Crime
Alleged Criminal Activities and Arrest of Bashir Hadejia
Alleged Criminal Activities and Arrest of Bashir Hadejia
By Zagazola Makama
Social media is replete with this disturbing trend, a report about a figure who allegedly is the sponsor of sponsors; a criminal and several accomplices that need to be put behind bars. Reports indicated an intelligence led mission was conducted and this very figure of questionable character was arrested within the FCT.
What prompted Zagazola Makama is that this particular subject has a lot to unravel about the top notch, the nitty gritty and the alpha on terrorism, proliferation of SALW, money laundry and so on and so forth. What we could find is not only incriminating but serious allegations of disturbing cannons.
Who is BASHIR in Hadejia
Bashir Hadejia, a high-profile individual with connections to influential figures, has been accused of various criminal activities, including treason, subversive activities, transnational crimes, and terrorism. According to unconfirmed reports, he was arrested by Nigerian police for allegedly smuggling large caches of weapons and gold, believed to have been stolen from the Central Bank of Libya. Hadejia is also accused of aiding terrorism and criminality in northern Nigeria, sponsoring protests and attacks, and blackmailing politicians and government officials.
During his interrogation, Hadejia allegedly confessed to sponsoring youths in protests, blackmailing officials, and attacking political party headquarters. He also claimed to have incriminating documents and an international passpor, according to the report via DConnectNews dconnectnews.com.ng/2024/08/break
Reports by Jackson Ude through X handle accuses the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, of ordering Bashir Hadejia’s abduction for leaking information to the media.
The report reads: NAVAL OFFICIALS ABDUCTS BASHIR HADEJIA AFTER POURING WHITE SUBSTANCE ON HIS FACE ON THE ORDERS OF MATAWALLE
Armed Naval officials on Monday evening, stormed the home of Bashir Hadejia, pouring some white substance suspected to be powdered teargas on his face, causing him to be unconscious and thereafter abducted him to an unknown destination on the orders of embattled Minister for State, Defence, Mohammed Bello Matawalle.
Hadejia was a former aide to Matawalle when he served as Governor of Zamfara state. informants told me Matawalle is accusing Hadejia of leaking information about him to me and the media.
Matawalle has been in the storm for aiding the escape of Yahaya Bello, the former Kogi State Governor, to Niger Republic, an allegation he has not personally denied.
The embattled Minister’s houses bought with proceeds from corruption were also exposed.
Again, Matawalle has not denied owning those properties either in Niger Republic, Abuja, Egypt, Turkey and Atlanta, the United States,”he said.
However, imply once again the accusation of the Minister of Defence Mohammed Bello Matawalle of ordering Hadejia’s abduction for leaking information to the media.
It is believed that Hadejia’s connections to influential individuals to influential individuals, including former Governor NSA Andrew Azazi and Minister of Defence Mohammed Bello Matawalle, raise questions about his involvement in criminal activities. His alleged involvement in smuggling gold and weapons, as well as his connections to terrorism and criminality, require further investigation.
The involvement of top government officials in this case means Hadejia could go scott free as to trail these ends means his accomplices should also be called in for questioning. Bello Turji, the notorious bandit kingpin in Zamfara indicated and made serious allegations on the Matawalle pointing out that the issue of insecurity plaguing the country had the full backing of the immediate past governor of Zamfara State and current Minister of State for Defence. He said that the failed Amnesty program supervised by the minister had led to the escalation of crises in the North West.
Turji alleged that some of the bandit leaders involved in the peace truce moved to the Sokoto metropolis after giving their arms to their boys kidnapping for ransom. He said the boys were making returns to their leaders living in Sokoto town.
He named some of them as Bashari Maniya, Kabiru, and Buhari
“Dan Maigari is the junior brother to Bashari Maniya; he has 150 guns, his hideout is in the Maradun riverine area, and he is responsible for attacks in the Maradun axis.
