The death of Nigeria Customs Service officer Mr Lumi Elisha Gwamis has sent shockwaves through Boi District in Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, leaving family, community members, and colleagues in deep mourning. The 44-year-old officer, who was recently transferred to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone D in Bauchi, died under circumstances that remain unclear. While some residents and community sources suggest he may have died by suicide after battling depression and anxiety, the Nigeria Customs Service has dismissed these claims, stating they have no official confirmation of such an incident.
Gwamis was the eldest son of Hon. Elisha Tula Gwamis, a former executive chairman of Bogoro LGA, and the late officer’s death has deeply affected his family. His father, speaking during a condolence visit on Monday, expressed profound sorrow, describing the loss as shocking and unexpected. “My son, Lumi, was healthy and hearty. None of us was aware of what he was about to do. It was later that we heard the bad news. It is very unfortunate, and all of us are full of sorrow,” he said. The family’s grief has been echoed by residents and sympathisers across Bogoro LGA, who have described the incident as tragic and heartbreaking.
According to the Customs Service’s public relations officer, Umar Abdullahi, Gwamis had only recently reported to the Bauchi unit after being transferred from Tin Can Island Port. He was granted annual leave and left with his father, who later informed the service of his death. “What the father of the deceased told us was that he was sick. He came to the office accompanied by his father to document, having been newly posted to the unit. He took annual leave, which he was entitled to, and left with his father,” Abdullahi explained. The officer had not yet begun working in Bauchi, and no official report of suicide has been received by the service.
Abdullahi emphasized that the Customs Service operates on verified information and does not act on rumours. “We cannot say that he killed himself since the father didn’t tell us that. We cannot work with rumours or what people are saying; we work based on what the father told us,” he stated. He added that the officer had mentioned returning to work after his leave, and arrangements were being made for his office allocation. The official position remains that the cause of death is unknown, pending further investigation or official medical findings.
Gwamis is survived by his father, Hon. Elisha Tula Gwamis; his mother, Mrs Saratu Elisha Gwamis; and several siblings. His burial is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, following a funeral service in Boi, Bogoro LGA. As the community prepares to lay him to rest, questions remain about the events leading to his death, and the emotional toll on his family and colleagues continues to grow. The incident has also sparked renewed conversations about mental health awareness and support systems within public service institutions across Nigeria.
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