Paris-bound businessman arrested at Abuja airport for ingesting 74 wraps of heroin, cocaine

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Ifeanyi while attempting to board an Air France flight 844 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Paris, France for ingesting 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine.

Orizu was arrested at the boarding gate of the Abuja airport on Sunday 22nd December 2024 during the outward clearance of passengers on Air France. When he was pulled aside for body scan, he turned down the request claiming his medical condition won’t allow him.

The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, said Orizu was thereafter taken into custody for excretion observation during which he excreted a total of 74 wraps of Class A drugs over a period of seven days.

In his statement, Orizu was said to have claimed he owns a shop at Balogun market, Lagos Island where he sells school and travelling bags, adding that he was promised 3,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the consignment in Paris.

The suspect was said to have revealed that he left his base in Lagos for the Abuja airport to connect his Air France flight to Paris, hoping to escape detection.

Babafemi said in another interdiction effort, operatives of the Marine Command of NDLEA at 2:30am on Christmas eve intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilogrammes of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis at the Eleko beach in Lekki area of Lagos.

He said six foreign nationals who brought the consignments from Ghana were arrested during the operation. They include: two Ghanaians: Godsway John, 38; and Freedom Kelvin, 33; as well as four Beninese: Chegoun Hounsou, 23; Gadabor Nyameto, 47; Adantg Sasa, 34; and Ayao Kayivi, 21.

In Katsina, a suspect Ibrahim Shaibu, 35, was arrested in possession of 40 album-size parcels of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 35 kilogrammes on Christmas day at Central Motor Park, Katsina, while another suspect Umar Ahmed, 47, was nabbed along Zaria-Malumfashi road, Katsina with 27 parcels of same psychoactive substance weighing 13.5 kilogrammes on Saturday.

A 21-year-old suspect Kosisochukwu Ozigbo was arrested at new Lagos road Benin City, Edo state when the area was raided last Monday by NDLEA operatives. Recovered from the suspect include: 32,490 pills of tramadol 225mg, 200mg and 100mg; 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup and various quantities of other opioids.

Babafemi said the commands across the country balanced their drug supply reduction operations with War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, worship centres and communities.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the efforts of the officers and men of NAIA, Katsina, Edo and Marine commands of the agency for job well done in the past week, tasked them and their compatriots nationwide not to rest on the achievements of 2024 but continue to raise the bar in their offensive action against drug barons and cartels with an equal measure of WADA sensitisation campaigns in the new year.

Paris-bound businessman arrested at Abuja airport for ingesting 74 wraps of heroin, cocaine

VP Shettima Commiserates With Victims Of Military Airstrike In Sokoto

• Pays condolence visit to Gov Namadi in Jigawa over demise of mother, son

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has extended deep condolences to the government and people of Sokoto State over those who lost their lives in the coordinated joint operation against the Lakurawa terrorist groups in their hideouts at Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Silame Local Government Area.

About 10 villagers were said to have lost their lives on December 25, 2024, when the military targeted a logistics base of the Lakurawa insurgent group in the Silame area of Sokoto State, leaving many others injured.

On Saturday, the Vice President extended his heartfelt sympathy to families of those mistakenly hit by the military onslaught on the terrorist group, noting that it was one of those rare sad moments when innocent civilians are caught in crossfire in the ongoing efforts to rid the country of all forms of terror.

He said, “I would like to extend my deep sympathies and condolences to the Government and people of Sokoto State, particularly families of those who lost their lives in the coordinated joint operation by the air and land components of Operation Fansan Yamma to eliminate Lakurawa terrorist groups at Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa communities in Silame Local Government Area.

“I must say we are sorry and dismayed at the civilian casualties incurred and the excruciating pain that ensues in these extremely difficult times. I call for understanding, especially when it is considered that our gallant men of the Armed Forces were fighting and paying the supreme price to protect the lives of those caught in the crossfire.

“My thoughts and prayers particularly go out to the relatives of those who perished in the tragic event. May Almighty God ease your pain and grant you the courage and patience to bear the loss.”

Senator Shettima on behalf of the military expressed regret over the incident, just as he solicited more support for the troops, noting that with useful information, the officers will maintain accuracy and precision in fishing out the terrorists from among innocent villagers they are staking their lives to protect.

He assured the people of the state of federal government’s support, vowing that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not rest on its oars until terror groups and other criminal elements are completely wiped out of the country.

“On behalf of our gallant officers, I apologize for this great loss. I urge you to continue to give our brave officers the assistance they need in carrying out their operations to ensure a safer country for all of us. We have all been impressed by the courage and dedication of our troops, and by the dignity and resilience which lies behind the determination to prevail against such monstrous evil.

“Security is not one man’s business. Together, we will surely make a difference as a people. I sincerely call for your support, especially from people in the flashpoints of the war against terror who have always helped the operations of our military.

“Let me assure you that the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is hell-bent on weeding out what is left of terror elements in the country and will stop at nothing in ensuring a peaceful Nigeria where farmers work freely in their farms and all Nigerians go about their businesses and other activities without fear of attacks from agents of death.”

Meanwhile, Vice President Shettima on Saturday led a delegation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on a condolence visit to the government and people of Jigawa State on the passing of the mother and son of the state governor, Alhaji Umar Namadi.

Within 24 hours after the passing of his mother, Hajiya Mariam Namadi, on December 25, the Governor suffered another tragedy, with the loss of his eldest son, Abdulwahab Namadi.

Senator Shettima was accompanied on the visit to Hadejia, Jigawa State, by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia; some members of the National Assembly from Jigawa State and top government functionaries.

Speaking during the condolence visit, the VP noted that “death is an inevitable destiny that is hanging on everyone’s neck”, even as he said, “We are all from Allah, and at the train station with our baggage waiting for the train. From where? From Allah, to where, to Allah. Our bags and baggage are our deeds in this world.”

Stating the purpose of their visit to the state, VP Shettima said, “We are here on a very sad note to condole with you over the loss of the matriarch of your family and pillar of support for you and followed sadly by that of your beloved son. May Allah grant the souls of the deceased eternal rest and Aljannah Firdaus.

“May Allah also grant the family the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses,” the VP further prayed.

VP Shettima Commiserates With Victims Of Military Airstrike In Sokoto

Loss of Mother and Son, Allah’s Will -Gov. Buni Consoles Jigawa Gov. Namadi

By: Mamman Mohammed,

Yobe state Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, on Saturday visited his Jigawa state counterpart Gov. Umar Namadi in Kafin Hausa, to condole him over the death of his mother Hajiya Maryam and son, Abdulwahab Umar Namadi.

Late Maryam died on 25th December 2024, after a brief illness in Kafin Hausa, and Abdulwahab died a day after while on transit to Kafin Hausa for the condolence of his grandmother.

Governor Buni described the deaths of two intimate family members as sad and irreparable loss to the Governor, his family and Jigawa state in general.

He said “as faithfuls, we are consoled by the fact that it was their appointed time and nothing happens to a believer but with the will of Allah the creator.

“We should pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased persons for Allah to grant them eternal rest in ‘Aljannat Firdaus’ Paradise.

“It is equally our prayer that Almighty Allah in His infinite mercy provides the family and their loved ones with succour and the fortitude to bear this sad, tragic and irrepable loss” he said.

“The government and people of Yobe state are with you in prayers at this trying moment” Buni assured assured Gov. Namadi and the people of Jigawa state.

Loss of Mother and Son, Allah’s Will -Gov. Buni Consoles Jigawa Gov. Namadi