There is too much heat on this case from arms peddling, gold theft, sponsored atrocities and the complicity of government officials of diverse proportions. Further investigation is necessary to establish the facts and ensure that justice is served. To verify the accuracy of these reports, there is need for appropriate superior authority to investigate the allegations against Hadejia, and clarify the timeline of his alleged involvement in criminal activities.
As an Security Expert and Investigative Journalist, I had seen the worst of humanity – the dark lords who perpetrated evil, the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, and the gallant security operatives who paid the ultimate price for their bravery in defense of Nigeria.
But I refused to give up. I was driven by a passion for peace, a desire to see Nigeria return to a state of normalcy where children could play without fear of being kidnapped, where travelers could journey without fear of being ambushed.
I thought of the countless widows and fatherless children left behind by the senseless killings. The memories of their loved ones, cut down in their prime, fueled my determination to expose the truth and bring an end to the bloodshed.
The roads, once bustling with life, were now treacherous terrain, haunted by the ghosts of terrorism. But I knew that together, we could change the narrative. We could seek the right path, one that led to peace, stability, and a brighter future for all.
I took a deep breath, my resolve strengthened. I would continue to shine a light on the darkness, to tell the stories that needed to be told, and to advocate for a Nigeria where every child could grow up with hope and promise. The time for change was now.
I pushed for the truth and found that in places where conflict, mass killings, proliferation of arms and other criminalities thrive some form of gains, benefits or huge profits lay underneath for very few people in high places at the expense of the innocent communities. While the communities are either fighting one another or overrun by terrorists, a handful of their resources are taken away for profits by those benefiting from the chaos. Recently my attention was also drawn towards the presence of ZAMFARA GOLD in SAUDI ARABIA in the MIDDLE EAST. This pondered minds on the illegal conduit in which the gold was smuggled far off from the coffers of ZAMFARA State to the MIDDLE EAST. The recent video and third of its kind emerged on 18 Jul 24. The notorious bandit/terrorist leader BELLO MOHD TURJI, made heated statements accusing fingers at the former GOVERNOR and current Minister of State for DEFENCE, his Excellency Bello Mattawallen Maradun. Above all he was linked to sponsoring the terrorists in ZAMFARA State. TURJI also mentioned other names and this utterly sparked off many reactions due to the sensitivity of the issue. Previous week’s sermons at FRIDAY JUMAAT Worship Centers in SOKOTO State were replete with the statements claimed by TURJI. Notable clerics appear to open up vessels on what was kept silent over the years of killings, abductions, poverty and failed efforts to attain peace.
Already, a dialogue process in the NW is becoming a mirage. Findings revealed that some of the negotiations are in part to those working for people in high places. Apparently those smuggling gold to Saudi Arabia. Though TURJI is claiming the complicity of wealthy individuals, he appears not to be as a whole part of the recent negotiations. This could have triggered his utterances to reveal what could be termed the reason behind the attacks or terrorism in the NorthWest. Sources contacted by the investigative agency also made shocking revelations on some bandit kingpins sponsored for HAJJ/pilgrimage to SAUDI. Two were arrested on their return from Sokoto while another was released through a yet to be explained circumstances.
There is no smoke without fire as I continue to gain dossiers of revelations on sponsors of attacks within the region. The names being mentioned are top individuals in high places and increases the knowledge of how the Northwest remains in a state of unending violence by extremist groups. I poised and looked at the reports and was driven by the truth but not compelled to sit, fold my arms and stay put while thousands of innocent are daily killed. Even the video made by TURJI, now only echoes from a distance. Nothing has been done. The fear is that those sponsoring the terrorist are known with no one ready to point fingers in the right direction. The question is for how long will the danger and apprehension in the NW continue. The answer lies in the political will and justice of those who are complicit in sponsoring evil and spoiling the image of the Country. The Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMDI) should conduct detailed investigations into the ZAMFARA Gold in SAUDI ARABIA with a view to finding the smugglers, owners and further information on the transporters. The FGN should conduct detailed investigations on sponsors following the remarks by TURJI to confirm the veracity of his claims on sponsorship of terrorism in the north west geopolitical zone. please edit as touching story.
