A Nigeria Customs Service officer was shot dead on Monday by suspected gunmen at the Fingila checkpoint in Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Eyewitnesses said the attackers, numbering about seven and armed with sophisticated weapons, first invaded nearby farms where they harassed farmers, seized food items, and ordered them to vacate their farmlands.
Residents recounted that the gunmen forced farmers to taste their meals before consuming the rest, warning that no farming should take place that day. The assailants later advanced to the main road, where they encountered the customs officer sitting near a mosque. Witnesses said the officer attempted to flee into a maize field after the first gunshot missed him, but he was eventually hit by two bullets, one of which proved fatal.
Two other customs personnel reportedly escaped with minor injuries after hiding in the maize field and crawling to safety. Locals identified the slain officer as a native of Maiduguri, Borno State. As of press time, the Nigeria Customs Service in Kebbi had not released an official statement on the incident.
