How lakurawa terrorists killed two Customs officers in Kebbi: CGS
* As UNILORIN’s Communication Faculty holds 4th Biennial International Conference
Stephen Olufemi Oni , Ilorin
The Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, has confirmed that two officers of the Service were killed by the Lakurawa terrorists in the early hours of Wednesday in Kebbi State.
Adeniyi said the officers paid the supreme sacrifices while warding -off threats from the terrorists group around 3: am.
The Customs’ boss, who gave the names of the slain officers as ASC Bamigboye and DSC Dom, disclosed this while delivering a keynote address at the Fourth Bi-ennial International Conference organised by the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, in collaboration with the Faculty of Philology, RUDN University, Russia.
“This morning, (Wednesday) two officers of the Nigeria Customs’ Service paid the supreme sacrifice while warding off the threats from the Lakurawa terrorists in Kebbi’ State,” he said.
Adeniyi regretted that apart from the military, operatives of the Nigeria Customs’ were the “last shield”, in the counter offensive against terrorists in the State.
He said, were it not that he had already arrived Ilorin for the conference, the “disturbing news” would have forced him to abort his trip.
He comiserated with the families of the slain officers, assuring that the incident would not deter the Service and its operatives from carrying out their mandates.
The conference observed a minute silence in honour of the slain officers.
Speaking on the theme of the conference “Disruptive Technology: Human and ArtificiaI Intelligence in the Digital Economy”, Adeniyi said the deployment of AI-risk engine by the Customs in its operations have checkmated corruption and enhanced efficiency in the Service.
He said the “fraiming of AI as human competitors is misleading” even as he pointed out that human intelligence and leadership are still required to drive AI and guide against disruptive economy.
Adeniyi tasked researchers to develop locally relevant applications with low cost devices and one that can drive intermittent connectivity for the purpose of data generation saying that accurate data is still a problem.
In his goodwill message, the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, condoned with the Customs CG over the death of the two slain officers describing them as “patriots”.
Represented by his Special Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Saad Salahu, the Governor highlighted various digital initiatives by his administration, including the establishment of Innovation Hub, ICT Centre in igbaja, introduction of KwaraLearn into the state education sector, which, he said, have provided platforms for the youths to explore the digital world .
The Governor, however, advocated laws to regulate the deployment of AI to check its negative implications.
“Today, whatever innovation we have should be guided by laws and ethics”, he said.
On her part, Dean of the Faculty of Communication, Prof. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, announced plans by the Faculty to transform its learning centres into smart classrooms while also calling for support from the conference towards the provision of modern studios, laboratories, classrooms, professorial suites, lecture theartres and faculty bus.
