Crime
Cocaine, Tramadol Consignments in Vehicle Side Mirrors Intercepted at Lagos Airport
Cocaine, Tramadol Consignments in Vehicle Side Mirrors Intercepted at Lagos Airport
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol 225mg concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors being sent to Libreville, Gabon through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with not less than three suspects linked to the cargo already arrested in follow-up operations.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said the first batch of the consignment consisting 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.6 kilogrammes were intercepted in a cargo going to Gabon on Air Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday 19th July 2025, disclosing that a popular cargo agent Ihekweme Osinachi handling the shipment was immediately arrested, after which further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect Uzochukwu Chukwurah on Sunday 20th July.
Babafemi said 11 parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 1 kilogramme were later recovered from four additional side mirrors being prepared for export found in the home of Uzochukwu on Monday 21st July, bringing the total number of parcels of cocaine to 68 weighing 2.6 kilogrammes.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives last Friday arrested a businesswoman Mrs. Nwafor Nneka at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos following the interception of 100 grammes of cocaine and 300 grammes of phenacetine, a cutting agent, concealed in ladies’ lipsticks going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, through the export shed of the Lagos airport on 10th July 2025.
Babafemi said two cargo agents linked to the shipment were earlier arrested before the eventual arrest of Nneka who runs the criminal trade as a family business with her husband Remigus Nwafor, currently on the run.
Nwafor, was said to have in her statement, admitted she bought the lipsticks used to conceal the illicit drugs while her husband handled the actual concealment.
In Abuja, the nation’s capital, NDLEA operatives conducting intelligence-led stop and search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas of the city last Wednesday arrested three dispatch riders: Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28, for distributing illicit substances around the city. A total of 149.8 grammes of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis were recovered from them, while two other suspects: Aliyu Abubakar, 25; and Adekunle Agbabiaka, 30, were arrested along Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1 kilogrammes skunk, a strain of cannabis, on Saturday.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence on Saturday arrested Joseph Michael with 3.3 kilogrammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis in Mushin
while Ibrahim Sulaiman was nabbed in Iwaya area of Yaba with 16.5 litres of
skuchies on Friday.
No fewer than 100,000 pills of tramadol capsules were seized from a suspect, Hussein Yusuf, 37, at an NDLEA checkpoint along Vandeikya-Ogoja road in Benue state on Friday, while operatives in Edo state same day raided a warehouse in Ekpoma where a suspect William Alabi, 44, was arrested and 233.5 kilogrammes skunk recovered.
In Borno state, NDLEA operatives at the arrival hall of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri on Friday intercepted a consignment of 160 pills of tramadol concealed in footwears by a 38-year-old passenger, Umar Aminu who was promptly arrested.
While NDLEA operatives in Ogun state on Friday raided the Oja Odan area and arrested a female suspect, Yahaya Aminat, with 7, 218 pills of opioids mainly tramadol, their counterparts in Oyo state nabbed Oladeji Saka, 54, with 77.5 kilogrammes of skunk at Asanike, Ibadan, just as another suspect Benson Izah, 40, was arrested in Abraka, Delta state with 12.5 kilogrammes skunk, 1 kilogramme tramadol and 14.4 litres of codeine.
In Bayelsa state, NDLEA officers on Friday arrested 52-year-old Chief Emeka Opara and Onuoha Chidinma, 25, along Tantua road, Amassoma where a total of 41,705 tramadol capsules, among other assorted opioids were recovered from their shop and residence, while a suspect Bashir Gambo, 30, was nabbed at Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada local government area, Kano state, with 61 kilogrammes skunk.
Two suspects: Kabiru Ayinde, 40; and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were last Monday arrested at Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town, Osun state, where 90 kilogrammes skunk, 36.3 grammes of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus marked SMK 755 YF and ₦228,200.00 cash exhibit were recovered from them.
