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Auto Parts Dealer, Businesswoman Arrested Over UK-bound Opioids, Cocaine

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Auto Parts Dealer, Businesswoman Arrested Over UK-bound Opioids, Cocaine

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested an Ibadan-based businesswoman, Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola and an auto parts dealer, Arinze Ora over attempts to export consignments of opioids and cocaine to London, United Kingdom and Congo Brazzaville respectively.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said officers of the anti-narcotics agency at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos had on Friday 6th September 2024 intercepted a cargo going to the United Kingdom, adding that a thorough search of the consignment revealed 924 bottles of codeine-based syrup weighing 135.7 kilogrammes and 5,250 tablets of rohypnol were hidden in cartons of foodstuffs.

Babafemi said the freight agent, Owojori Olanrewaju who presented the cargo for export was promptly arrested, with further investigation leading to the arrest of another suspect, Adewunmi Akeem , who claimed that his mother, 58-year-old Mrs. Adewunmi Adebola sent the consignment to him from Ibadan to deliver to the agent.

The spokesman said a follow up operation on Saturday 7th September led to the arrest of Mrs. Adewunmi in Ibadan where she deals in foodstuffs and cargo export.

In his statement, Owojori confessed that he has been working for Mrs. Adewunmi to export cargoes to the UK, adding that he was paid N2,411,000.00 for the job, while he was paid N2.1 million for a similar consignment handled for the businesswoman earlier.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the same export shed of the Lagos airport last Wednesday intercepted some cartons of auto spare parts and powder custard going to Congo Brazzaville on Ethiopian Airlines. A diligent search of the cargo led to the discovery of 300 grammes of cocaine concealed in the containers of checkers powder custard packed together with some auto parts.

Babafemi said a follow up operation led to the arrest of the sender of the consignment, Arinze Ora, who deals in auto parts at the Trade Fair Auto Parts Wing, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.

Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA last Tuesday arrested two brothers: Ikechukwu Ikeabba and Ugochukwu Ikeabba who are alleged sponsors of drug traffickers who specialise in exporting drugs by ingestion to Vietnam.

The NDLEA spokesman said their arrest followed diligent investigation of an earlier arrest of an Onitsha-based businessman, Ibeanusi Nosike, who excreted 68 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.282 kilogrammes after 12 days of excretion observation after he was arrested at the local wing of the Lagos airport by NDLEA operatives.

Babafemi said the 36-year-old Ibeanusi was arrested in the early hours of Thursday, 8th August 2024 at the old domestic terminal of the Lagos airport while attempting to board the first flight out of Lagos to Abuja where he was scheduled to join a Qatar Airways flight to Vietnam at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 10am same day.

He said another Vietnam-bound businessman, 54-year-old Paul Mbadugha had been arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Abuja airport on Monday 12th August 2024 during the outward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR 1432 to Hanoi, Vietnam via Doha after he tested positive to ingestion of cocaine. He noted that after four days under observation, Mbadugha egested a total of 88 wraps of the illicit drug with a gross weight of 1.71 kilogrammes.

He said at the time of the arrest of the two kingpins, the Ikeabba brothers, they were caught with 87 wraps of cocaine dummies used in training intending mules.

Babafemi said in Gombe state, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence last Saturday arrested three suspects: Auwal Abdullahi, Isah Rabiu and Abubakar Da’u along Bauchi-Gombe road while travelling in a DAF truck marked GME 552 ZU. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure 2,490,000 pills of tramadol concealed with bags of salt.

He said a suspect, Idris Adamu, 23, was arrested with 41.5 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa at Kachia town, Kaduna state last Tuesday while two suspects: Godiya Jikuk, 36, and Yusuf Umaru, 65, were nabbed at Isinbode -Ekiti, Ekiti state with a total of 73.6 kilogrammes cannabis last Wednesday.

In Bauchi state, no fewer than 208,920 pills of tramadol and diazepam were seized from a suspect, Chinedu Asadu, 35, last Thursday while 104 kilogrammes of cannabis was recovered from two suspects: Abba Abdullahi and Mustapha Yahaya along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway last Tuesday by operatives in Lagos state.

He added that not less than 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were discovered by NDLEA operatives in two containers shipped from India during a joint examination of the containers with men of Customs Service and other security agencies at the Tincan port in Lagos last Tuesday, starting that the containers were part of those targeted by NDLEA for 100 percent examination.

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.

While commending the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, MMIA, Tincan, Lagos, Gombe, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Ekiti commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated.

He however urged them to continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Auto Parts Dealer, Businesswoman Arrested Over UK-bound Opioids, Cocaine

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Crime

One killed, another injured as Lakurawa bandits attack cattle range in Sokoto

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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.

One killed, another injured as Lakurawa bandits attack cattle range in Sokoto

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Bandits abduct villagers, rustle cattle in Zamfara

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Bandits abduct villagers, rustle cattle in Zamfara

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have abducted several villagers and rustled an unspecified number of cattle following an attack on Kuya village in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Sources said the incident occurred on Feb. 21 at about 12:00 p.m., when armed men carrying AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons stormed the village via Kekun Waje district.

The assailants reportedly abducted an unknown number of residents and drove away a yet-to-be-quantified number of cattle to an unknown location.

The sources said the troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were immediately deployed to pursue the bandits, with efforts focused on rescuing the abducted victims and recovering the stolen livestock.

Security forces have intensified operations in the area to restore normalcy and prevent further attacks.

Bandits abduct villagers, rustle cattle in Zamfara

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Crime

Kidnap victim found dead in Adamawa, security forces launch manhunt

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Kidnap victim found dead in Adamawa, security forces launch manhunt

By: Zagazola Makama

Security forces have launched a manhunt for suspected kidnappers following the discovery of the body of a ransom bearer who was abducted alongside others in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Security sources said the case was reported on Feb. 21 at about 4:00 p.m. by the Village Head of Mallam Madugu, Aminu Modibbo Bakura, at a police station in the area.

According to the sources, two residents – Usman Ibrahim, 45, and Abubakar Arwa, 65 – were initially kidnapped on Feb. 10 at about 9:00 a.m. by unknown gunmen who took them to an undisclosed location. The incident was not formally reported at the time.

Sources said that after a ransom of N1 million was arranged, two other residents, Abubakar Abdullahi, 28, and Ahmadu Ibrahim, 55, went to deliver the payment on Feb. 18 at about 5:00 p.m., but were also abducted by the assailants.

The matter came to light when, on Feb. 21 at about 2:00 p.m., the corpse of Abubakar Abdullahi was discovered.

Police operatives who visited the scene observed three bullet wounds on the deceased and recovered seven empty AK-47 ammunition shells.

The body was evacuated to a cottage hospital in Girei for autopsy, while investigations commenced.

Authorities said efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest the perpetrators, assuring residents that security operations had been intensified across the area to curb kidnapping and related crimes.

Kidnap victim found dead in Adamawa, security forces launch manhunt

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