Crime
75-year-old Grandpa Arrested as NDLEA Destroys 178,000kg skunk in Taraba Forest
75-year-old Grandpa Arrested as NDLEA Destroys 178,000kg skunk in Taraba Forest
By: Michael Mike
A 75-year-old grandpa Uchelue Ikechukwu was among six suspects arrested with illicit substances in raids by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in parts of Anambra state just as 30-year-old Alfa Andrew was taken into custody following the destruction of 178,750 kilogrammes of skunk on his 71.5 hectares of cannabis farm in Mayodoga forest, Sardauna local council area of Taraba state.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said while Uchelue was nabbed at Umudioka, Dunukofia local government area of Anambra with 26.7 kilogrammes skunk last Thursday, Eneh Makuo; Emmanuel Chiemeli; Uwakwe Matthew; Chukwujekwu Ehirim; Ifeanyichukwu Olisa and Odoh Chukwuma, were arrested with various quantities of opioids and skunk at Nkwelle and Amichi areas of the state.
Babafemi said in his case, Andrew was arrested with a Dane gun last Tuesday when NDLEA operatives supported by personnel of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Forest Security Service, Mambila Youth Vanguard and Vigilante, stormed his 71.5 hectares of cannabis farm located at Mayodoga forest, Mayosabere ward in Sardauna local government area, Taraba State, where they destroyed 178,750 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
He said no fewer than 104,900 capsules of tramadol concealed in the driver compartment of a fuel tanker, suspected to be an illicit consignment going to insurgents in parts of Borno state, were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the Abuja/Kaduna tollgate in Kaduna last Friday while a suspect Hassan Buba was immediately taken into custody.
He added that another suspect Kabir Sulaiman, 45, was nabbed with 34.150 kilogrammes skunk by NDLEA officers at Gwargwaje – Zaria check point on Saturday.
Babafemi said following intelligence and surveillance, NDLEA operatives in an interdiction operation on Saturday arrested a major supplier of illicit opioids in Borno state, 33-year-old Uchenna Umeh shortly after he received his supplies from Onitsha, Anambra state and recovered from his apartment at Chescon, Pompomari area of Maiduguri include 30,640 pills of tramadol 225mg; 7,940 tablets of rohypnol and a cash of N7,999,200.00 only in N200 new notes.
In Nasarawa state, NDLEA operatives last Thursday arrested a suspect Abubakar Dauda, 36, with 79,040 pills of tramadol and diazepam at Abacha park, Mararaba Karu. This followed the arrest of Babangida Tungura, 47, in Lafia, with 30,410 pills of tramadol and Rohypnol as well as 38 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup concealed in a deep freezer from Asaba, Delta state last Tuesday.
A 23-year-old suspect Mohammed Ali was last Wednesday arrested in a follow up operation at Ngorore, Adamawa State following the interception of his way billed consignment of 15,000 capsules of tramadol concealed in sacks of animal feed at the Gombe mega park.
In Kano, the duo of Ashiru Garba, 20, and Aminu Abdu, 22, were arrested last Tuesday along Kano-Hadeja road, with 1.5 kilogrammes skunk and 25,000 pills of exol-5 while two other suspects: Ali Muhammad, 37, and Muhammad Maishanu, 42, were nabbed by NDLEA officers last Thursday along Zaria-Kano road, Gadan Tamburawa, with 8,080 bottles of a New Psychoactive Substance and 25.7 kilogrammes skunk in their possession.
No fewer than 250,000 tablets of exol-5 were seized from a suspect Alhasaan Musa, 25, in Zango area, Ungogo local government area, Kano state by NDLEA operatives on Saturday.
A suspect Hamisu Abdullahi was last Monday arrested in a follow up operation in Yola, Adamawa state after NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mararraba Lamurde intercepted a golf saloon car marked GME 253 HP driven by Sani Suleiman and coming from Gombe state loaded with sacks of pepper, used to conceal 79 blocks of skunk weighing 58 kilogrammes belonging to Hamisu.
In Edo state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Ewu-Auchi road, Etsako West local government area intercepted 64,250 pills of opioids mainly tramadol in a commercial bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra state and going to Okene, Kogi state, while a suspect Mohammed Halidu, 36, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Two suspects: Elves Odogwu, 45, and David Jeremiah, 35, were arrested last Wednesday when NDLEA operatives raided Queen Elizabeth, Aponmun Reserved Camp, Ondo in Ondo state where 117.5 kilogrammes processed cannabis and seeds were recovered from them. A total of 164 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from the base of a suspect Michael Ayodele in Mushin area of Lagos where he was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Saturday.
In what appears to be the single largest seizure of Loud and Colorado, two strong strains of cannabis, in Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence last Friday raided Nova street, behind New Creation School, Ado-Ekiti where 5.3 kilogrammes of Loud and Colorado as well as 2.5 grammes of Methamphetamine were seized from a 42-year-old drug kingpin Ajayi Ayodeji Idowu (a.k.a Atiku).
