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Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment

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Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) have arrested three members of an organized criminal organisation which specializes in illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe and America over two months after they were declared wanted.

Their arrest followed the recent seizure of the single largest consignment of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said a total of 51.9 kilogrammes of heroin had been recovered from members of the drug cartel in an operation that began 10th February 2024 at the SAHCO Import Shed of the Lagos airport’s Cargo Terminal.

He recalled that the consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, with no less than 45 blocks of the illicit substance weighing 49.70 kilogrammes recovered from the equipment, while additional 2.2 kilogrammes was seized at the syndicate’s warehouse in Ayobo area of Lagos.

He said while the agency has secured interim forfeiture court order on hotel, mansions, vehicles and funds traced to members of the syndicate after arresting four of them, a manhunt was also launched for others who went underground.

He noted that the effort however paid off last Friday when two of the wanted kingpins: Onyinyechi Igbokwuputa and Frankline Uzochukwu were arrested in Lagos and Awka, Anambra state respectively, with another wanted member of the syndicate, Osita Obinna nabbed in Lagos.

Babafemi said an attempt by a suspect, Iheakara Ifeanyichukwu to export a drug consignment through the terminal 2 of the Lagos airport to Muscat, Oman via Ethiopian airline flight last Thursday was thwarted by NDLEA officers. When his luggage was searched, 20 big parcels of cannabis weighing 9.80 kilogrammes were discovered concealed in his bag.

Iheakara, who lives in Muscat, Oman and returned to Nigeria on 1st April, in his statement confessed he was hired to courier the drug with an agreement to get paid N1.2 million upon successful delivery in Oman.

Babafemi revealed that In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives last Saturday intercepted a Peugeot car driven by Dahiru Mohammed at Girei on his way to Mubi with 1,250,000 pills of opioids weighing 450 kilogrammes. The operatives had earlier intercepted along Ngurore -Yola road a J5 bus marked AAA790XV loaded with motor spare parts from Onitsha, Anambra State, with consignments of codeine syrup and tramadol concealed in-between the motor parts. A follow up operation led to the arrest of the recipient, Jairus Nwanchor at Jambutu motor park .

He said three suspects: Beriakuma Chinrdu, 40; Okpor Isaac, 68, and Daniel Onyeachom, 42, were last Saturday arrested at Amarata,Yenagoa, Bayelsa state in connection with the seizure of 69 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 36 kilogrammes and concealed in a false compartment of a Toyota Picnic car marked MUS 711 DH they were travelling in. This is even as NDLEA operatives in Imo state last Thursday arrested Kingsley Omeje, 41, at Amajeke, Owerri while he was taking delivery of 49 bottles of codeine syrup he ordered.

In Ondo state, NDLEA operatives raided the Oloro camp, Ogbese, Akure North local government area where they arrested Linus Odogwu, 50, and destroyed a total of 25,000 kilogrammes of cannabis on 10 hectares of farmland while they recovered 89.5 kilogrammes of same substance. Three other suspects: David Ekepenyoung, 22; Oluwaseun Folorunso, 23; and Rabiu Musa, 32, were nabbed in other parts of the state in connection to different seizures totaling 77 kilogrammes .

Babafemi said NDLEA commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy lectures.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Ondo and Imo commands of the agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.

Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment

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MINISTER OF INTERIOR DECORATES 22 NEWLY PROMOTED ASSISTANT COMMANDANT GENERAL (ACG) CALLS FOR RENEWED VIGOUR IN COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL SERVICE

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MINISTER OF INTERIOR DECORATES 22 NEWLY PROMOTED ASSISTANT COMMANDANT GENERAL (ACG) CALLS FOR RENEWED VIGOUR IN COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL SERVICE

By: Michael Mike

‎The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has charged the newly promoted 22 ACGs of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to reawaken consciousness and justify their promotion by ensuring sustained diligence, Patriotism, fairness and integrity in the discharge of their responsibility.

‎Speaking on behalf of the Minister, the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Fire, Correctional and Immigration Services Board (CDFIB); Major General Abdulmalik Jubril (Rtd), charged the Senior Management Officers on the need to project exemplary lives worthy of emulation noting that: “Promotion is a call to responsibility that comes with higher tasks and accountability is required”.

“As ‎I Congratulate you on your new promotions; Let me on behalf of the Interior Minister charge you to justify the confidence reposed in you as it is required that you live above expectations and build incoming generation to sustain the good legacies of the Corps”.

‎In his remark, the NSCDC Commandant General; Prof. Abubakar Ahmed Audi, mni, OFR admonished the officers to continue working relentlessly with absolute loyalty and dedication in order to tackle emerging security threats in the country.