In like manner, 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.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, MBIAM, FCT, Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Benue, Kano and Osun commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity, enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
Cocaine, Tramadol Consignments in Vehicle Side Mirrors Intercepted at Lagos Airport
Troops rescue kidnapped woman in Taraba
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sub-Sector 3B, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have rescued a kidnapped woman during a search-and-rescue operation in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the troops, deployed at Kufai Amadu in Takum LGA, received information at about 1:13 p.m. on Friday about a kidnapping incident at Torikegha village, Chanchanji Ward.
The source said the troops immediately moved to the village, where they were informed that the victim, Mrs Iloda Ayinba, a resident of Torikegha, had been abducted while on her way to her farm by suspected herdsmen relocating from the area.
According to the source, the troops pursued the suspects along their withdrawal route and conducted an extensive combing of the general area up to the power line corridor between Benue and Taraba states.
“Following the aggressive and robust search-and-rescue operation, the kidnappers abandoned the victim in the bush and fled,” the source said.
The troops subsequently rescued the woman, while no contact was made with the suspects during the exploitation of the area, the source added.
Troops rescue kidnapped woman in Taraba
Four children killed in Barkin Ladi reprisal attack as Plateau tensions escalate
By: Zagazola Makama
Four children were killed on Thursday in a reprisal attack allegedly carried out by armed Fulani herdsmen in Dorong village, Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, amid rising tensions following recent attacks on herders and cattle rustling in the area.
The victims were identified as Precious Joshuah, 17; Isa’ac Joshuah, 9; Mary Joshuah, 7; and Eve Sambo, 3.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred less than 48 hours after coordinated assaults on pastoral communities in Barkin Ladi, Jos East and Riyom LGAs, during which no fewer than 168 cattle were rustled and several others poisoned.
Zagazola reports that on Wednesday evening, Militia from plateau rustled 137 cattle around Nding community in Fan District of Barkin Ladi LGA, while another 34 cattle were driven away from Kukukah community in Jos East LGA, with only three later returning.
Less than 24 hours later, nine cows reportedly died after grazing on poisoned substances around Kwi village in Riyom LGA, further heightening tension across the affected areas.
A community leader in Foron District, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Dorong attack was carried out in the early hours of Thursday.
“The atmosphere has been tense since the cattle rustling incidents. People have been living in fear, warning that reprisals were imminent if nothing was done. Sadly, those fears have now materialised,” the source said.
Security sources confirmed the incident, adding that troops and other security operatives had been deployed to the area to prevent further escalation and restore calm.
We therefore renewed calls on the Plateau State Government and concerned security agencies to urgently intervene, arrest perpetrators on all sides, and address the underlying causes of the recurring violence.
Zagazola warned that without decisive action, including accountability for cattle rustling, livestock poisoning and retaliatory attacks, Plateau State risks sinking deeper into another cycle of reprisals that continues to claim innocent lives, particularly women and children.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities were yet to issue an official statement on the Dorong incident.
Four children killed in Barkin Ladi reprisal attack as Plateau tensions escalate
Troops neutralise three suspected kidnappers in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace have neutralised three suspected kidnappers during a raid on their hideout in Bakin Kogi, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Zagazola gathered the operation, carried out on 11 December, was part of intensified efforts to clear criminal elements from the Joint Operations Area ahead of the yuletide celebrations.
The troops came under fire as they approached the hideout, but responded with superior firepower, overwhelming the armed gang.
Sources said the troops later conducted a sweep of the area and discovered the corpses of three suspected kidnappers neutralised during the exchange.
According to the source, the suspects were identified as members of a notorious syndicate responsible for multiple abductions and attacks on commuters along the Dangoma–Godogodo axis of Jema’a LGA.
He added that troops had launched follow-up operations to track down fleeing members of the group and dismantle their remaining networks.
The operation, he said, reflected the military’s sustained push to enhance security within Kaduna State and neighbouring areas.
Troops neutralise three suspected kidnappers in Kaduna
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