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Customs officer drowns in attempt to intercept boat carrying smuggled items

A customs officer attached to the Western Marine Command drowned Monday, March 22, while chasing smugglers along the Badagry water channel.

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Western Marine Command, on Wednesday, March 24, announced that it lost an officer in a boat mishap.

The Public Relations Officer, Idaho Sulaiman, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos.

He said the incident occurred at about 6:10 p.m. on March 22, while operatives of the command, Akere Surveillance/Monitoring team under Idiroko Outstation, were acting on credible information along Vawhe-Isalu creeks.

Mr Sulaiman said the team, led by Inspector of Customs (IC) Ajayi A.S., had the mishap while trying to intercept a boat suspected to be carrying smuggled items.

“The accident resulted in the death of Assistant Inspector of Customs (AIC) Aliyu AA by drowning.

“The body of the deceased was found underneath the river with the assistance of villagers around the axis.

“The body was taken to General Hospital Badagry and later deposited at the mortuary, having been certified dead by the doctor on call.

“The corpse was transported by air on-board MAX air airline to Kano on March 23, on the request of the family of the deceased,” he said.

He said the deceased, who hailed from Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina, was born on July 10, 1987.

Mr Aliyu joined the NCS on October 17, 2013, as Customs Assistant II and got promoted to the rank of AIC on January 1, 2019.

Sympathising with the family of the deceased, Mr Sulaiman said: “At these trying times, the Customs Area Controller, on behalf of the officers/men of the WMC, commiserate with the family of the deceased and pray for the repose of his soul and also for God to grant the deceased eternal rest.”

SOURCE: Lindaikejisblog.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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