Crime
Aregbesola Tasks Corrections on Bringing Back Escaped Inmates
Aregbesola Tasks Corrections on Bringing Back Escaped Inmates
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has called on the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) to spare no effort at ensuring that all escaped inmates are arrested and brought back into custody.
The minister made the call at the opening of a two-day retreat for senior management of the service in Sokoto, Sokoto State on Monday.
He said the strategies and deliberations at the retreat should be centered around solutions on recapturing all escaped inmates to safeguard communities who may become prey to criminal activities of escaped inmates.
The minister, also noted with dismay, the negative impact of the #EndSARS protests which later turned violent leading to attacks of custodial facilities which gave rise to the attacks on the facilities.
He said “Retreats are for bonding, contemplating purpose and setting future goals” and a major issue that must be considered during the this retreat is the decongestion of custodial facilities.
He pointed that during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, “one of the policies we quickly put in place then was the decongestion programme under which thousands of inmates were released on compassionate ground.”
The follow up to that is the consideration that we should find further ways to keep decongesting our facilities. We started work on the idea of compiling the list of convicted inmates serving light terms for not too serious offences, who were in custody because they could not pay their fines”
While commending the service for being able to manage the centres during the pandemic without recording a single infection, Aregbesola said the agency did a good job of keeping the virus away and must continue to keep the facilities safe and sound from inside and out.
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Continuing, he urged that as the officers deliberate, strategize and set target for the next five years, it must ensure that the biodata of all inmates are harmonised with sister agencies, the Nigeria Financial Unit (NFIU), all banks and the INTERPOL to track all escaped inmates.
He said “It is also very important to have their fingerprints, pictures and other details you have with you to be harmonised with them.”
Meanwhile, the Controller General of the service, Haliru Nababa, has said that the two-day retreat will not only afford the hierarchy of the agency the opportunity to restrategise and bond towards efficiency in service delivery, it also serves to provide clear perception on set targets.
He said the current capacity of the 244 custodial facilities in the country stands at 58,278 as against the population of 75,000 inmates it now holds, leading to congestion of inmates, worsened by recent incessant attacks which were externally organised and executed.
“Drawing from the above, the NCoS has taken measures that will forestall future attack such as the formation and activation of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) initiate, more intelligence sharing with other security agencies, the sensitization and encouragement of State Governments to implement non-custodial measures as well as the scaling up of the capacity of Armed Squad and Intelligence personnel on the use of high calibre weaponry and intelligence gathering.”
Whilst declaring the retreat open, the Governor of Sokoto State, Alh. Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by his deputy, Manir Dan’iya, stated that his government will continue to support the Nigeria Correctional Service in achieving it goal of reforming and rehabilitating its inmate.
“As a government, we will continue to support you in your role as one of the critical operators in the administration of criminal justice system. The role of reforming and rehabilitating inmates cannot be overemphasized in order for us to have a crime free society.
“I wish you a successful deliberations and on behalf of the Governor, I hereby declare this retreat open,” the governor stated.
Aregbesola Tasks Corrections on Bringing Back Escaped Inmates
NDLEA uncovers UK-bound cocaine in cream containers, meth in water heater
By: Michael Mike
A total of 70 parcels factory packed cocaine in walls of cocoa butter formula body cream containers heading to London, United Kingdom have been uncovered at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with three suspects arrested in series of follow-up operations across Lagos.
A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi on Sunday stated that the cocaine consignments weighing 3.6 kilogrammes were discovered on 14th October 2025 during examination of cargoes packaged as personal effects going to London, UK on an Air Peace flight.
It added that a cargo agent Lawal Olakunle who presented the consignment for airfreight was promptly arrested while investigations stretching into two weeks led to the arrest of two principal suspects linked to the attempt to export the concealed Class A drug to the UK.
Babafemi said in a follow up operation on 18th October, a female healthcare worker Ogunmuyide Taiwo was arrested following which Mutiu Adebiyi, the Chief Executive Officer of a travel agency, Mutiu Adebiyi & Co, was arrested at his 23 Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja GRA Lagos office last Monday.
In a similar development, attempt by a 35-year-old Lesotho national Lemena Mark to export 103.59 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in a diabeta herbs coffee tea pack to the Philippines on an Ethiopian airlines flight from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu last Wednesday was thwarted by NDLEA officers who arrested him and recovered the illicit drug.
No fewer than 21,950 capsules of tramadol 250mg concealed inside a 100-litre water heater were recovered from a suspect Umar Abubakar, 40, who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Bode Saadu, Morro local government area of Kwara state following credible intelligence last Tuesday.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives in the early hours of Sunday raided Proxy Night club at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island where a drug party was going on. Over 100 suspects including the owner of the club Mike Nwogu alias Pretty Mike, were arrested and taken into custody for screening.
Cartons of illicit substances including Loud, and laughing gas, were recovered from suspects at the party and the club’s store.
