NDLEA Dogs Get German Upgrade for Drug Detection Operations

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified efforts to strengthen its ability to detect concealed narcotics at Nigeria’s entry points, putting its canine handlers through specialised retraining by German technical experts.

The refresher course, organised in collaboration with Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), focused on improving the ability of NDLEA handlers and their service dogs to detect narcotics and respond effectively to increasingly sophisticated methods employed by drug traffickers.

The training was conducted at the NDLEA Canine Unit Facility in Lagos by two German technical dog-handling experts, Andreas Roscher and Jacqueline Shüler.

According to a press statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, 11 personnel from the Canine Unit, comprising the unit commander, two veterinary doctors and eight dog handlers, participated in the exercise alongside their service dogs. Five additional NDLEA officers from commands in Lagos who had expressed interest in joining the Canine Unit also participated.

He noted that rather than being limited to classroom instruction, the exercise included practical simulations at some of the country’s busiest aviation and maritime facilities, including the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) baggage hall, APM Terminals Apapa and the MMIA NAHCO export shed.

The participants were trained in advanced obedience and control, narcotics detection, scent imprinting and search patterns, as well as the safe deployment of canine assets during high-risk operations.

The exercise is significant to the agency’s interdiction efforts as traffickers increasingly resort to sophisticated concealment methods to move illicit drugs through airports, seaports and land borders.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd.), said the training underscored the agency’s determination to maintain a highly skilled workforce capable of responding to evolving drug-trafficking techniques.

“Our canine teams remain one of the most potent assets in our detection and interdiction efforts, and this is why we will continue to invest in their retraining and welfare,” Marwa said.

He noted that the agency’s interceptions of concealed narcotics at airports, seaports and border posts had benefited significantly from the capabilities of its sniffer dogs and handlers.

“The successes we have recorded at our airports, seaports and border points in intercepting concealed narcotics are in no small measure due to the dedication and sharpened instincts of our dogs and their handlers,” he said.

According to him, the collaboration with the German authorities would further strengthen the agency’s operational capacity while bringing its canine operations closer to international standards.

The NDLEA chief, however, acknowledged manpower and logistical gaps confronting the Canine Unit, particularly the need for additional service dogs, trained personnel and boarding facilities.

He said the agency needed to expand the unit’s capacity to provide adequate canine coverage across Nigeria’s seaports, international airports and land borders.

Marwa disclosed that steps were being taken to address the identified gaps, while supporting the recommendation that the specialised refresher training should become an annual exercise.

The training therefore goes beyond improving the skills of existing handlers, with the participation of prospective recruits indicating an effort by the agency to expand the pool of personnel capable of working with its narcotics detection dogs.

The NDLEA’s Canine Unit has become an important component of the agency’s interdiction operations, particularly in environments where traffickers attempt to conceal narcotics in baggage, cargo and other consignments.

With the latest training, the agency is seeking to strengthen both the technical skills of its handlers and the reliability of its canine teams as they operate across the country’s major gateways for international and domestic movement.

NDLEA Dogs Get German Upgrade for Drug Detection Operations

IGP Disu meets Niger governor over deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners

By: Our Reporter

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, has arrived at the Niger State Government House in Minna over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The IGP was received by Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, during the visit, where he commiserated with the state government and the families affected by the incident.

Disu assured the governor of a thorough, transparent and comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine what led to the loss of lives while the suspects were in government custody.

The visit comes amid growing concern over the incident, with President Bola Tinubu ordering a full and transparent investigation and warning that the Federal Government would not tolerate deaths resulting from official negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.

The Niger State Government has also constituted a Committee of Inquiry, while the NSCDC Commandant General has suspended the Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and members of his team pending investigations.

IGP Disu meets Niger governor over deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners

FG constitutes 10-member panel to probe deaths of 37 in NSCDC custody, suspends 20 officers

By Zagazola Makama

The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State over alleged illegal mining.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the development in a statement on Saturday, September 19, 2026, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, September 17.

The Minister also ordered the suspension of all officers allegedly involved in the incident, pending the outcome of the investigation, in addition to the earlier suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC.

Tunji-Ojo described the reported deaths as deeply disturbing, stressing that the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of what happened.

He said the committee would establish the identities of the deceased and investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and deaths.

The committee is also expected to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct, and recommend appropriate sanctions, compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.

The Minister directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant personnel to fully cooperate with the investigation and ensure that all records and material evidence connected to the incident are preserved and made available to the panel.

“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” the Minister warned.

The committee is chaired by Mr Jonathan Kure, mni, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, while Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, will serve as Secretary.

Other members are retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; a representative of the Niger State Government; Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju; Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and Dr George Agbakahi, a public affairs analyst.

The committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister.

It has also been empowered to co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and receive memoranda from members of the public.

Meanwhile, 20 additional NSCDC personnel have been suspended in connection with the incident.

Those suspended include the Officer-in-Charge of Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; Station Guard personnel ASCI Hassan Mohammed and CCA Bala Mohammed; Arresting Officer/OIC Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday; Arresting Officers DCC Obafemi Elvis and CSC Annas Shitto Lamino; HOD Intelligence/Investigation, DCC Philip Ajayi; O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado; and Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed.

Others are IC Abdullahi Sale, IC Mohammed Sonfada, CAI Liman Abubakar, CAI Bala Usman, IC Mohammed Jiya, DSC Isah Suleiman, CAI Ahmed Wushishi, IC Sale Adamu, IC Haruna Mohammed, ASCI Aliyu Sallah and CAI Isah Sanusi.

The Minister expressed condolences to the families of those who died and appealed for calm as the independent investigation gets underway.

FG constitutes 10-member panel to probe deaths of 37 in NSCDC custody, suspends 20 officers