The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced a nationwide integrity perception survey to assess the experiences and views of its officers and stakeholders on corruption, transparency and integrity within the Service.

The 2026 Customs Integrity Perception Survey, approved by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, is being conducted in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) under its Anti-Corruption and Integrity Promotion Programme.

The exercise began on Monday, September 28, and is scheduled to run until October 9, 2026.

According to the NCS, the survey is designed to obtain candid feedback from officers and stakeholders on integrity and anti-corruption issues, while identifying areas requiring improvement in the Service’s operations.

A directive issued to Customs Public Relations Officers across the various commands said the exercise would provide the Service with a clearer understanding of the perceptions, experiences and views of officers and stakeholders regarding integrity, transparency and anti-corruption.

The directive, released to journalists on Monday by the Customs Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B”, Kaduna, described the survey as an important exercise aimed at strengthening the Service’s integrity mechanisms and improving operational processes.

“The objective is to obtain genuine feedback that can contribute to strengthening integrity mechanisms, improving operational processes and supporting the Service’s continuous institutional improvement,” the directive stated.

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B”, covers Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kwara states.

Survey to remain anonymous
The Nigeria Customs Service emphasised that the survey would be anonymous and urged officers and men to participate actively and provide honest responses based on their experiences.

The Service said the credibility of the exercise would depend largely on the quality and candour of the feedback received from participants.

Officers and men will participate through a dedicated online survey platform, while eligible stakeholders will access a separate platform using one-time passwords provided through Customs Public Relations Units.

The NCS said 5,000 one-time passwords had been generated for the stakeholder component of the exercise.

“Designated quantities of the OTPs will be made available through the Public Relations Unit at Headquarters, Zonal Offices and Area Commands for onward distribution to eligible stakeholders,” the Service stated.

Command PROs have consequently been directed to ensure that the OTPs allocated to their respective commands are properly managed and distributed to eligible participants.

Customs targets agents, importers, exporters, others
The stakeholder component of the survey targets a wide range of participants who interact with the Customs Service in the course of their businesses and operations.

Those eligible to participate include licensed customs agents, importers, exporters, bonded warehouse and terminal operators, shipping lines and airline operators, free trade zone operators, excise traders and transporters.

The Service directed Command PROs to work closely with Customs Area Controllers and relevant operational units to ensure effective mobilisation throughout the survey period.

The PROs are also expected to use established communication channels and stakeholder engagement platforms to sensitise eligible participants about the exercise.

Particular emphasis, according to the directive, is to be placed on informing participants that the survey is anonymous and intended to capture their genuine perceptions and experiences regarding integrity and anti-corruption within the NCS.

Survey findings expected to support reforms
The NCS described the exercise as a Service-wide integrity and institutional improvement initiative, stressing that broad participation would help ensure that the findings reflect the experiences of officers and stakeholders across its different operational environments.

“The quality and breadth of participation will help ensure that the feedback generated reflects the experiences and perceptions of officers and stakeholders across the various operational environments of the Nigeria Customs Service,” it stated.

The Service said the outcome of the exercise would contribute to the continuous improvement of its operations, strengthening of integrity mechanisms and reinforcement of public confidence.

“A strong level of participation across Commands will contribute to generating valuable feedback for the continuous improvement of NCS operations, strengthening of integrity mechanisms and reinforcement of public confidence in the Service,” the statement added.

Command PROs have been reminded of the October 9 deadline and directed to liaise with Customs Area Controllers and relevant units to maximise participation before the survey closes.

The initiative comes as the Customs Service seeks to use feedback from both its personnel and external stakeholders to identify integrity-related challenges and areas where operational processes can be strengthened.

Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have foiled two separate abduction attempts and rescued 10 victims during operations in different parts of Zamfara State.

The operations were carried out on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in Maru and Tsafe Local Government Areas of the state, according to the task force.

The Media Information Officer of JTF North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Danja said troops of Sector 2 rescued four villagers who had been abducted by terrorists at Kade Daba village in Kanoma District, Maru Local Government Area.

According to him, the troops received information that terrorists had abducted villagers in the community and immediately mobilised to the area.

He said the troops engaged the terrorists upon arrival, leading to the immediate rescue of three victims.

