“Replace Our Dead Son With One Of Us” – Family Of Murdered Officer Appeals To Nigeria Customs Service

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The immediate family members of a Customs operative, Auwal Haruna Customs Assistant II, suspected to have been felled by yet to be identified gunmen at Gamjin -Makaho check point along the Katsina- Dakama road in Kaita Local council of Katsina state, on April 17,2024,  have appealed to the Nigerian Customs Services NCS, and other relevant authorities to replace their late son with a member of the family.

This is just as the Comptroller General of Customs CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has reaffirmed his determination to fish out out and prosecute all those directly and or indirectly involved in the gruesome killing of Haruna.

The deceased family members who spoke through the Chairman of Dutsi local council, the home local government  of late Haruna during a condolence visit to the family on Thursday May 9 by CGC, Adeniyi, lamented  the huge loss and pain that have  been inflicted on the family and entire community by the sudden death of Haruna.

The Council boss regretted that with the demise of Haruna ,the community has been stripped of the only customs personnel from its rank,urging the NCS to strongly consider his replacement from amongst them.

The CGC ,who was represented by NCS delegation led by the Customs Area Comptroller ,Katsina Command Muhammad Umar ,while vowing to ensure that justice is served ,noted that the service has commenced investigations in to the sad incident..

Adeniyi who had about penultimate week in an official statement assured that the suspected killers of Haruna will not go unpunished, also  emphasised the importance attached to the safety of every personnel of the service.

In a statement issued by the spokesperson for  the katsina Customs Command Tahir Balarabe  SPC , the CGC described the killing of the NCS operative as unprovoked,and painful.

,while expressing profound grief over the needless death of the gallant officer  CGC Adeniyi,also commiserated with the family of the deceased and the entire Kayawa  community over the painful loss .

” The brutal attack on the Customs operatives demonstrates the danger faced by men and officers of the Service in the line of duty .

The NCS in collaboration with other security agencies are tirelessly working to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure they face the full wrath of the law .

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While we pray for the repose of the soul of Haruna ,we also assure his family and Kayawa community that the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to be with them during and after the grieving period ” CGC Adeniyi stated.

Meanwhile the Katsina state Governor Dikko Umar Radda ,has tasked  security agencies to leave no stone unturned in their bid to arrest and prosecute the killers of Haruna .

Governor Radda who spoke when the CGC delegation paid him a visit at the Katsina state Government House said “It is very important that the security agencies in charge of investigation, ensure that the culprits are brought to book and justice done.

On behalf of myself and the good people of Katsina state ,I condole the Comptroller General of Customs and the entire personnel of the Service over the irreplaceable loss.”