Connect with us

Crime

Ex-footballer, Brazilian returnee arrested at Lagos airport for cocaine trafficking

Published

on

Ex-footballer, Brazilian returnee arrested at Lagos airport for cocaine trafficking

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested an ex-footballer, Okafor Emmanuel Junior at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on his arrival from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa.

Okafor who was arrested last Monday on board an Ethiopian airlines flight had 1.40 crack cocaine concealed in his bags.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the 33-year-old was arrested after anti-narcotic officers discovered he concealed the illicit substance in the handles of his bags and padded the top edges of same with the class A drug.

Babafemi said during preliminary interrogation, Okafor disclosed that he was an ex-footballer with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH Enugu FC, where he played for four seasons before leaving for Sri Lanka in 2014. He further stated that he moved to Brazil from Sri Lanka after playing for two seasons but could not advance his football career in Brazil due to lack of official documents.

The spokesman also revealed that another Brazilian returnee, Ibeh Chinedu was arrested same day upon his arrival at the Lagos airport from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Ethiopian airlines flight. Ibeh was found to have concealed 3.2 kilogrammes black cocaine popularly known as ‘Lucci’ in false bottoms of his two bags.

According to Babafemi, Ibeh in his statement, said he was to be paid N3.1 million on successful delivery of the drug in Nigeria.

In the same vein, attempt by a 32-year-old businesswoman, Mrs. Pamela Odin to traffic 2.15 kilogrammes tablets of rohypnol through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Istanbul, Turkey has been thwarted by NDLEA operatives.

Odin, the mother of one was arrested on Friday 23rd Sept. while attempting to board a Turkish airline flight with the drug concealed inside pepper and packed among foodstuff.

She disclosed to operatives that she operates a restaurant in Istanbul, Turkey but came to Nigeria to see her relatives and buy food items for her restaurant business.

Meanwhile, two Malians: Mohammed Demoele, 38 and Coulibaly Maliki, 56, have been arrested by officers of the Marine Unit of NDLEA at Ebute Ero jetty in Lagos for attempting to export 34.2 kilogrammes bottles of new psychoactive substance, Akuskura to Mali through Cotonou, Benin Republic.

In Taraba state, operatives last Thursday intercepted 100 compressed blocks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 73.5 kilogrammes concealed inside animal feeds, while their counterparts in Ogun state last Saturday arrested a physically challenged drug dealer, Abdulraham Mohammed, with 104 kilogrammes of compressed cannabis sativa recovered from him. Another suspect, Ms. Safiya Bello, was also arrested in Shagamu area of the state with 27 kilogrammes of the psychotropic substance.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of Seaports Operations, MMIA, Ogun, and Taraba Commands for their resilience, while charging them and others across the country to intensify ongoing offensive action against drug cartels and traffickers wherever they may be located in any part of Nigeria.

Ex-footballer, Brazilian returnee arrested at Lagos airport for cocaine trafficking

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crime

Four abducted in bandit attack in Munya, Niger

Published

on

Four abducted in bandit attack in Munya, Niger

By: Zagazola Makama

At least four persons were abducted by suspected armed bandits in Munya Local Government Area of the state.

Sources said the incident occurred at about 10:45 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, when bandits invaded Siyona community via Mangorota, Kabula Ward in Munya LGA.

Sources said the attackers kidnapped four residents of the community and took them to an unknown destination.

The victims were identified as Iya Bulus, 20; Lami Bulus, 30; Ayelo Elisha, 15; and Soja Elisha, 15. They are all members of the Siyona–Mangorota community and of the Bagyi ethnic group.

The source said information about the attack was received at about 11:00 p.m. the same night. On receipt of the information, the troops of the Nigerian Army, police and vigilante personnel were swiftly mobilized to the scene.

The sources added that on arrival, the bandits had already fled with their captives.

According to the sources, intensive monitoring and intelligence gathering are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of the perpetrators.

Four abducted in bandit attack in Munya, Niger

Continue Reading

Crime

‎Nigerian Army’s 2 division launches operation Igbo Danu (operation forest flush) ….crushes terrorists in kwara state

Published

on

‎Nigerian Army’s 2 division launches operation Igbo Danu (operation forest flush) ….crushes terrorists in kwara state

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade of the Nigerian Army with massive support from the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) has sustained coordinated offensive operations against terrorists within the Joint Operations Area (JOA), achieving notable successes between 23 and 29 January 2026.

‎These operations were conducted under the leadership of Major General Chinedu Nnebife, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 3, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY), alongside Brigadier General Nicholas Rume, the Commander 22 Brigade.

A statement by captain Maureen Ogbuka for Acting Deputy Director 2 Division Army Public Relations Nigerian Army/ Sector 3 Operations FANSAN YAMMA noted that their efforts reflected a high operational responsiveness and determination to dismantle terrorist networks in the general area.

‎The statement noted that “in the engagements, troops , in collaboration with the ONSA conducted fighting patrols in several bandits enclaves.

“They successfully neutralised a terrorist, while others managed to escape into the forest with suspected gunshot wounds. Their hideouts and camps were completely destroyed leaving the brigands dislodged.

‎”Similarly, troops cleared Garin Dandi, a known enclave of bandits in the Ifelodun council Area of Kwara State leading to the decimation of the bandits logistics bases and supply system.

‎”‎Troops also stormed remote camps hitherto inaccessible to security forces where several abandoned camps and logistics enablers were destroyed significantly degrading the terrorists’ sustainment capability.

‎”‎Despite the difficult and restrictive terrain, troops maintained an aggressive posture throughout the forested areas, effectively denying the bandits freedom of movement.

“Furthermore, troops intercepted fleeing elements at various blocking positions, leading to the arrest of suspected bandits.

” The operations also resulted in the rescue of numerous kidnap victims from different camps in the state.

‎”Observations from the operations indicate that bandits receive support from collaborators within nearby communities, who provide intelligence on troop movements, enabling early withdrawal from targeted locations.

” The successes recorded underscored the resolve and operational effectiveness of the Divison in degrading terrorist elements and restoring security across Kwara State.

‎”The GOC 2 Division Nigerian Army has called on members of the public to continue to provide credible and timely information on bandits and their collaborators to enhance ongoing operations. The operation is ongoing to deal decisively with all terrorist networks operating within Kwara State.” Said the statement.

‎Nigerian Army’s 2 division launches operation Igbo Danu (operation forest flush) ….crushes terrorists in kwara state

Continue Reading

Crime

Troops repel attack in Benue, kill four bandits, recover AK-47

Published

on

Troops repel attack in Benue, kill four bandits, recover AK-47

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops in Benue have repelled an attack on its personnel at a checkpoint in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, killing four suspected armed bandits and recovering an AK-47 rifle and ammunition.

Zagazola gathered that operatives of Operation Zenda Joint Task Force were on stop-and-search duty at the Otukpa/Orakam checkpoint at about 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 29 when they stopped a black Golf 3 car for a routine search.

“The occupants resisted the search, pulled out firearms and engaged the policemen in a shootout,” the source said.

During the exchange, four of the bandits sustained fatal injuries. They were rushed to a hospital where they later died while receiving treatment. One suspect reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds.

Items recovered from the scene included one AK-47 rifle with breech number 1960, 15 rounds of ammunition, a black Golf 3 vehicle with registration number KEF 909 ES, and assorted criminal charms.

The sources said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest the fleeing suspect.

Troops repel attack in Benue, kill four bandits, recover AK-47

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights