Outrage as Customs operatives allegedly kill Kebbi car dealer

Kebbi map

The entire residents of Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital were gripped by fear, panic, and confusion on Sunday, following the alleged killing of a car dealer by operatives of the Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone B, Kaduna.

The victim, identified as Tukur Alhaji Salihu, 45, a member of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria, was reportedly shot three times by customs operatives while inside his vehicle within Birnin Kebbi township.

Salihu was rushed to a hospital after the shooting but was confirmed dead around midnight. He is survived by two wives, seven children, and his aged parents. He was buried in his hometown of Argungu.

Reacting to the incident, the Secretary of AMDON in Kebbi State, Shehu Yusuf Bunza, described the killing as shocking and unacceptable.

According to him, the incident occurred on February 7, 2026, between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, along the Nagari College–Illela-Yauri Road axis in Birnin Kebbi.

“This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the growing concerns over extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses in Kebbi State and Nigeria at large,” Bunza said.

He described the action as a deliberate and unwarranted use of force that instilled fear, panic, and confusion among AMDON members and residents of the state.“We are particularly disturbed that this happened in broad daylight, with the perpetrators acting with apparent impunity and total disregard for the sanctity of human life,” he added.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police, Kebbi State Command, SP Bashir Usman, said the command is investigating the incident to ascertain the truth picture of the incident.

However, he promised to make the findings public to newsmen upon completion of the Police investigations. Punch