NDLEA Nabs China-Based Businessman, Two Angolans as 236 Cocaine Pellets Recovered at Abuja, Kano Airports

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a China-based Nigerian businessman and two Angolan nationals after they excreted a combined 236 wraps of cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe and Mallam Aminu Kano international airports.

The suspects—identified as Ibeanu Vincent Chukwudulue, 34; Mbandu Martins Makiadi, 50; and Ngoma Wilson Fernando, 52—were apprehended in separate operations in Abuja and Kano following intelligence-led surveillance.

Ibeanu was intercepted on February 4 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while boarding a Qatar Airways flight from Kano to China via Doha. A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit drugs. Under observation, he excreted 52 pellets of cocaine weighing 735.95 grams. He told investigators he previously ran a business on Lagos Island before relocating to Guangzhou, China, in 2024.

On the same day, NDLEA officers at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport arrested Makiadi and Fernando at the departure hall during clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Istanbul via Addis Ababa. Body scans confirmed drug ingestion. Makiadi expelled 76 wraps weighing 920 grams in seven excretions, while Fernando passed 108 pellets weighing 1.33 kilograms in five excretions.

The Angolan suspects, both from Hoji Ya Henda in Luanda, claimed they were recruited by an automobile spare parts dealer who promised them $3,000 each upon successful delivery of the drugs in Turkey.

In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport thwarted an attempt to smuggle 1.10 kilograms of cocaine to London, concealed in processed cassava granules (garri).

Investigations revealed that the plot was orchestrated from prison by Olashupo Michael Oladimeji, a convicted drug trafficker currently serving a five-year sentence at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre. Oladimeji had earlier been convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos in 2025 for conspiracy to export 17.90kg of cocaine.

The latest consignment, hidden in a sack of garri packed inside a carton, was presented for export by Adedeji Yusuf Gbolahan, a staff member of Dimeji Express Logistics. NDLEA investigations indicated that Oladimeji coordinated the operation from custody and directed Yusuf to collect the consignment in Oshodi before taking it to the airport.

In another case at the Lagos airport, a 44-year-old estate surveyor, Adelaja Taiwo Adetayo, was arrested for attempting to ship 1.70 kilograms of skunk concealed in five jerry cans to the United Kingdom. The cargo agent who processed the consignment was also arrested, leading to a follow-up operation that tracked down Adelaja in Lagos.

In Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted a waybill package from Enugu containing a children’s toy guitar used to conceal 59.2 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the consignee, Henry Onuma, in Life Camp.

Meanwhile, in Lagos, NDLEA officers raided a four-bedroom duplex in the Lekki area used as a production hub for Colorado, a synthetic cannabis variant known locally as “Colos.” The operation followed the seizure of 73 cartons of nitrous oxide at Ajah–Epe Expressway, suspected to be linked to the facility. Two suspects were arrested, and 13.2 kilograms of freshly produced synthetic cannabis were recovered alongside precursor chemicals.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, a 45-year-old suspected drug dealer, Oluwayemisi Bunmi, was arrested with 1.189kg of Colos and skunk, 320 grams of methamphetamine, nearly ₦3 million in cash, and two vehicles.

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a vehicle conveying 105,400 pills of tramadol along the Bode Saadu axis, leading to the arrest of 43-year-old Kamilu Abdullahi.

Similarly, in Edo State, five suspects were apprehended during a raid on a forest camp in Ovia North East Local Government Area, where 563.5 kilograms of skunk were recovered.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across the MAKIA, MMIA, NAIA, Lagos, Edo, Kwara, FCT, and Oyo Commands for their professionalism and vigilance.

He urged continued commitment to the agency’s balanced strategy of drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction, even as NDLEA intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools and communities nationwide.

NDLEA Nabs China-Based Businessman, Two Angolans as 236 Cocaine Pellets Recovered at Abuja, Kano Airports

Benue Police repel bandits attack in Ugba, one suspect arrested, one bandit killed

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police in Benue have repelled an armed attack by bandits on policemen in Ugba, resulting in the death of one bandit and the arrest of a suspect.

Sources disclosed that on Feb. 13, 2026, at about 3:20 a.m., intelligence was received that hoodlums were advancing toward the town.

A team of operatives were swiftly dispatched to intercept them. As the patrol approached the area, the bandits opened fire, prompting a gun duel.

During the exchange, one bandit was shot dead. The corpse was removed and deposited at the mortuary. A red Bajaj Boxer motorcycle with the inscription “Chen I Tiv,” belonging to the bandits, was recovered at the scene, and one suspect was arrested while others fled.

Sources said that security operatives are combing nearby bushes to track down the fleeing suspects and effect further arrests.

Benue Police repel bandits attack in Ugba, one suspect arrested, one bandit killed

Nigeria Secures $62.8m Kuwait Loan to Boost Climate-Resilient Schools, Inclusive Education

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria’s partnership with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development has yielded a $62.8 million concessional loan aimed at transforming the country’s education sector through climate-resilient infrastructure, improved teacher training and expanded access for vulnerable children.

The Federal Government disclosed this in Abuja during celebrations marking Kuwait’s 65th National Day and 35th Liberation Day.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, represented by Ambassador Bukar Buni Hamman, Director of the Regions Department, said the financing agreement signed in 2025 reflects the growing depth of Nigeria–Kuwait relations and their shared commitment to human capital development.

He explained that the loan is being deployed to upgrade school facilities to withstand climate-related challenges, strengthen teacher capacity and ensure that girls and children with disabilities have improved access to quality learning.

According to him, the collaboration demonstrates how bilateral diplomacy is translating into measurable social impact.

“Kuwait has remained a trusted development partner. Our cooperation has moved beyond formal ties to practical interventions that directly address Nigeria’s social and economic priorities,” he said.

Ahmed added that both countries are broadening engagement in key sectors including agriculture, food security, renewable energy, infrastructure development and digital connectivity. He noted that subnational governments in Nigeria are also positioning themselves to attract Kuwaiti investment.

Kuwait’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Salim Almuzayen, described the occasion as a celebration not only of Kuwait’s national milestones but also of enduring partnerships built on mutual respect and sustainable development goals.

He cited the “Reaching Out-of-School Children” initiative in Kaduna State — funded by the Kuwait Fund in collaboration with UNICEF — as a leading example of cooperation between both nations. The project is designed to reintegrate more than 200,000 out-of-school children into formal education.

Almuzayen said Kuwait’s global development engagement is guided by a moderate foreign policy and a long-term vision focused on shared prosperity. Since its establishment in 1961, the Kuwait Fund has financed development projects in over 100 countries across critical sectors such as education, health and infrastructure.

The $62.8 million facility marks a significant boost for Nigeria’s education reform drive, particularly at a time when climate adaptation and inclusive access remain central to national policy objectives.

With both governments signaling deeper collaboration, stakeholders say the agreement underscores a maturing bilateral relationship anchored on practical development outcomes rather than symbolic diplomacy.

Nigeria Secures $62.8m Kuwait Loan to Boost Climate-Resilient Schools, Inclusive Education