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NDLEA arrests Church General Overseer with 54 sticks of cannabis in Lagos

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NDLEA arrests Church General Overseer with 54 sticks of cannabis in Lagos

NDLEA arrests Church General Overseer with 54 sticks of cannabis in Lagos

By: Michael Mike

The General Overseer of Christ Living Hope Church, Rev. Ugochukwu Ekwem has been arrested with 54 sticks of drugs wrapped around his body by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos while on his way to a three-week crusade in Nairobi, Kenya.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the youthful and popular preacher who has his church headquarters in Isuaniocha, Mgbakwu road, Awka in Awka North local government area of Anambra state with two other branches in Lagos and Abuja, was arrested last Monday during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi via Addis Ababa.

According to Babafemi, when tested, the 54 sticks found on the clergyman proved positive to cannabis. He subsequently confessed during preliminary interrogation that he packed that quantity of illicit substance on his body to use during his three weeks crusade in Kenya.

The spokesman of the NDLEA also said on the same day, another passenger, Nnakeanyi Chukwuka King who arrived the airport on Ethiopian Airlines flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa was intercepted during the inward clearance of passengers at the E-Arrival Hall of the Lagos Airport.

During a search of King’s luggage, 40 parcels of cocaine concealed inside bottles of body cream with a gross weight of 9.7 kilogrammes were recovered from him.

Babafemi said three days later on Wednesday, another passenger on Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy, Mr. Edo Blessing was intercepted at the Departure Hall of the airport with 2,090 tablets of Tramadol 225mg and Flunitrazepam. The suspect who hails from Edo state but lives in Italy has claimed ownership of the recovered psychotropic substances.

On the same day, operatives arrested a freight agent, Rafiu Abbas at the NAHCO Export Shed of the airport when he presented a cargo containing 19.15 kilogrammes cannabis going to London. The illicit substance was concealed inside plastic containers labelled as “African Dishes” and packed in a bag.

In a related development, a 63-year-old Vincent Obimma was last Friday arrested with 350 grammes of cocaine and 150 grammes of heroin by NDLEA operatives at a park in the Apapa seaport corridor in Lagos. The drugs were hidden in industrial torch packets heading to Kano, Kano state.

Also a suspected drug dealer in Kaduna state, James Okenwa has been arrested in a follow-up operation at Central Market, Kaduna. He admitted the ownership of 1,807 bottles of cough syrup with codeine that were earlier recovered from two suspects at the tollgate. 

Also Read: Troops recovered over 6. 7 million litres of crude oil, AGO…

Babafemi said at the point of his arrest, another 152 bottles of the drug were recovered from his vehicle. He has accepted ownership of all the 1,959 bottles of the codeine syrup.

In Yobe state, two fake security agents: Akalonu Justin and Azimbi Festus who were coming from Onitsha and heading to Maiduguri, Borno state have been arrested with 25 blocks of cannabis dative weighing 12 5 kilogrammes and 1,598 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 159.8 littes, while 85 kilogrammes of cannabis was also recovered from the warehouse of a notorious drug dealer in Pawari area of Damaturu, the state capital last Thursday. 

In Anambra state, a total of 38,605 tablets of assorted opioids were recovered from a 29-year-old drug dealer, Awoke Friday at Nkwelle junction, Onitsha last Friday  with the support of men of the Nigeria Police.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Apapa Port, Kaduna, Yobe and Anambra Commands of the agency for the impressive seizures and arrests in the past week, charged them and their colleagues across the country to stay focussed and intensify efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs and substances

NDLEA arrests Church General Overseer with 54 sticks of cannabis in Lagos

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Four abducted in bandit attack in Munya, Niger

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Four abducted in bandit attack in Munya, Niger

By: Zagazola Makama

At least four persons were abducted by suspected armed bandits in Munya Local Government Area of the state.

Sources said the incident occurred at about 10:45 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, when bandits invaded Siyona community via Mangorota, Kabula Ward in Munya LGA.

Sources said the attackers kidnapped four residents of the community and took them to an unknown destination.

