By: Zagazola Makama
Tension gripped Delta State late Thursday night following the shocking arrest of a Nigerian Customs Service officer, Hamza Salisu, over the fatal shooting of a man believed to be a police officer along the East-West Road in Patani.
Multiple security sources confirmed to Zagazola Makama that the chilling incident occurred around 11:58 p.m. on May 2, near a Customs checkpoint that has now become the center of a high-profile investigation.
According to the report, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ibrahim Surajo—attached to PMF 51, Oghara—was on duty at a nearby stop-and-search point when he heard the unmistakable crack of gunfire. Moments later, he saw a Toyota RAV4 swerve violently off the road and crash into a ditch.
ASP Surajo and his team rushed to the scene only to make a grim discovery: a man clad in police gear, believed to be one of their own, lay lifeless behind the wheel—fatally shot.
“The identity of the deceased is yet to be officially confirmed, but preliminary observations suggest he may be a serving police officer,” said one of the investigators. “The vehicle model is still being verified, and the body has been deposited at the Patani General Hospital mortuary for a full autopsy.”
The Customs officer alleged to have pulled the trigger, Hamza Salisu, has since been arrested and is currently in police custody. While the motive for the shooting remains murky, the incident has sent shockwaves through both law enforcement agencies.
“This is a highly sensitive matter involving two federal security operatives. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are still unclear, and the entire division has been placed on high alert as investigations intensify,” a senior police official disclosed under condition of anonymity.
The tragic incident has already sparked heated discussions about inter-agency coordination, rules of engagement, and the rising tension at various checkpoints across Nigeria’s highways.
Both @CustomsNG and @PoliceNG have yet to issue official statements, but security analysts say this case may mark a turning point in operational accountability between sister agencies.
Was it a tragic case of mistaken identity? Or something far more sinister? As the investigation unfolds, Nigerians await answers.
PIONEER NEWS 