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Fentanyl: NDLEA busts lethal drug syndicate, arrests members in Anambra

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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

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NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency

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NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a wanted drug baron, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, alias Chisco Bee, allegedly operating under the cover of a businessman and hotelier.

According to a statement by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, his arrest was after weeks of intelligence and surveillance on his criminal activities.

Babafemi, said the 42-year-old Ibemesi, who is the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig Ltd, was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel, 66-68 Agbeke street, Ago palace way, Isolo Lagos in the early hours of Saturday after which he was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi street off Ago place way, Isolo where 42 jumbo bags and four cartoons of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 1,762.8 kilogrammes were recovered.

Also seized from him at the point of his arrest include: US$11,600; ⁠£2,000; €2,200 and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash.

Babafemi also said an attempt by a suspected drug syndicate operating at Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve, Ife South local government area, Osun state to load and distribute across the country large quantities of processed skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 11,135 kilogrammes were thwarted last Tuesday by NDLEA operatives after days of surveillance in the forest. Two trucks being used to transport the illicit consignments: a Volvo truck marked WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck with registration number AWK 713 YZ were seized and seven suspects arrested.

Those in custody in connection with the seizure are: Lucky Abiodun; Julius Amos; Victor Ngbikili; Sunday Oduegwu; Ibrahim Akanni; Eze Godstime; and Fred Ifeanyichukwu.

He said a total of 1,902.1 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered in parts of Edo state. While 184.1 kilogrammes was recovered along a bush path at Oza/Igbanke road, Igbanke, in Orhionmwon local government area last Thursday, 672 kilogrammes was evacuated from Utese forest, Ovia North East local government area on Friday, with 494 kilogrammes recovered from a Mercedes Benz car marked DE311BEN along Benin-Akure road where a suspect Felix Edah, 45, was arrested same day, just as Lucky Abagha, 51, was nabbed in another Mercedes Benz car marked JJJ 56 JW conveying 552 kilogrammes.

While four suspects: Micheal Okoh; Offor Agada; Raphael Nkemjika and Nwabueze Franklin were arrested with 68 kilogrammes skunk and 3.150 kilogrammes methamphetamine along Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun state, Danjuma Tukura, 50, was nabbed with 172 kilogrammes skunk at Sunkani area of Ardo Kola local government area, Taraba state on Friday and Wisdom Titus, 24, with 84 kilogrammes of same substance at Takum area of the state.

In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Friday recovered 396,000 capsules of tramadol from a suspect Ahmed Nda, 50, at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport Yola, while 785 kilogrammes of skunk was evacuated from the warehouse of a drug dealer currently at large at Asob Maraba Karu, Nasarawa state.

Two suspects: Jamiu Kardoso and Oriyomi Waliu were on Friday arrested with 130 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 65.150 kilogrammes in Surulere area of Lagos, just as Taofeek Moraina was nabbed same day with 282 blocks of Ghana Loud with a gross weight of 141 kilogrammes at Otto, Oyingbo area of Lagos.

In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives last Thursday intercepted a truck marked T- 0262KT along Ilorin – Jebba expressway conveying 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565 kilogrammes and 155 cartons of rubber solutions. The truck driver Umar Yakubu was taken into custody.

In another operation, a commercial bus with registration number KJA- 657CY was intercepted at Eiyenkonrin, Ilorin last Wednesday with 20 blocks of skunk concealed in a 50-litre jerry can recovered and the driver Ibrahim Bello arrested.

The commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa while commending the officers and men of the SOU, Osun, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Kwara commands for the arrests, and seizures, (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency

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Breaking! THREE MONTHS AFTER ARRAIGNMENT OF YELWATA AND PLATEAU MASSACRE SUSPECTS, DSS, SUSPECTED MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER

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Breaking!
THREE MONTHS AFTER ARRAIGNMENT OF YELWATA AND PLATEAU MASSACRE SUSPECTS, DSS, SUSPECTED MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER

▪︎Musa Abubakar Admits to Patronage From Armed Groups.

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have successfully disrupted a high target arms supply network linked to terrorist activities in Plateau and neighboring states.

The operation, which followed precise intelligence on November 12, 2025, led to the arrest of Musa Abubakar, an alleged key arms dealer.

A top security source, said: “The suspect confessed to having manufactured and distributed high-calibre weapons and ammunition to armed groups involved in violent attacks in Plateau State and other northern regions.”

His arrest reportedly followed credible intelligence on activities of the suspect, which led to a targeted raid on his arms manufacturing workshop located in the Mista Ali area of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State.

Prior to the raid, DSS operatives had conducted extensive surveillance on Abubakar’s residence and workshop to gather critical intelligence.

‘Abubakar was apprehended red-handed with various Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components, chemicals, and equipment, which have all been confiscated by DSS operatives’, added the source.

This significant arrest comes shortly after the recapture of Abdulazeez Obadaki, aka Bomboy, a Kuje Prison escapee who masterminded Owo and Deeperlife Church attacks.

These recent operational successes recorded by the DSS display the Agency’s commitment to combating terrorism and enhancing national security.

It could be recalled that the DSS arrested a total of 9 high-profile suspects involved in the Plateau and Benue attacks including Timna Manjol (46), who already pleaded guilty to two of four count charges including illegal possession of firearms in a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/451/2025. Manjo, of First Baptist Chuch, Mangu LGA, Plateau State.

Breaking!
THREE MONTHS AFTER ARRAIGNMENT OF YELWATA AND PLATEAU MASSACRE SUSPECTS, DSS, SUSPECTED MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER

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Bandits kill two, injure six in Ikara community attack

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Bandits kill two, injure six in Ikara community attack

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have killed two residents and injured six others during an attack on Gidan Duma in Gangarida village, Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at about 12:35 a.m. on Friday.

The source said the gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the residence of one Yakubu Samaila, 37, and abducted him after firing multiple shots.

According to sources , members of the community mobilised in an attempt to rescue the victim, during which Samaila managed to escape with gunshot wounds.

The sources said two other residents Ibrahim Isah, 45, and Solomon Ishaya, were shot and fatally injured during the confrontation.

“Four others, namely Irimiyah Samaila, Halilu Isah, Abel Markus, and Elkana Mohammed, all from Katsinawa village, also sustained various gunshot injuries,” the source added.

The sourcss disclosed that security teams were mobilised to the area and evacuated the injured victims to the hospital for treatment.

Those confirmed dead were certified at the hospital, while the injured are currently receiving treatment at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria.

The source added that intensified operations were ongoing to track down the attackers.

“Investigation has commenced and further updates will be communicated,” he said.

Bandits kill two, injure six in Ikara community attack

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