The victims were identified as Iya Bulus, 20; Lami Bulus, 30; Ayelo Elisha, 15; and Soja Elisha, 15. They are all members of the Siyona–Mangorota community and of the Bagyi ethnic group.

The source said information about the attack was received at about 11:00 p.m. the same night. On receipt of the information, the troops of the Nigerian Army, police and vigilante personnel were swiftly mobilized to the scene.

The sources added that on arrival, the bandits had already fled with their captives.

According to the sources, intensive monitoring and intelligence gathering are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of the perpetrators.

Four abducted in bandit attack in Munya, Niger

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‎Nigerian Army’s 2 division launches operation Igbo Danu (operation forest flush) ….crushes terrorists in kwara state

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‎Nigerian Army’s 2 division launches operation Igbo Danu (operation forest flush) ….crushes terrorists in kwara state

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army with massive support from the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) has sustained coordinated offensive operations against terrorists within the Joint Operations Area (JOA), achieving notable successes between 23 and 29 January 2026.

‎These operations were conducted under the leadership of Major General Chinedu Nnebife, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), alongside Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, the Commander 22 Brigade.

A statement by captain Maureen Ogbuka for Acting Deputy Director 2 Division Army Public Relations Nigerian Army/ Sector 3 Operations FANSAN YAMMA noted that their efforts reflected a high operational responsiveness and determination to dismantle terrorist networks in the general area.

‎The statement noted that “in the engagements, troops , in collaboration with the ONSA conducted fighting patrols in several bandits enclaves.

“They successfully neutralised a terrorist, while others managed to escape into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds. Their hideouts and camps were completely destroyed leaving the brigands dislodged.

‎”Similarly, troops cleared Garin Dandi, a known enclave of bandits in the Ifelodun council Area of Kwara State leading to the decimation of the bandits logistics bases and supply system.

‎”‎Troops also stormed remote camps hitherto inaccessible to security forces where several abandoned camps and logistics enablers were destroyed significantly degrading the terrorists’ sustainment capability.

‎”‎Despite the difficult and restrictive terrain, troops maintained an aggressive posture throughout the forested areas, effectively denying the bandits freedom of movement.

“Furthermore, troops intercepted fleeing elements at various blocking positions, leading to the arrest of suspected bandits.

” The operations also resulted in the rescue of numerous kidnap victims from different camps in the state.

‎”Observations from the operations indicate that bandits receive support from collaborators within nearby communities, who provide intelligence on troop movements, enabling early withdrawal from targeted locations.

” The successes recorded underscored the resolve and operational effectiveness of the Divison in degrading terrorist elements and restoring security across Kwara State.

‎”The GOC 2 Division Nigerian Army has called on members of the public to continue to provide credible and timely information on bandits and their collaborators to enhance ongoing operations. The operation is ongoing to deal decisively with all terrorist networks operating within Kwara State.” Said the statement.

‎Nigerian Army’s 2 division launches operation Igbo Danu (operation forest flush) ….crushes terrorists in kwara state

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Troops repel attack in Benue, kill four bandits, recover AK-47

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Troops repel attack in Benue, kill four bandits, recover AK-47

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops in Benue have repelled an attack on its personnel at a checkpoint in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, killing four suspected armed bandits and recovering an AK-47 rifle and ammunition.

Zagazola gathered that operatives of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force were on stop-and-search duty at the Otukpa/Orakam checkpoint at about 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 29 when they stopped a black Golf 3 car for a routine search.

“The occupants resisted the search, pulled out firearms and engaged the policemen in a shootout,” the source said.

During the exchange, four of the bandits sustained fatal injuries. They were rushed to a hospital where they later died while receiving treatment. One suspect reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds.

Items recovered from the scene included one AK-47 rifle with breech number 1960, 15 rounds of ammunition, a black Golf 3 vehicle with registration number KEF 909 ES, and assorted criminal charms.

The sources said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest the fleeing suspect.

Troops repel attack in Benue, kill four bandits, recover AK-47

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