Suspected Car Smuggler Arrested for Fatally Injuring Customs Officer in Kebbi
Abdulwasiu Salawudeen, a suspected car smuggler, has been apprehended in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State after causing the death of Customs officer Aminu Abdullahi while attempting to smuggle a Toyota Corolla. The incident was confirmed by the Kebbi State Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, Dr. Ben Oramalugo.
According to Oramalugo, the arrest took place in the early hours of Thursday, July 13, 2023, when a 2015 Toyota Corolla, believed to be driven by the suspected smuggler, collided with the victim along tarmac road in Yauri LGA. Abdullahi was rushed to General Hospital Yauri for immediate medical attention and was later transferred to the orthopedic hospital in Wammako, Sokoto state. Despite initially responding to treatment, he tragically passed away.
Abdulwasiu Salawudeen, the driver of the vehicle, has been taken to the Kebbi Command Headquarters for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force in Kebbi State has pledged to maintain close cooperation with the Nigerian Customs Service in the state to ensure effective service delivery. Commissioner of Police Samuel Titus Musa expressed this commitment during a courtesy visit to the Customs Area Controller (CAC) in Birnin Kebbi. The purpose of the visit was to encourage collaboration between the two agencies and to seek support in combating crime in the state.
In response, the CAC, as conveyed in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, ASCII Mubarak Mustapha, described the visits as significant not only on an official level but also on a personal level. The CAC highlighted the efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service Kebbi Command in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations, and ensuring the security of Kebbi State’s citizens. The CAC emphasized the longstanding alliance between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police Force in Kebbi, aimed at creating a peaceful environment for the state’s economic growth and development. The CAC reassured the new Commissioner of Police of maximum cooperation and ongoing synergy.