The family of a Customs officer serving in Kano State, Abubakar Maliki, is in a state of panic after he was reported missing following a trip to Lagos to write a promotional exam.
Maliki’s daughter, Zeenat, explained that her father left Kano last Monday to attend the exam in Lagos. She maintained regular communication with him until Wednesday, the day of his scheduled examination.
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Zeenat recounted that she last spoke with her father on Wednesday morning when he informed her that he was about to enter the examination hall. However, after their conversation, she tried calling him later that day, but his phone number was busy.
“I called his number thrice on Wednesday, but the number was busy. I thought maybe he was still in the examination hall and hopefully when he came out, he would return my calls, but I did not hear from him which was very unlike him,” Zeenat said.
By Thursday, her concern grew as she could not reach him, and his phone was switched off. She alerted her mother, who confirmed she had also been unable to contact him since Wednesday.
“He has not returned home, and he is not in Kano State. I have called those I know in Kano, and they said he is also not at home,” Zeenat added. “One of his former colleagues from another state told us that they met in Lagos for the same examination. The family is seriously worried. He is all we got, and we cannot afford to lose him.”
In response, Zeenat said she had visited the Customs office in Sokoto and reported the case to the police.
The Kano State Customs Public Relations Officer, Nura Abdullahi, confirmed the incident during a telephone conversation on Monday. He mentioned that the command had begun an investigation into the matter and urged the family to stay in contact with the police.
“I was contacted by her daughter, and we have since launched an investigation into the matter. We gathered that he was at the exam center in Lagos, but his whereabouts after the exams are yet to be known. I have also advised that the family formally contact the police too. We are doing everything to ensure we locate him,” Abdulahi said.