Across the country, NDLEA commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of Anambra, Taraba, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, and Edo commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.
75-year-old Grandpa Arrested as NDLEA Destroys 178,000kg skunk in Taraba Forest
Tragedy in Plateau: Carbon monoxide exposure claims 37 lives at Wase mining site
By: Zagazola Makama
A tragic accident at a mining site in Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, has left 37 miners dead and 25 others hospitalized after being exposed to carbon monoxide gas while working deep underground.
Zagazola Makama learnt from sources that the incident occurred at the Solid Mining Company early on Feb. 18.
The sources said the victims, mostly young men aged between 20 and 35 years, were conducting routine mining operations when they inhaled toxic gas that had accumulated in the poorly ventilated tunnels.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with miners collapsing inside the tunnels and colleagues rushing to evacuate survivors.
Rescue teams, alongside mining site personnel, quickly cordoned off the affected area and transported 25 victims to a nearby primary health centre, where they are receiving treatment. Some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.
Police sources confirmed that the mining site has been fully secured to prevent further exposure and to allow investigators to determine the exact circumstances that led to the gas leak. “The site is under strict control, and emergency protocols are being followed to manage the situation,” one source said.
The tragedy has draw attention to the longstanding safety challenges in the underground mining industry, particularly the risk of gas exposure in deep tunnels.
Experts note that proper ventilation, gas monitoring systems, and emergency preparedness are critical to preventing such disasters.
Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation, including assessing whether the mining company complied with existing safety standards and determining accountability. Further updates, including confirmed identities of victims and official responses from regulators, are expected.
Tragedy in Plateau: Carbon monoxide exposure claims 37 lives at Wase mining site
NSCDC Busts Criminal Ring in Abuja, Arrests 10 Suspects in Vandalism, Kidnapping Crackdown
By: Michael Mike
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has dealt a major blow to criminal networks in Abuja and neighboring states, arresting ten suspects involved in vandalism, theft, and kidnapping, in a high-stakes operation by its elite Special Intelligence Squad (SIS) and Crack Squad.
The arrests come under directives from NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Audi, aimed at protecting lives, national assets, and critical infrastructure.
According to a statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of NSCDC, Afolabi Babawale, six suspects were apprehended for vandalising electrical and communication installations and stealing government property.
Items recovered from them include large quantities of armored cables, heavy-duty hacksaws, ropes, and water pipes. Notable arrests included:
He said arrested were Suleiman Ibrahim, caught at Jabi Park with stolen cables and tools; Umar Rabiu (18) arrested at Berger Junction with significant recovered materials; Muktar Yusuf (22) and Ibrahim Haruna (18), implicated in infrastructure vandalism and theft.
He added that four additional suspects were apprehended for kidnapping, cattle rustling, and related offenses, including Ali Musa of Garko and Musa Juli, a Niger national operating illegally in Nasarawa State. Two other suspects, Umar Abdullahi (30) and Murtala Ibrahim (22) arrested for kidnapping and theft.
Meanwhile, the Commandant Apollo Dandaura, head of the SIS, disclosed that some suspects were intercepted in manhole channels around Berger Roundabout, while others were armed. In one intense encounter, a suspect was neutralized after engaging operatives in a gun duel, underscoring the risks faced by NSCDC personnel in the field.
He disclosed that all suspects have confessed to their involvement and will face trial in competent courts.
NSCDC reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance against vandalism, sabotage, and threats to government assets, while commending the public for providing actionable intelligence that led to the operation’s success.
The Corps emphasized that protecting lives, property, and national infrastructure remains a top priority and called on citizens to continue supporting security agencies in combating crime.
NSCDC Busts Criminal Ring in Abuja, Arrests 10 Suspects in Vandalism, Kidnapping Crackdown
Troops intercept suspects with N37m cash in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Army troops of Operation HADIN KAI, have intercepted five suspects conveying about N37 million in cash under suspicious circumstances.
Security sources said the suspects were apprehended while travelling in a red Golf wagon with registration number MNG 463 XA en route to Magumeri.
The sources disclosed that the vehicle was stopped at a checkpoint by troops on routine security duty, leading to the discovery of the large sum of money concealed inside a “Ghana must go” bag and a sack.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the two women and three men initially claimed they did not know the total amount in their possession, but later alleged that the cash was meant for distribution to beneficiaries of a non-governmental organisation.
The troops also recovered about 10 assorted mobile phones from the suspects during the search.
The sources said the suspects, along with the recovered cash and exhibits, would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
Security officials reiterated their commitment to tightening surveillance across operational areas to prevent movement of illicit funds and other items that could aid criminal or insurgent activities.
Troops intercept suspects with N37m cash in Borno
IPCR Sees Lent, Ramadan Overlap as Call for National Healing
Police neutralise two suspected kidnappers, recover rifle in Akwa Ibom
Tragedy in Plateau: Carbon monoxide exposure claims 37 lives at Wase mining site
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