Customs Officers Give Bandits 7 Bags of Seized Rice to Escape Attack in Katsina
By Erewunmi Peace
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confirmed that its operatives in Katsina State were forced to hand over seven bags of seized rice to heavily armed bandits in order to avoid being killed during a recent attack in the Dutsin-Ma area.
The disclosure was made by Aliyu Mohammed, the National Coordinator of Border Drill Sector Four (North-West), who said the officers were transporting 37 bags of confiscated rice when they were ambushed by the armed group.
Mohammed explained that the bandits threatened to kill the officers if they refused to comply, leaving them with no option but to surrender part of the seized goods to protect their lives.
He highlighted the growing insecurity faced by security agencies in border communities, noting that operatives frequently encounter armed groups involved in smuggling and other criminal activities.
“We had to give them seven bags of rice to save our lives,” Mohammed was quoted as saying.
Security experts say the incident underscores the challenges authorities face in the North-West region, where banditry continues to threaten law enforcement operations and civilian safety.
Attack occurred in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State
Operatives were transporting seized smuggled rice
Bandits forced them to surrender bags at gunpoint
Customs warns insecurity is affecting border enforcement
A similar event involving Customs operatives giving up seized goods to bandits was previously reported in the region, highlighting a recurring danger for frontline officers.
