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
Police restore order after clash between students and host community in Bichi
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
Crime
Festac DPO, CSP Matilda Ngbanoyen, dies during medical treatment in Lagos
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
Crime
Decomposed body of kidnapped man found in mining pond in Jos South
Decomposed body of kidnapped man found in mining pond in Jos South
By: Zagazola Makama
Decomposed body of a man earlier reported kidnapped has been discovered in a mining pond in Farin Lamba community of Jos South Local Government Area.
Sources told Zagazola that the discovery was made by the police at about 4 p.m. following a report by residents.
He said the Divisional Police Officer, Kaduna Vom Division, immediately mobilised a team of policemen to the scene where the corpse was identified as that of Mr. Cyril Nilanda, a resident of NITR Quarters, Vom.
Nilanda was reportedly kidnapped on Sept. 30, 2025, and had been missing since then.
Sources said the body, which was found in a decomposed state, was being prepared for evacuation and further forensic examination.
The police assured that concerted efforts were ongoing to track down those responsible for the abduction and killing of the victim.
Decomposed body of kidnapped man found in mining pond in Jos South
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