The raid followed intelligence about the drug party. NDLEA operatives who were embedded in the party between 11pm on Saturday 25th October however disrupted the gathering at 3am on Sunday based on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
In Taraba, the duo of Auwal Musa, 26, and Salihu Bala, 22, were last Tuesday arrested with 450,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 at Dan-anacha checkpoint while conveying the consignment in a truck loaded with building materials from Onitsha, Anambra state to Mubi, Adamawa state.
While NDLEA officers on patrol along Okene/Lokoja highway, Kogi state seized 162.200 kilogrammes skunk, a strain of cannabis, from a truck last Friday, operatives in Nasarawa state last Wednesday recovered 128 kilogrammes of same psychoactive substance from a suspect, Abubakar Muhammad, 55, in Keffi area of the state.
A mother of two Oyonumoh Effiong who is a major distributor of Canadian and California Loud, both strong strains of cannabis in Lekki, Ajah, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and VGC areas of Lagos have been arrested by NDLEA operatives last Friday during a raid at her Lekki home where 500 grammes of the illicit substances were recovered.
In Ikorodu area of Lagos, NDLEA officers last Thursday raided the home of a suspect Ogunyabo Adenigbigbe at Solomade estate where 275 litres of skuchies, a new psychoactive substance produced with black currant drink, cannabis and opioids, were recovered.
A 75-year-old grandpa Echendu Onuoka was last Wednesday arrested at Ovum village, Obingwa local government area, Abia state with 4.7 kilogrammes skunk seized from him while a 60-year-old grandma Aukana John was nabbed with 225 grammes of same substance at Apanta village, in the same local government area.
While 150 kilogrammes skunk was recovered during a raid operation at Lot camp, Ikun Akoko, Ondo state, two suspects: Bashir Mohammad, 50, and Samini Tijjani, 35, were nabbed with 234.5 kilogrammes of same substance at Yan aya , Saminaka in Lere local government area, Kaduna last Friday just as another set of suspects: Isah Usman, 50, and Salvation Okoler, 18, were arrested with 8,600 pills of tramadol 225mg and rohypnol along Abuja/Kaduna highway.
At the Seme border area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives last Wednesday nabbed Jacob Ojugbele with 55 kilogrammes skunk at Ashipa area of Badagry while Amusa Oluwabukola was arrested with 121.3 litres of skuchies at Itoga Badagry.
In Zamfara state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Gummi-Anka road last Monday arrested a suspect Abubakar Ibrahim, 30, in possession of AK 47 riffle and 1,746 assorted calibres of ammunition, for AK 47 and GPMG rifles while moving them from Sokoto to Bagega forest, Anka local government area, Zamfara. Both the suspect and the exhibits have since been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
Babafemi said with the same vigour, 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.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) While commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Lagos, Kwara, Abia, Nasarawa, Kogi, Ondo, Anambra, Taraba, Kaduna, Seme and Zamfara Commands for the arrests, and seizures, urged them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
NDLEA uncovers UK-bound cocaine in cream containers, meth in water heater
Police restore order after clash between students and host community in Bichi
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Kano State has restored normalcy following a minor disturbance between some students of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi, and members of the host community.
Sources said that the incident occurred at about 9:30 p.m. on Friday near the institution’s main gate.
According to the sources, five students identified as Buba Snu, Prince Snu, Kamal Snu, and two others now at large, allegedly attacked some members of the host community with stones at the More Event Centre, located opposite the college gate.
The attack, which occurred during a community event at the venue, provoked a swift reaction from residents who reportedly chased the students back to the school premises.
The sources stated that officers from Bichi Division visited the scene and quickly brought the situation under control, preventing further escalation.
“No life was lost, and no injuries were recorded. However, two vehicles belonging to the institution were damaged during the unrest,” the sources stated.
The sources added that normalcy had been restored, while monitoring and observation of the situation were ongoing to prevent a recurrence.
The Command urged both students and community members to remain calm and avoid actions capable of breaching public peace.
Police restore order after clash between students and host community in Bichi
Festac DPO, CSP Matilda Ngbanoyen, dies during medical treatment in Lagos
By: Zagazola Makama
The Lagos State Police Command has announced the death of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Festac Division, CSP Matilda Ngbanoyen, who passed away while receiving medical treatment in Lagos.
The incident occurred on Oct. 24, 2025, at about 11:30 p.m., when the officer reportedly died at the Mayriamville Medical Centre, Bode Thomas, Surulere, during a medical session for fibroid treatment.
Following the report, a delegation from the Command visited the hospital to confirm the development and make necessary arrangements.
“The corpse was evacuated to a public morgue for preservation and autopsy,”sources said.
The Command said arrangements were underway, in collaboration with the late officer’s family, to accord her a befitting burial.
CSP Ngbanoyen was described as a dedicated and disciplined officer who served the Nigeria Police Force with commitment and professionalism.
The Command expressed condolences to her family, colleagues, and friends over the tragic loss.
Festac DPO, CSP Matilda Ngbanoyen, dies during medical treatment in Lagos
NDLEA uncovers UK-bound cocaine in cream containers, meth in water heater
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