“Troops swiftly mobilised to the location and engaged the terrorists, resulting in the immediate rescue of three victims,” Danja said.

He added that the troops subsequently carried out further exploitation of the area, during which another victim was rescued, bringing the total number of rescued villagers in the operation to four.

Troops foil abduction along Tsafe-Funtua Road
In a separate operation along the Tsafe-Funtua Road, troops conducting a picketing operation heard sporadic gunshots ahead of their position at Kwanoni.

Danja said the troops immediately moved towards the direction of the gunfire and encountered terrorists withdrawing through the surrounding high ground.

He said the troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee the area.

“The troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee from the area in disarray,” he said.

According to the JTF spokesman, the terrorists had attempted to abduct occupants of a Sharon vehicle before the arrival of the troops.

He said the terrorists set the vehicle ablaze during the incident, but the occupants managed to escape before it was completely engulfed by fire.

“Fortunately, the occupants were able to escape before the vehicle was completely engulfed by fire,” Danja said.

The troops also rescued six persons from another vehicle that reportedly lost control as a result of the gunshots.

Danja said the affected vehicle was later towed away from the main road to allow traffic to flow freely along the route.

The Theatre Commander of JTF North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, commended the troops for their vigilance, prompt response and professionalism during the operations.

The commander said the efforts demonstrated the commitment of the task force to protecting civilians travelling along major routes and residents of communities within its area of responsibility.

He reaffirmed the command’s determination to sustain offensive operations against terrorists and restrict their freedom of movement across the North-West.

The commander also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities to the nearest security agency or through appropriate official channels.

The latest operations come amid continued security challenges in parts of the North-West, where military and other security agencies have sustained operations against terrorist groups and criminal networks.

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Olisa Oyelu, also known as “Obele,” over his alleged involvement in a 2023 kidnapping operation that resulted in the death of a victim.

Oyelu was also accused of being a member of an armed robbery and kidnapping gang allegedly led by a suspected criminal identified as “Pincode.”

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the suspect was apprehended in the early hours of Wednesday, September 23, by operatives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department.

According to Ikenga, the arrest followed sustained intelligence gathering and painstaking investigation by the police.

He said Oyelu was allegedly the last identified member of the gang linked to the 2023 kidnapping incident.

“The Anambra State Police Command Operatives attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department in the early hours of September 23 have arrested Olisa Oyelu alias ‘Obele’, aged 25 years, the last identified member of the notorious armed robbery and kidnapping gang led by a suspected criminal known as ‘Pincode’, in connection with a 2023 kidnapping incident which resulted in the death of the victim,” the statement said.

The police spokesman said investigations into the incident had been ongoing since the kidnapping, with operatives working to identify, arrest and prosecute everyone allegedly connected with the crime.

Ikenga added that Oyelu would be handed over to the correctional centre after the conclusion of the ongoing investigation, noting that Pincode and four other suspects were already in custody awaiting the judgment of the court.

“The suspect is alleged to have been an active member of the gang involved in the kidnapping operation,” he said.

The Command described the arrest as a significant development in the investigation and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that anyone found to have participated in the crime is brought before the law.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Ama, commended the police operatives for their perseverance, dedication and intelligence-led approach to the investigation.

Ama assured residents of the state that the command would continue to pursue criminal elements within and outside Anambra State until they are brought to justice.

He also urged members of the public to continue providing the police with credible and timely information, stressing that security was a shared responsibility.

Oyo Police Arrest Suspect Over Kidnap Threat
In a related development, the Oyo State Police Command on Monday arrested a suspect over an alleged kidnap-and-kill threat against a 50-year-old resident of Seni Salla Village, Saki, and members of his family.

The command said the arrest followed a complaint received from the victim and a subsequent intelligence-led intervention by its operatives.

The case was reported to the police on September 19, 2026, at about 6:20pm by the complainant, Metu Jilani.

Jilani reportedly told the police that he had received threatening telephone calls from unidentified persons on September 13.

The development prompted police operatives to commence an investigation and intelligence gathering, which subsequently led to the arrest of the suspect.

The police said investigations into the Oyo case were ongoing.