killed at the Gamji Makaho checkpoint in Dankama, Katsina State, while attempting to intercept a convoy of over 50 vehicles suspected of illegal activities.
The relentless efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service to combat smuggling are met with significant risks, underscoring the need for enhanced safety measures and support for these frontline officers.
