Crime
Fentanyl: NDLEA busts lethal drug syndicate, arrests members in Anambra
Fentanyl: NDLEA busts lethal drug syndicate, arrests members in Anambra
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested members of a syndicate involved in the illicit importation and trafficking of lethal synthetic opioid, Fentanyl,
Fentanyl is a drug which is 100 times stronger than tramadol and capable of causing mass casualty among the youth population being targeted by the cartels.
In a press statement on Tuesday, the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the arrest of two members of the syndicate: Odoh Oguejiofor and Oliver Uzoma at Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, Onitsha South local government area of Anambra State, in well-coordinated and clinical operations, is coming on the heels of an alert issued by the NDLEA on 22nd November 2022 that some criminal elements were plotting to flood the Nigerian market with the drug, which is currently responsible for over 70% overdose deaths as well as a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States.
Babafemi recalled that the CDC in the US, had described Fentanyl as 80 times as potent as morphine and 100 times more potent than heroin.
The NDLEA Spokesman said following credible intelligence and synergy with local and international partners, the anti-narcotics agency was able to mobilise necessary assets to trace the illicitly manufactured drug to the Ogbogwu market, Onitsha Head Bridge, reputed to be the largest drug market in West Africa, after months of undercover monitoring.
He said convinced that the agency has gathered sufficient evidence to nail the suspects, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) ordered a deployment of operatives to pick members of the syndicate one after the other. Odoh Oguejiofor was the first to be arrested while on a business mission with packets of 100 micrograms of Fentanyl, while the arrest of Uzoma who is a major dealer in other illicitly manufactured pharmaceutical opioids including Fentanyl, followed.
He disclosed that packs of liquid Fentanyl were recovered from Odoh, different quantities of banned and controlled drugs including Fentanyl were seized from Uzoma. They include: ampules of Fentanyl Injection; Ozempic solution for injection in pre-filled pens; ampules of Sustanon 250mg/ml; ampules of Rivavirin injection 200mg/2ml; ampules of Erythropoietin injection; ampules of Recombinant Anti Rho-D Immunoglobulin injection 300MG; ampules of Pethidine 100mg/2ml solution for injection and Zoladex 3.6mg Goserelin.
Reacting to the arrest of members of the syndicate, Marwa commended all officers and men of the agency involved in the operation while directing them to intensify the crackdown on other members of the cartel who may have gone underground.
Marwa said: “We’ll no doubt hunt down every member of this criminal gang before they do further harm to our public health especially our youth population. In the meantime, I’ll like to thank our international partners for the huge confidence in us and their support and partnership for the benefit of humanity. In the same vein, I’ll urge parents and other stakeholders to be vigilant, alert and warn their young ones against attempting experimenting with this illicit substance.”
“The agency wishes to reiterate that exposure to this lethal opioid, which could come in different forms, as has been shown by the seizure, may result in pinpoint pupils, falling asleep or losing consciousness, slow and shallow breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, limp body, and pale, blue, or cold skin,” Marwa explained.
Fentanyl: NDLEA busts lethal drug syndicate, arrests members in Anambra
Police repel Boko Haram attack on Gujba Division in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
The Yobe State Police Command says it has successfully repelled a coordinated attack by suspected Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) elements on the Gujba Police Division in Gujba Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred late Thursday night but was promptly resisted by officers on duty at the formation.
According to the source, there was no casualty recorded among police personnel during the attack, while no arms were lost and no damage was done to patrol vehicles.
“The hoodlums were repelled promptly. There was no casualty on our personnel, no arm was lost and no patrol vehicle was damaged,” the source said.
He added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Gujba Division was conducting a detailed assessment of the incident and would submit a comprehensive report to the command.
The source noted that Gujba and its environs remained one of the notorious flashpoints for insurgent activities in Yobe State.
As at the time of filing this report, the Yobe State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while security around the area had been reinforced to forestall further attacks.
Police repel Boko Haram attack on Gujba Division in Yobe
Troops repel terrorist infiltration attempt near Bitta, kill key fighter
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have decimated terrorists from the Mandara Mountains during an early-morning attempt to infiltrate Bitta community in Borno.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Thursday when troops, operating surveillance systems, detected the movement of the terrorists advancing toward the area.
According to the sources, the troops tactically allowed the insurgents to enter a designated killing range before unleashing coordinated defensive fire, neutralising several of the attackers, including a top terrorist fighter and his cameraman.
The sources added that follow-on precision strikes were subsequently conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, further decimating the fleeing insurgents.
Items recovered from the scene included a camcorder, AK-47 rifles, bandoliers, hand-held radios, PKT machine guns, several belts of PKT and GPMG-linked ammunition, as well as motorcycles and bicycles.
During exploitation of the area, troops reportedly traced several blood trails and discovered shallow graves, indicating additional casualties inflicted on the terrorists during the encounter.
Troops repel terrorist infiltration attempt near Bitta, kill key fighter
Eight police personnel injured in road accident in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Eight police personnel and eight other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries in a motor vehicle accident along the Rann–Maiduguri axis in Borno State.
Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at about 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at Musene village in Ngala Local Government Area.
The source said the accident involved a Toyota Hilux patrol vehicle conveying police personnel escorting electoral materials and officials of the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) from Rann to Maiduguri, and a Sharon car.
According to the source, the vehicles had a head-on collision due to poor visibility caused by heavy dust along the road.
The injured police personnel were all attached to Kal-Balge Division.
The source added that eight passengers in the Sharon car, including an immigration officer whose identity was not disclosed, also sustained injuries.
Following the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ngala led a Motor Traffic Department (MTD) team to the scene, where photographs and relevant measurements were taken.
The sources said that all the injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital, Ngala, where they are currently receiving treatment and responding positively, the source said.
The case is under investigation.
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