‎He called on them to exhibit professionalism and integrity in mentoring their subordinates.

‎The NSCDC Boss commended the renewed hope and innovative policies of the Minister of Interior which has resulted in clearing the promotion backlogs and stagnation in the service pledging his administration’s determination to sustain it.

‎The CG further lauded the Minister of Interior whose efforts have strengthen the capacity of the Corps to address security challenges, promote economic stability, enhance the welfare of personnel and foster collaboration between the Corps and other agencies.

‎Other highlights of the event were goodwill messages by Major General MK Yunusa (Rtd), Controller General of Corrections and Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps who were represented by their subordinates, and Oath of Allegiance administered by the Officer in Charge of Legal, Commandant of Corpa, Bamiyo Akomolafe.

‎In another development, the Commandant General of NSCDC also used the opportunity to present five million naira worth of cheques to next of kins of slain NSCDC personnel.

‎This is in response to providing welfare and relief towards the families of CCA Anyamele Justice and AIC Bello Bako Musa who were deployed to “Operations Plug” and paid the supreme price loosing their lives in line of duty at Obiakpu Village, Abia State in Zone 3 segment of the Eastern Corridor on 25th February, 2025.

MINISTER OF INTERIOR DECORATES 22 NEWLY PROMOTED ASSISTANT COMMANDANT GENERAL (ACG) CALLS FOR RENEWED VIGOUR IN COMMITMENT TO NATIONAL SERVICE

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Ogoni Youths Told to Tell the Story of their Land the Right Way

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Ogoni Youths Told to Tell the Story of their Land the Right Way

By: Michael Mike

A call has gone to Ogoni youths to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.

The call was made on Thursday to 100 Ogoni youths trained by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Creative Arts at the Theatre Arts Department, University of Port Harcourt by the Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey at the close of training.

He urged the beneficiaries of the training to use the skills acquired to ensure that the Ogoni stories are told and heard in the right way.

The trainees who had completed a four months training in Script Writing, Film production and Make-up are beneficiaries of the HYPREP sustainable livelihood programme aimed at providing high demand skills to Ogoni youths in the lucrative creative arts and entertainment industry.

Zabbey while describing the Creative Arts Training as well as other programmes and intervention as HYPREP’s strategic sustained effort to create alternative sources of livelihood, said: “Targeted capacity building for Ogoni youths and women remains a central strategy in HYPREP’s livelihood restoration and improvement efforts.

“Our goal is to reach every part of the Ogoni community and ensure that no group or talent pool is left behind. This training is a deliberate step to empower young people who aspire to make their mark in the creative and entertainment industry.”

While commending the trainees for producing four short films within the training period, one of which was premiered at the ceremony-Dirty Festival, the Project Coordinator stated that the training would serve as a springboard into the industry, enable them earn a living, become entrepreneurs, open new doors opportunities for themselves and communities. The three other movies are Open Pain, Bomu and Green War.

He enjoined them to utilise their skills and platforms to promote civic responsibility, peace, and environmental sustainability, urging them to ensure that Ogoni is heard in the right way, speak for HYPREP and highlight the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the UNEP Report.

Other speakers at the event, including the Director Technical Services of HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo, HoD, Theatre Arts Department, Uniport, Chief Douglas Experience, Project Manager, Halibiz Consult Ltd and Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head, Sustainable Livelihood of HYPREP, all applauded HYPREP for the training and charged the trainees to maximise the opportunity.

Trainees were later presented Certificate of Participation.

With the wrapping up of the Creative Arts training of the 100, HYPREP has trained 230 Ogoni youths in high demand skill sets including Seafaring(100) and Aviation (30).

The Project will this year, commence training in other skill areas including Mechatronic, Aviation, Full-Stack Development, Commercial Diving, Underwater Welding and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Still in the offing is the training for Ogoni Persons Living with Disabilities in 5 skill sets- Fish farming, Basic Computer Skills, Photography, Fashion and Design and Shoemaking in line with their Needs Assessment and HYPREP’s policy of inclusivity.

Ogoni Youths Told to Tell the Story of their Land the Right Way

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Bandits kill hunters’ leader in Benue

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Bandits kill hunters’ leader in Benue

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected bandits have killed the leader of hunters in Tine Nune community, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue.

Zagazola learnt that the incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, happened while the victim, identified as Hilenen Terzungwe, was on patrol with five others along Biriji village.

Terzungwe sustained severe machete cuts during the attack and was rushed to a medical facility in Tine Nune, where he later died while receiving treatment.

His remains have since been deposited at the General Hospital, Zaki-Biam.

Security has been strengthened in the area to forestall further attacks, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.
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