Crime
Cocaine trafficking: Two notorious drug kingpins sentenced to life imprisonment

Cocaine trafficking: Two notorious drug kingpins sentenced to life imprisonment
By: Michael Mike
Two notorious drug kingpins: Uwaezuoke Ikenna and Agbo Chidike have been sentenced to life imprisonments for drug trafficking offenses.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi the two criminals would now spend the rest of their lives in jail, “bringing an end to their years of criminal enterprise of exporting cocaine across continents following their arrest and diligent prosecution by NDLEA.”
Babafemi said for 43-year-old businessman Uwaezuoke, his journey to a lifetime in jail began when he was first arrested by NDLEA operatives on 19th March 2022 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the inward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after he was found to have ingested 100 big wraps of cocaine weighing 2.243 kilogrammes.
Uwaezuoke was subsequently arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022 and was granted bail on certain conditions after he pleaded not guilty. He thereafter absconded, leading the court to revoke his bail and issue an arrest warrant against him.
“In a curious twist, Uwaezuoke was again arrested by NDLEA operatives on 1st August 2023, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos while attempting to export 1.822 kilogrammes of cocaine to India through ingestion using a different passport and under a different name, Ilonzeh Onyebuchi.
“He was again arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division in charge number FHC/L/554C/2023. He pleaded guilty to the two counts charge and was convicted and sentenced on 18th October 2023 to a total term of seven years of imprisonment or a fine of ₦1, 500,000.00. He paid the fine and was transferred to Abuja to face the importation case pending against him.
“He was re-arraigned on 20th March 2024 at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2022 before Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik, where he pleaded guilty again. Despite his plea, the court, noting his lack of remorse, the seriousness of drug-related offences and the fact that he is a repeated offender, convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
In the case of 42-year-old Agbo Chidike Prince, he was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight to Hong Kong on 21st October 2023 for ingesting 49 wraps of cocaine weighing 998.73 grammes.
“Upon his arraignment before Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, the defendant pleaded guilty to the one count charge, prompting the prosecution to present evidence and review the facts of the case.
Despite the plea of allocutus by the defendant’s counsel, the court, noting the nature of the case and the commercial quantity of the drug, emphasized the seriousness of drug-related offences, convicted and sentenced the defendant on 15th April, 2024 to life imprisonment.”
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers at the Gate C Departure Hall of the Lagos airport last Friday arrested a passenger, Yahaya Oturah, while attempting to export 4,000 pills of tramadol 225mg to Malpensa, Italy on an Ethiopian Airline flight.
The psychoactive substance was found concealed in women wears and granulated melon packed in the suspect’s backpack and another bag containing food items. In his statement, Oturah who is a frequent flyer confessed he was hired to courier the drug for 700 Euros on successful delivery of the consignment in Italy.
In Bayelsa, NDLEA operatives last Wednesday arrested 28-year-old Jennifer Iliya at Amarata area of Yenagoa for producing and distributing cakes laced with illicit drugs especially cannabis sativa. At the time of her arrest, substantial number of the drugged cakes weighing 1.5 kilogrammes were recovered from her. A 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu and a dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, 30, had been arrested on Sunday 10th March by NDLEA operatives for in Yenagoa for a similar offence.
Two suspects: Joseph Dadik, 47, and Bensha Yari, 32, were arrested with 24,180 ampoules of pentazocine injection weighing 135.5 kilogrammes at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, while Adamu Umar, 18, was nabbed with 20.7 kilogrammes cannabis when his house in Shuware area of Mubi, Adamawa state was raided on Friday 26th April.
In another incident, no less than 310.7 kilogrammes cannabis was recovered last Thursday when NDLEA operatives raided parts of Mushin in Lagos state. While 300 kilogrammes was seized at Olatunji Street, Mushin, 10.7 kilogrammes of same substance was retrieved from two suspects: Tijani Wasiu and Suleiman Aisha
at Anifowose, Mushin.
A suspect, Stanley Chukwudi, 43, was arrested with 5,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection at Sabon Gari area of Kano State last Thursday and a couple, Fredrick Odion, 53, and Gladys Odion, 52, were nabbed with 50 kilogrammes cannabis at Iruekpen, Esan West local government area, Edo state by NDLEA officers last Wednesday.
Babafemi said with the same zeal, the various commands of the agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign in the past week.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), while commending the officers and men of the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services of the Agency for the diligent prosecution of Uwazuoke and Agbo cases, said the success rate of cases prosecuted by the agency has shown that there’s no escape route for those involved in the illicit trade of drug trafficking.
He equally applauded those of MMIA, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Edo, Adamawa and Bayelsa Commands as well as their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their drug supply and drug demand reduction activities.
Cocaine trafficking: Two notorious drug kingpins sentenced to life imprisonment
Crime
Troops kill three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Ambush

Troops kill three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Ambush
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI have killed three Boko Haram terrorists during an ambush in Borno State.
Zagazola gathered that the encounter occurred on Monday evening at Umbo Gen area, during Operation Desert Sanity IV.

According to the sources, troops in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters engaged the insurgents with heavy fire, forcing them to flee in disarray.
“Three terrorists were neutralised in the operation. Troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle and an Itel mobile phone,” the source said.

The sources added that no casualty was recorded on the side of the troops, and general security within the area remains calm but unpredictable.
Troops kill three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Ambush
Crime
Troops of operation HADIN KAI foil Boko Haram kidnap attempt in Adamawa

Troops of operation HADIN KAI foil Boko Haram kidnap attempt in Adamawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with Police and local Joint Task Force operatives, have foiled an attempt by suspected Boko Haram terrorists to kidnap villagers in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday when about 15 terrorists stormed Kombla in Krichinga District of Madagali.
The terrorists were said to have attempted to abduct some villagers, but were swiftly repelled after troops engaged them in a fierce gun duel.
“The swift response of the troops and supporting security elements forced the terrorists to retreat into surrounding bush paths,” the source said.
The sources added that pursuit operations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing terrorists.
Normalcy has since returned to the area, while security presence has been strengthened to forestall further attacks.
Troops of operation HADIN KAI foil Boko Haram kidnap attempt in Adamawa
Crime
Army troops intercept suspected drug dealers in Taraba

Army troops intercept suspected drug dealers in Taraba
By: Zagazola Makama
The Nigerian Army Troops at Mutum Biyu in Taraba State, in collaboration with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted a vehicle laden with drugs and military kits.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the operation followed credible intelligence from the NDLEA about a suspected Sienna vehicle, conveying three occupants.

On arrival at the checkpoint, the suspects attempted to evade interrogation as the driver zoomed off. Troops immediately opened fire on the vehicle’s tyres, forcing it to divert into the bush along Garba Shede road.
The occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled before troops arrived at the scene.
A search conducted on the abandoned vehicle led to the recovery of large quantities of codeine and other illicit substances. Also recovered were military kits, including two pairs of woodland camouflage uniforms, a pair of boots, an anklet, and two green berets.
The drugs and vehicle were handed over to the NDLEA, while the military kits remain in custody of the troops.

Military authorities said investigations were ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects
Army troops intercept suspected drug dealers in Taraba
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