Crime
NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others
NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted desperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations (DTO) to move illicit consignments such as Cocaine, Tramadol, Loud, Molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and the Lagos airport.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said at least, two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos have already been arrested. One of them is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor May who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday 8th March 2025.
Babafemi said when she was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage. In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy.
He said at the export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers last Tuesday arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400 grammes of skunk going to New York, United States of America.
Babafemi disclosed that at the some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilogrammes of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI.
The spokesman added that other shipments of 230 grammes of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.
In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479 kilogrammes were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect Hassan Haruna who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Chalawa area of the state last Wednesday, while no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi state in a commercial bus coming from Lagos en-route Abuja last Tuesday.
Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna state last Thursday led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him, just as a similar exercise in Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North local government area, last Friday resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered.
He said while a total of 40,200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara state last Friday, NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect Salisu Usman along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin last Thursday.
In Taraba state, NDLEA officers last Friday arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, at Bente road, Kurmi local government area, with 15.77 kilogrammes skunk, while in Osun state, operatives last Thursday, intercepted a commercial bus marked SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island in front of King University, Ode-omu, with a total of 48.7 kilogrammes Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis. Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.
A 58-year-old suspect Ade Esan (aka Pastor) was last Tuesday arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja. In Abia state, NDLEA operatives last Saturday raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North local government area, where a 34-year-old suspect Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money) was arrested with 274 grammes of heroin, 141 grammes of methamphetamine, 2.931 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, 4 grammes of cocaine and N753,015 monetary exhibit.
Meanwhile, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and FCT commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others
Confusion in ISWAP camp after senior Commander killed by own IED in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Confusion has reportedly engulfed a factional camp of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) following the death of a senior Commander who was allegedly killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by his own group.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident, which occurred on Feb. 24, triggered internal discord and heightened tensions within the insurgent ranks operating in parts of the Lake Chad Basin.
According to the sources, a fighter identified as a unit intelligence member (UIM) sought clarification from a senior Commander, Amir Musa, over the circumstances surrounding the deaths of two members of the group.
The UIM reportedly demanded explanations over the killing of one Abu Nazir, said to have been eliminated by fellow ISWAP elements, as well as the death of a senior Commander, Abu Kasim.
Abu Kasim was said to have died after an IED planted by his faction detonated along a route where he was operating. The explosion reportedly occurred amid clashes between ISWAP and rival Boko Haram elements.
Further accounts indicated that Abu Nazir’s death followed an encounter with Boko Haram fighters believed to have been responsible for the earlier killing of Abu Kasim, compounding tensions and suspicion within the camp.
Sources said the development suggested possible cases of friendly fire, operational lapses and a breakdown in coordination among the insurgents.
The incident is believed to reflect persistent hostilities between ISWAP and the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), commonly referred to as Boko Haram, despite both groups tracing their origins to the same insurgent movement.
Sources say such internal rifts has further weaken the operational cohesion of the factions, even as security forces sustain pressure on terrorist enclaves across the region.
Confusion in ISWAP camp after senior Commander killed by own IED in Borno
Troops neutralise 15 terrorists, destroy logistics hub in Gujba in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 2 under Operation DESERT SANITY V have neutralised 15 terrorists and destroyed a suspected logistics base during a precision operation around Lamusheri Village in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe state.
Military sources told Zagazola that the early morning operation on Feb. 22 followed weeks of intelligence gathering supported by satellite imagery and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance air platforms, which identified the location as a terrorist attack launch point and logistics hub.
According to the sources, troops, alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, came under fire while approaching the target but tactically outflanked the insurgents and cut off their escape routes.
During the ensuing firefight, 15 terrorists were neutralised, while several others escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
Security personnel also discovered extensive defensive structures at the site and destroyed all identified life-support facilities used by the group.
In addition, five tricycles and two vehicles allegedly used for attacks and logistics were destroyed and set ablaze with their contents.
Recovered items included a cache of arms and ammunition, as well as two bandoliers and carmel pouches.
The military said two personnel sustained gunshot wounds during the operation but were in stable condition, adding that the general security situation in the area remained calm but unpredictable, while troop morale and combat efficiency remained high.
Troops neutralise 15 terrorists, destroy logistics hub in Gujba in Yobe
One killed, another injured as Lakurawa bandits attack cattle range in Sokoto
By: Zagazola Makama
One person has been killed and another injured following an attack by suspected Lakurawa armed bandits on a cattle range on the outskirts of Tangaza along the Nigeria–Niger border in Sokoto State.
Sources said the incident occurred on Feb. 20 at about 9:15 p.m., when a large group of bandits armed with sophisticated weapons reportedly stormed the area, opening fire on residents.
Army Forward Operating Base, and other security forces were swiftly mobilized to the scene. The troops confirmed that one Yahaya Al-Hassan, 30, was shot dead, while Bello Muhammad sustained a gunshot injury to his left leg.
The attackers reportedly rustled an unspecified number of domestic animals before fleeing into a nearby forest. The deceased and the injured victim were evacuated to the General Hospital Tangaza for autopsy and treatment.
The troops said efforts were being intensified to apprehend the assailants and recover the stolen livestock. Confidence-building patrols by joint security teams are ongoing in the area to reassure residents and prevent further attacks.
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