Nigerian Navy Officer Dies As Boat Capsizes During Anti-Smuggling Raid In Lagos
A Nigerian Navy officer, identified as OS Nuhu, has died after a boat carrying contraband rice capsized during a raid on smugglers in the Badagry area of Lagos State.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the operation, which took place on Saturday, was aimed at clamping down on rice smuggling in the area.
Twenty boats were reportedly seized in the raid led by Captain Oyeleye Omotayo.
However, one of the boats capsized, resulting in the instant death of OS Nuhu. Another officer sustained severe injuries and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.
“On Saturday, men of the Nigerian Navy came to the area to flush out and arrest the smugglers. They arrested seven boats, but one of them drowned. Immediately, OS Nuhu died while the other officer was rushed to the hospital. His condition is still unknown,” a source disclosed.
The News Agency of Nigeria also confirmed the raid, reporting that multiple boats were intercepted at the Badagry–Port Novo creek.
The Nigerian Navy is yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Previous investigations revealed that personnel of the Nigerian Customs Service have been accused of aiding rice smuggling into Lagos from Benin Republic. Sources alleged that smugglers pay up to ₦250,000 per boat to corrupt officials to facilitate the illegal trade, with each boat reportedly carrying 120–150 bags of rice.
Efforts to get comments from the Nigerian Customs Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls or messages.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
