The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has confirmed the killing of two Customs officers by Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi State.
Adeniyi disclosed that the officers, identified as ASC Bamigboye and DSC Dom, were killed in the early hours of Wednesday while repelling attacks by the terrorist group around 3 a.m.
Speaking at the Fourth Biennial International Conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin, in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology, RUDN University, Russia, the Customs boss said the officers “paid the supreme sacrifice” in the line of duty.
“This morning, two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service paid the supreme sacrifice while warding off the threats from the Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi State,” he said.
Adeniyi lamented that, aside from the military, Customs operatives remain the “last shield” in the counter-offensive against terrorists in the state.
He said the incident was deeply disturbing and noted that he would have cancelled his trip to Ilorin had he not already arrived for the conference.
The Customs CG condoled with the families of the slain officers, assuring them that the attack would not deter the Service from carrying out its responsibilities.
A minute’s silence was observed at the conference in honour of the deceased officers.
Adeniyi also highlighted the impact of artificial intelligence on Customs operations, saying the deployment of the Service’s AI-powered risk engine has curbed corruption and improved efficiency.
He argued that portraying AI as a competitor to humans was misleading, stressing that human intelligence and leadership remain essential in driving and regulating emerging technologies.