Armed men have reportedly killed a Customs officer at the Fingila checkpoint in Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State
The incident occurred on Monday when the assailants, numbering about seven and riding on motorcycles, stormed the community armed with heavy weapons.
A local resident, Malam Abdulrasheed, told reporters that the gunmen first invaded nearby farms, where they harassed farmers and confiscated food items. He alleged that the attackers forced farmers to taste their own meals before consuming the remaining portions and ordering them to vacate their farmlands.
After leaving the farms, the assailants reportedly moved towards the main road, where they encountered the Customs officer seated near a mosque. According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen opened fire. The officer was struck while attempting to escape into a maize field and died on the spot.
Two other Customs officers, who were not in the open during the attack, managed to crawl through the maize field and escaped with minor injuries.
Community members disclosed that the slain officer was from Maiduguri, Borno State, and was known to often sit near the mosque where he was killed.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kebbi State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has not released an official statement on the incident.