An officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Assistant Superintendent of Customs Lawal Tukur, was reportedly found dead after lodging in a hotel located in Katsina metropolis.
According to information obtained by PUNCH Metro on Thursday, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Murjani Hotel, Katsina. At the time of the incident, three women — identified as Khadija Ali (34), of Dutsin Amare Quarters, Katsina; Aisha Lawal (30), from Ingawa Local Government Area; and Hafsat Yusuf (22), of Brigade Quarters, Kano — were said to have been present in the hotel.
Sources revealed that Khadija and Aisha spent the night with the deceased officer, while Hafsat arrived later and also lodged in the same facility.
The officer was later found unresponsive, and his body was taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, where a doctor confirmed him dead.
The Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has been briefed about the incident, while further investigations are ongoing to determine the actual cause of death.
When contacted, the command’s spokesperson, ASC1 Bello Isah, did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the case. Similarly, the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, had not issued an official statement as of press time.
A security source familiar with the case, who requested anonymity, confirmed the development, stating that the matter was under investigation.
“Yes, the incident happened, and we are investigating. However, the details circulating in some reports are not entirely accurate. Evidence will be presented once the investigation is complete. The hotel’s owner, some management staff, and workers on duty the night the officer died — along with the three women who were with him — are currently assisting police in their inquiries,” the source disclosed.
The remains of the late customs officer have been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital morgue in Katsina for autopsy as part of the ongoing investigation.
