Two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been killed in a confrontation with suspected Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi State.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, who disclosed this, said the incident happened on Wednesday morning.
The slain operatives identified as Assistant Superintendent of Customs Bamigboye and Deputy Superintendent of Customs Dom, were said to have died during a counter-offensive operation against the armed group around 3am.
Adeniyi disclosed the development in Ilorin while delivering a keynote address at the fourth biennial international conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin.
The event was held in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology, Ruding University, Russia.
“This morning, two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service paid the supreme sacrifice while warding off threats from Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi,” the customs chief said.
He described the incident as deeply painful, noting that operatives of the service have continued to play frontline roles in security operations alongside the military.
“Apart from the military, the Nigeria Customs Service remains the last shield in several of these border communities,” Adeniyi stated.
The Comptroller-General revealed that he had already arrived in Ilorin before receiving reports of the attack, adding that the development would have made him consider cancelling his engagement at the conference.
He, however, assured that the deaths of the officers would not weaken the resolve of the service in confronting criminal networks operating around Nigeria’s borders.
A minute silence was later observed at the conference in honour of the deceased officers.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Disruptive Technology: Human and Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy,” Adeniyi said the deployment of Artificial Intelligence-driven risk management tools by the customs service had significantly reduced corruption and improved operational efficiency.
According to him, portraying Artificial Intelligence as a replacement for human capacity was misleading, stressing that human judgment and leadership remain critical in technological deployment.
“Human intelligence is still required to guide Artificial Intelligence and prevent disruption within the economy,” he said.
The customs boss also challenged Nigerian researchers and technology experts to develop affordable local innovations capable of functioning in environments with weak connectivity.
He identified poor and inaccurate data generation as a major challenge confronting digital advancement in the country.
In his goodwill message, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, condoled with the Nigeria Customs Service over the deaths of the officers, describing them as patriots who died in active service to the nation.
Represented by his Special Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Saad Salahu, the governor highlighted several digital initiatives introduced by the state government, including innovation hubs, ICT centres and the KwaraLEARN programme aimed at expanding digital opportunities for young people.
He also called for stronger legal and ethical frameworks to regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence.
“Today, whatever innovation we have should be guided by laws and ethics,” he said.
Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, Prof. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, said the faculty was pursuing plans to transform its learning facilities into smart classrooms.
She appealed for support towards the provision of modern studios, laboratories, lecture theatres, professorial suites and transportation facilities for the faculty.