Crime
NDLEA busts trans-border drug cartel, arrests 4 members in Onitsha, Keffi
NDLEA busts trans-border drug cartel, arrests 4 members in Onitsha, Keffi
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have busted a trans-border drug trafficking syndicate, arresting four members arresting four during which multi-million-naira worth of tramadol pills were recovered.
According to the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, the operations which was intelligence-led led to the interception of drugs concealed in the bumper and false bottom of sienna buses heading to border towns.
Babafemi said following weeks of intelligence and surveillance operations by operatives of the Directorate of Intelligence in NDLEA, a Sienna bus marked ABJ 452 HG was intercepted at Nasarawa- Toto road, Keffi, Nasarawa state on Tuesday 27th January 2025 at 6a.m. Two suspects: Zahradeen Adamu, 27 and Abubakar Usman, 44, were arrested in the vehicle coming from Onitsha, Anambra state enroute Yola, Adamawa state. Also a second Sienna bus driven by Abba Usman, 48, was also intercepted.
He said during a search of the two vehicles, specially constructed steel compartments were discovered after the removal of the back bumper where a total of 190,960 pills of tramadol were concealed and, in the space, designed to house the spare tyre of the vehicles.
Babafemi said investigations revealed that an Onitsha, Anambra state-based dealer, Kingsley Mbaeri was the supplier of the seized tramadol consignment, adding that a swift follow up operation led to the arrest of Mbaeri at his Uga Street, Onitsha home on 29th January.
He said two vehicles: a Toyota Corolla car marked FGG 948 MF and a Toyota Sienna bus marked GWA 23 HH were recovered from his house.
The spokesman said in another interdiction, operatives of the Intelligence Department intercepted a commercial bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra State at Abaji checkpoint, FCT Abuja on 4th February, adding that a passenger in the bus, Chimezie Ojingwa, 32, carrying motor spare parts in a black bag was arrested. When his bag was searched, 404.47 grammes of methamphetamine; 506.49 grammes of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis and 262.32 grammes of dimethyl sulfone, a precursor substance for mixing meth, all of which were concealed in the motor parts were recovered.
In Cross River state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Ogoja -Abakaliki road, Yahe last Thursday intercepted 170,000 pills of tramadol in a truck driven by Paul Chukwudi, 31, while operatives at the Apapa seaport in Lagos last Tuesday recovered 85,400 bottles of codeine-based syrup in a container imported from India.
Babafemi disclosed that two suspects: Halilu Isa and Gambo Umaru were nabbed at Bama road, Maiduguri, Borno state last Friday with 60 compressed blocks of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 72 kilogrammes while NDLEA operatives in Ekiti state last Tuesday raided a notorious drug joint at Iloda street, Ikole-Ekiti where they arrested three suspects: Bala Muhammed, 57; Yahaya Adamu, 55, and Abdullahi Shehu, 30. A total of 83 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from them.
In Lagos, 28-year-old Samiat Yussuf was on Saturday arrested by operatives during a raid of her Lekki home where 169.5 litres of nitrous oxide popularly known as laughing gas and 111 grammes of Loud were recovered. Not less than 132.84 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from two suspects: Ibrahim Usman, 40, and Solomon James, 40, in Taraba. While Usman was nabbed with 88 kilogrammes of Arizona and Ghana Loud at Wukari, James was arrested with 44.84 kilogrammes of same substance at Takanaba, Sabongari, in Jalingo LGA.
Across the country, according to Femi Babafemi, 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. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of Directorate of Intelligence, Apapa, Cross River, Borno, Ekiti, Taraba, and Lagos 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.
NDLEA busts trans-border drug cartel, arrests 4 members in Onitsha, Keffi
Notorious drug peddler killed during police raid in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
A suspected drug peddler and member of a criminal gang was killed during a police operation at Sabuwar Anguwa, Katsina Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Zagazola report that on Dec. 27, 2025, at about 10:00 p.m., the Central Market Surveillance Team, led by ASP Audu Isah, acting on credible intelligence, raided the location and arrested one Uzairu Abubakar, also known as Uzairu Kuda, a notorious drug dealer and member of the Kauraye miscreants.
The sources said the suspect was found in possession of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, Pregabalin tablets, and Colorado. During the arrest, he resisted and raised an alarm, prompting gang members to attack the police team.
The assailants reportedly stoned the back screen of a covert Honda Jazz vehicle.
According to the sources, the suspect drew a knife and stabbed the second-in-command of the surveillance team, ASP Ibrahim Yusuf, on the neck. In the ensuing confrontation, the officer discharged his firearm, injuring the suspect, who was taken to General Hospital Katsina and confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
Exhibits, including the suspected drugs and weapon, were recovered, and the corpse was released to the family for burial.
Investigations are ongoing, while efforts are being sustained to apprehend other members of the gang.
Notorious drug peddler killed during police raid in Katsina
One killed, livestock rustled as bandits attack Fulani settlements in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected armed bandits have killed one person and rustled livestock following attacks on two Fulani settlement camps on the outskirts of Kauyen Gabas Village, Karare District, Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
A source told Zagazola Makama on Monday that the attacks occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 20.
According to the source, the bandits entered the settlements, shot one person fatally, and made away with an unascertained number of livestock.
“Troops and other security forces from the neighboring areas have blocked anticipated exit routes, and cordon and search operations are ongoing to apprehend the suspects and recover the rustled animals,” the source said.
Residents in the area have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to ensure safety and security.
One killed, livestock rustled as bandits attack Fulani settlements in Katsina
Troops intercept vehicles conveying suspected ISWAP logistics in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 2 of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force intercepted two pickup vans conveying assorted items suspected to be logistics supplies for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the interception followed credible human intelligence indicating the movement of the items from Dapchi through the Magumeri general area.
According to the source, the troops intercepted the vehicles during the operation and took the drivers into custody for further interrogation.
Items recovered from the two vehicles included 31 spare tyres, 23 spare rims, two bicycles, 12 key starters, three alternators, two bags of flour, one mattress, five bags of charcoal, 34 tubers of yam, two blankets, nylon bags containing garri, adult and children clothing, one power bank, six mobile phones and a cash sum of N92,600.
The source added that the vehicles and recovered items were currently in custody, while investigations were ongoing to determine the extent of the suspects’ involvement and possible links to ISWAP logistics networks.
The troops, the source said, remained committed to disrupting the movement of supplies to terrorist groups and maintaining pressure on criminal elements across the area of responsibility.
Troops intercept vehicles conveying suspected ISWAP logistics in Yobe
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