A young officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), identified as Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC) Lawal Tukur, was on Wednesday found dead in a hotel room in Katsina metropolis, under circumstances now being investigated by security authorities.
Sources revealed that the incident occurred at Murjani Hotel, where the late officer reportedly checked in on Tuesday night with three women companions.
Hotel Worker Raises Alarm
According to witnesses, a hotel staff member discovered the officer’s lifeless body around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, after repeated knocks on his door went unanswered.
“He was found lying motionless on the bed. We immediately called the police and medical personnel,” a hotel worker said on condition of anonymity.
Investigators reportedly recovered empty sachets of suspected substances from the wastebasket inside the room.
Three Women in Custody
Police sources confirmed that the three women who were in the hotel at the time have been identified as:
• Khadija Ali, 34, of Dutsin Amare Quarters, Katsina;
• Aisha Lawal, 30, of Ingawa Local Government Area; and
• Hafsat Yusuf, 22, of Brigade Quarters, Kano.
Preliminary findings indicate that Khadija and Aisha spent the night with the deceased, while Hafsat joined them later and also lodged in the same hotel.
Body Taken for Autopsy
The late officer was pronounced dead by a medical doctor after being rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, where his body was later deposited in the mortuary for an autopsy.
The Katsina Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has not yet issued an official statement regarding the cause of death.
However, a source within the command described Tukur as a “dedicated and disciplined officer,” saying colleagues were “deeply shocked by the sad news.”
Buried According to Islamic Rites
Tukur’s remains were laid to rest on Wednesday evening after funeral prayers at his family residence in the Sabon Layi area, near the Katsina Police Compound.
The Katsina Police Command is expected to release preliminary findings once the autopsy report is ready.
