Three Nigerian Nationals in Saudi Arabia Detention for Alleged Drug Trafficking Released

By: Michael Mike

Three Nigerians arrested and prosecuted for drug trafficking on 5th March 2024 in Saudi Arabia has been released after spending 10 months in detention.

The trio are Hadiza Abba, Fatima Umate Malah and Fatima Kannai Gamboi and were at Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Azeez International Airport Madinah, Saudi Arabia for alleged drug trafficking.

Announcing their release in a statement on Sunday, the acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that three Nigerian nationals, Hadiza Abba, Fatima Umate Malah and Fatima Kannai Gamboi, arrested and prosecuted for drug trafficking on 5th March 2024 at Prince Mohammad bin Abdul Azeez International Airport Madinah, Saudi Arabia, has been released after spending 10 months in detention.

“The arrest of the three women was a result of the earlier arrest of two Nigerian nationals who were found in possession of 80 capsules of cocaine weighing 900.28 grammes and 70 capsules of cocaine weighing 789.5 grammes, respectively. The women were detained by the Saudi authorities on suspicion of being accomplices and abating the trafficking of the banned substance found on the aforementioned arrested Nigerians.”

The spokesperson added that: “The Ministry wishes to recall that the trio’s arrest attracted much attention in the Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. Their successful release was achieved after prolonged diplomatic and legal engagements, which culminated in their discharge and acquittal, as well as subsequent handover to the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Jedda.

“The ladies were received by Ambassador Muazam Nayaya, the Honourable Consul-General of Nigeria in Jeddah and currently awaiting relevant immigration processes for their return to Nigeria to reunite with their families.”

Three Nigerian Nationals in Saudi Arabia Detention for Alleged Drug Trafficking Released

Wanted drug kingpin, Nollywood filmmaker arrested over huge illicit drug shipments

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA have arrested a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Ajoke Elediye on new year day in her mansion at Okota area of Lagos following the interception of a truckload of illicit drug consignment from her staff same day.

Alhaji Ajoke known in the drug underworld and social circle as “Iya Ruka”, has her true identity shrouded in mystery for years while she remained on the wanted list of NDLEA for leading one of the drug cartels operating from Mushin area of Lagos. The lid was however blown off her invincibility last Wednesday when NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilogrammes of imported cannabis and driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.

The operatives subsequently stormed her hideout at 33 Adebayo Oyewole street, off Ago Palace way, Okota, where she was arrested.

According to the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, on the surface, Alhaja Ajoke is a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China but beneath is a massive illicit drug trade. She is also recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.

Babafemi said in another major operation, NDLEA officers on Friday 27th December 2024 arrested a US-trained Hollywood and Nollywood filmmaker, Emeka Mbadiwe, who is also a motivational speaker at his Lekki Hotel room following the arrest of his partner, Uzoekwe Ugochukwu, earlier same day at a warehouse in Ajao estate Ikeja, where he was sent by Mbadiwe to collect a shipment of 33 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 17.3 kilogrammes, which arrived the Import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on 24th December 2024 from the United States on a Delta Airline flight, concealed in large wooden boxes.

In Kwara state, a fresh graduate Khadijat Abdulraheem, 24, and a 20-year-old student of the University of Ilorin, Ayomide Morakinyo were on Sunday 29th December 2024 arrested by NDLEA operatives at Tanke-University of Ilorin road, Oke Odo, Ilorin based on credible intelligence that they were producing and selling drug laced cupcakes to students in the community. When their apartment was searched, 42 pieces of drugged cakes were recovered from them.

Babafemi also said an ex-convict, Sodade Eniola, who was arrested by operatives of the Tincan Command of NDLEA in June, 2024, for drug trafficking, prosecuted and sentenced to four years in prison has been arrested again by officers of the MMIA Strategic Command of the agency for passport racketeering. Earlier, when he was convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos on 14th June 2024, the trial judge gave him an option of paying N750,000 fine, which he paid and was let go.

The spokesman said however, in series of operations in December 2024, NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Lagos airport intercepted no fewer than 52 passports of different countries from shipments going to Canada, Russia, and other countries concealed in shoe soles and food items. Further investigations led to the arrest of four members of three syndicates involved in the racket.

The arrested suspects include: Sodade Eniola; Ayinde Awwal; Salaudeen Ayode; and Sheriff Bamigbade. Both the exhibits and the suspects were last Monday handed over to the Zonal Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Lagos for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Babafemi said not less than 316, 800 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from two containers by NDLEA officers at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne Rivers state during a joint examination of the shipments with men of Nigeria Customs and other security agencies last Tuesday. He disclosed that the seizure followed credible intelligence processed by the Port Harcourt Port Command of the agency.

In Kano, NDLEA operatives last Tuesday 31st December 2024 raided Mafarki, Dan Dishe area of Dala LG where they recovered 149,090 pills of tramadol and exol-5 from a local dealer, 45-year-old Ismail Muhammad.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, 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 among others in the past week.

Meanwhile while commending the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Kano, PHPC and Kwara Commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

Wanted drug kingpin, Nollywood filmmaker arrested over huge illicit drug shipments

Again, NAF Airstrikes Suyanized Boko Haram Terrorists, Destroy Vehicles in Mandara Mountains

By: Zagazola Makama

On January 2, 2025, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) under the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) launched a precision airstrike targeting a suspected terrorist logistics hub in Wulade, nestled in the Mandara Mountains.

The operation, which struck an area believed to serve as a marketplace for exchanging logistics among terrorists, resulted in the suyanisation of several insurgents and the destruction of their vehicles.

Intelligence told Zagazola Makama that the airstrike followed credible intelligence indicating that the location was being used for strategic meetings and the coordination of terrorist activities.

“The strike was executed with pinpoint accuracy, taking out a significant number of terrorists and disrupting their logistics network,” the source stated.

Wulade, situated within the rugged terrain of the Mandara Mountains, has long been a challenging area for counter insurgency operations due to its difficult topography. However, advancements in aerial surveillance and precision targeting have bolstered the military’s capacity to identify and neutralize threats in such areas.

Again, NAF Airstrikes Suyanized Boko Haram Terrorists, Destroy Vehicles in Mandara Mountains