ZAINAB JUNAID
In a devastating event, the Nigeria Customs Service has again been thrown into mourning with the death of a young Officer Inspector of Customs (IC) Hamza Abdullahi Elenwo 39, during a stop and search operation in Jigawa.
It was a real devastating turn of event as the Service is still in mourning mood of late DC Etop Essien, and also that of Customs Assistant Auwal Haruna who was brutally murdered three months ago by suspected smugglers at Gamjin Makaho checkpoint along the Katsina-Dankama road on April 17, 2024.
The announcement of 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 by the Federal Operations Unit, Zone B of the Service was another gaping wound.
It’s high time the management of the Service deployed new strategies, tighten security not meant to be in public domain in all border areas because of this dastardly, inhuman and unpardonable act of these smugglers.
It is very disturbing hearing the news of the death of deserving, upcoming Officers, who have the qualities of strong sense of responsibilities, determination, courage among others but the vision to objectively serve their Nation- Nigeria, is cut short by miscreants who continue wallowing in deep warm baths.
In a statement signed by SC Isah Sulaiman, Public Relations Officer for the Unit on 13, July 2024, the ugly incident of IC Elenwo 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. The deceased has been laid to rest in Katsina, according to Islamic rites.
“The 39 year old Inspector Hamza, an indigene of Port Harcourt, Rivers State was born on 15 April 1985. He joined the Nigeria Customs Service as Customs Assistant III (CAIII) in the Transport and Logistics Unit on 17 October 2013 and was promoted to the rank of Inspector of Customs (IC) in the year 2022. He is survived by a wife and two Children,” the statement read.
Though, the Head of Federal Operations Unit Zone B, Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, on behalf of the entire Officers and Men of the Unit, extends a heartfelt condolence to the deceased’s family and prays for his eternal rest; the Comptroller vowed to ensure justice is served saying One (1) Suspect has been arrested and is in the Custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Gwiwa Division in Jigawa State.
Comptroller Shuaibu also asserted that the incident shows the level of desperation by smugglers operating without recourse to human lives, adding it is also one of the many instances where smugglers kill and maim Personnel of the service in an attempt to evade arrest.
He emphasized that the unit’s operatives would not be deterred and would remain unwavering in the fight against smuggling.
