UAE Assures NDLEA of Support, Partnership, Commends Marwa Over Drug War

By: Michael Mike

The government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of support and stronger partnership while commending the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) for providing excellent leadership that has led to streaks of operational successes in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The assurance and commendation were conveyed when the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Musabbeh Alshamsi paid Marwa a courtesy visit at the agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Ambassador said: “I’m here to appreciate your hard work and the great leadership you have provided the NDLEA. We have been following your achievements very closely, and I must say you have done very well and still doing excellent job. We follow all the good work that you’ve been doing, especially all the drugs you’re seizing and blocking from coming to the UAE and we’re so proud of your achievements and that’s why we’re here to deepen our cooperation with your agency in the area of fighting drug trafficking. The UAE looks forward to working more closely with Nigeria on drug enforcement matters.”

While extending an invitation to Marwa to visit his counterpart in UAE and the Dubai Police leadership for further engagements, the envoy expressed the readiness of his government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NDLEA on areas of collaboration with the agency.

“We need to exchange information about drug dealers, and all of their activities. We are here to help and to support you, especially on this matter. It’s very important that we have a very great communication between the UAE and Nigeria especially now that the relationship between United Arab Emirates and Nigeria has become one of the best. If there is any other thing I could do to support the great work you’re doing here, please do not hesitate to ask me and I’ll be available and willing to do it in appreciation of your great leadership. Our mission is to be here for you, assist and support you”, the Ambassador stated.

In his response, Marwa expressed appreciation to the envoy for his kind words on his person and the work of NDLEA, while also commending the developmental strides in UAE. He praised the Ambassador’s years of dedicated service and the huge leap in trade and movement between Nigeria and UAE in the last two years, which he said is in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I’d like to acknowledge the strong diplomatic relations between our two countries that have continued to grow stronger every year. And Your Excellency has just told us now the latest in billions of dollars in non-oil trade and this is something that we welcome very much in Nigeria because the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda wants to achieve not just peace and stability, but prosperity for all Nigerians. The drug scourge is universal, both the trafficking of it and the abuse of it and there’s a need for collaboration between nations to achieve solutions on this. And in Nigeria, the NDLEA is the agency that is tasked with the control of illicit drugs in the country.”

Marwa noted that in the last four years, the agency had intercepted a total of 302.202 kilograms of assorted illicit substances going to the UAE either at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos or some courier companies in Lagos.

As the largest anti-narcotics agency in Africa, Marwa said NDLEA partners all leading drug law enforcement agencies across the world. “We welcome the collaboration between NDLEA and our counterparts in UAE, we’re also willing to honour the invitation to visit UAE for collaborative discussions and sign the MoU”, he assured the envoy.

UAE Assures NDLEA of Support, Partnership, Commends Marwa Over Drug War

Two bandits killed in deadly forest rivalry clash in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Two armed bandits have been killed following a deadly clash between rival factions in Pauwa Forest, which borders Kankara and Danmusa Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the latest confrontation, which occurred at Tsamiyar Gino in Kankara LGA on Monday, November 11, at around 6:00 p.m., involved the faction of notorious bandit Mustapha Babaro and that of Sanusi Dan Dutsinma.

Sources confirmed that the clash resulted in the death of Bilyaminu Alhaji Monday, and Umar Ibrahim, both members of Sanusi Dan Dutsinma’s faction.

The situation remains under close observation, as the forested border areas continue to serve as hideouts for armed bandit groups, posing ongoing security challenges for nearby communities.

Two bandits killed in deadly forest rivalry clash in Katsina

FUPRE Clarifies Senate Resolutions On Recent Students’ Unrest

By Daniel Dafe

The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), has reacted to online reports and social media commentaries alleging that the University is “forcing all students to pay ₦7,500 because they protested against a fee increase,” saying the “claim is misleading.”

Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, 4th November, 2025, issued by the Directorate of Media and Public Relations, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, the institution stated: “For clarity and proper public understanding, the University wishes to set the record straight and present the true sequence of events surrounding the students’ protest of October 8, 2025, and the subsequent resolutions of the University Senate.”

Adding: “For the record, the review of school charges was still ongoing, and in the spirit of transparency and inclusiveness, the Students’ Union executives were duly involved in the process. However, before the conclusion of deliberations, some students prematurely released an unapproved draft of the proposed fees, even though the final approved rates (which reflected a downward adjustment) had not yet been issued. This misinformation triggered an unsanctioned protest on October 8, 2025, during which students barricaded the University’s main gate and the East–West Road, disrupting public order and ongoing examinations.”

According to the institution, “following a comprehensive review of the situation at an emergency meeting, the University Senate resolved to bring the 2024/2025 academic session to an immediate close and directed all students to vacate the campus that same day to forestall further breakdown of law and order.”

Adding: “This decision implied that affected students would have to carry over their outstanding courses and pay full tuition in the 2025/2026 academic session.”

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However, following appeals from the students and the intervention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zonal Executives, FUPRE said “the Senate reconvened on 24th October 2025 and approved supplementary examinations,” saying that “final-year students were to write theirs on 31st October 2025, while others would take theirs a week before the 2025/2026 academic session.”

“Senate also directed all students to submit letters of undertaking for good conduct and pay a token sum of ₦7,500 to defray the University’s operational and logistical costs during the disruption,” the statement said.

The statement said further: “It is important to emphasize that the University remains steadfast in its commitment to aligning with international best practices and national aspirations. Under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ezekiel Agbalagba, Management remains focused on its core mandate and will not be distracted from advancing academic excellence and Institutional stability.

“Professor Agbalagba has consistently prioritized the welfare of students and staff, promoting academic quality, infrastructural renewal, and stakeholder engagement—anchored on transparency, integrity, and compassion. His leadership continues to guide all major decisions, including recent measures taken to preserve peace and sustain academic progress.

“The University upholds the highest standards of ethics and discipline while remaining firmly committed to the welfare of its students and will not condone actions that disrupt peace and order. The university Management appreciates the cooperation of parents, staff, and responsible students, and remains resolute in sustaining the institution’s reputation for excellence and relevance.”

FUPRE Clarifies Senate Resolutions On Recent Students’ Unrest