Alleged Criminal Activities and Arrest of Bashir Hadejia
Crime
NDLEA Arrests Brazil Returnee with Cocaine Hidden on Body, Seizes Nearly 10 Tonnes of Drugs Nationwide
NDLEA Arrests Brazil Returnee with Cocaine Hidden on Body, Seizes Nearly 10 Tonnes of Drugs Nationwide
By: Michael Mike
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Onyekwere, for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
Onyekwere, 47, was apprehended last Thursday, at the airport’s arrival hall during the inward screening of passengers on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg. NDLEA officials acted on intelligence that led to his selection for further checks.

A body scan conducted on the suspect indicated the presence of concealed substances. A subsequent strip search uncovered a large wrap of a white powdery substance, later confirmed to be cocaine, strapped to his right thigh. Further examination revealed two additional wraps hidden inside the soles of the flat shoes he was wearing.
In total, NDLEA officers recovered three wraps of cocaine weighing 1.6 kilogrammes.
During questioning, the suspect reportedly admitted purchasing the drugs in Brazil with plans to sell them in Nigeria. He claimed the proceeds were intended to expand his business and support the naming ceremony of his newborn child. Onyekwere, who resides in São Paulo, Brazil, said he has lived there since 2008 and has operated a toy business for several years.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the Tincan Seaport, Lagos, intercepted a container shipment last Wednesday, uncovering 55 jumbo bags of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain, weighing 1,183 kilogrammes.
According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the drugs, imported from Montreal, Canada, were concealed inside a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix vehicle and was discovered during a joint inspection involving NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service, and other security agencies.

In Niger State, NDLEA officers intercepted a long-haul truck along the Dei-Dei–Abuja Expressway in the early hours last Tuesday. Three suspects—Andy Chidogu (49), Kenneth Ogene (45), and Sadiq Olanrewaju (27)—were arrested with 176 bags of skunk cannabis weighing 2,735 kilogrammes, alongside one kilogramme of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis variant.
Babafemi said investigations revealed that the truck driver, Kenneth Ogene, had transported flour from Lagos to Ekpoma, Edo State, before agreeing to convey the illicit drugs for a fee of ₦1.7 million.
He said further operations in Edo State led to the arrest of Shaibu Yusuf on the Auchi–Abuja Expressway with 66 bags of skunk weighing 792 kilogrammes concealed in charcoal bags.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives, supported by personnel of the Nigerian Army, raided a cannabis farm at Ebora Camp in Ilushi, Esan South East Local Government Area, destroying over 4,063 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on 1.6 hectares of land. An additional 328 kilogrammes of processed cannabis and seeds were recovered, while four suspects were arrested.
In Anambra State, NDLEA officers intercepted a cement-laden truck at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, last Wednesday. A search revealed 345.2 kilogrammes of skunk concealed among bags of cement. One of the occupants, Abum Okeke, 42, was arrested.
Babafemi said operations in Ondo State resulted in the arrest of two suspects in Akure North with 473 kilogrammes of skunk, while Kano State recorded the seizure of 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection from Abdullahi Usman. Another suspect, Musa Shuaibu, was arrested with 4,390 tramadol pills in Gaya area of the state.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Oragwan Ekene at Alaba with 15.5 kilogrammes of skunk en route to Anambra State. Additionally, 3.5 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered from the luggage of a traveler arriving from Cotonou, Benin Republic, at the Seme border.
The spokesman said beyond enforcement activities, the agency continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign across schools, religious institutions, workplaces, and communities nationwide during the week.
Commending the officers involved in the various operations, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged personnel across the country to sustain the balanced approach of drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction in the fight against substance abuse and trafficking.
NDLEA Arrests Brazil Returnee with Cocaine Hidden on Body, Seizes Nearly 10 Tonnes of Drugs Nationwide
Crime
Four abducted in bandit attack in Munya, Niger
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
Crime
Nigerian Army’s 2 division launches operation Igbo Danu (operation forest flush) ….crushes terrorists in kwara state
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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