Gunmen suspected to be smugglers have attacked the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) patrol base in Koko, Kebbi State, resulting in the death of one officer and the abduction of another.
The Kebbi State Command of the NCS confirmed the incident in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Tajudeen Salisu.
The statement said that the gunmen trailed the anti-smuggling squad to their base at Koko, destroyed facilities, killed one Customs Officer, Dabo Umar, and abducted Babagana Abba Kabiru.
However, the remains of the deceased was retrieved and conveyed to Kaduna for Islamic burial.
The Command’s Comptroller, Earnest Iheanacho, while commiserating with the bereaved family of the late officer, said that a manhunt has been launched to rescue the abducted officer.
He said: “We will not be deterred or forced by fear to abandon the border patrol; our resolve to stem smugglers at all costs is unwavering despite threats by disgruntled elements.”
While the rescue operations continue, the Command pledges to provide updates. He urged officers at the borders to maintain a high level of professionalism and to always use available safety measures during operations.
This comes two days after some unknown gunmen killed an Inspector of Police (name undisclosed) during an attack at the Jakaan Police Station, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Kenneth, confirmed the incident in an interview on Sunday.
Kenneth said; “We recorded a foiled attack by unknown gunmen at the police base in Jakana town. The gunmen tried to infiltrate into the police parameters but the efforts of the Police Mobile Force attached to the police station in Jakana were able to repel the gunmen who attempted to overrun them. However, we lost a male police inspector.”
He noted that it’s early to conclude whether the attackers were Boko Haram terrorists, saying, “Right now, we can only classify them as gunmen because their anonymity is yet to be unravelled.”
In early February 2024, four policemen were allegedly killed and a cache of ammunition was carted away when suspected terrorists believed to be fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province attacked a police station at Gajiram, headquarters of Nganzai LG of the state