Crime
Grandma, pregnant woman in NDLEA nets for drug offence
Grandma, pregnant woman in NDLEA nets for drug offence
By: Michael Mike
Two women, a 60-year-old grandmother and a pregnant woman, were among those arrested during interdiction operations by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) across five states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the past week, during
which 5,527.15 kilogrammes of methamphetamine and cannabis sativa, as well as 132,090 tablets of tramadol and 2,000 bottles of codeine were recovered.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti- narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the grandma, Mrs. Ibinosun Esther was arrested in Ibadan, Oyo state in a follow up operation following the seizure of 5.5 kilogrammes Loud variant of cannabis imported into the country from South Africa.
According to Babafemi, the grandma claimed the consignment, was sent to her by her daughter and concealed in two giant Speakers as part of a consolidated cargo that arrived the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos on board an Air Peace Airline flight.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives also on Saturday 26th November intercepted 1.4 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed inside custard tins packed among cosmetics and foodstuffs going to Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.
Babafemi said a cargo agent, Salako Omolara who brought the bag containing the illicit drug to the airport and an intending passenger to Brazil, Anyanwu Christian who was to travel with the consignment were promptly arrested.
He said another attempt by a freight agent, Adebisi Aina to export 3,000 tablets of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts to Banjul, Gambia through the NAHCO export shed was equally thwarted by operatives who seized the consignment and arrested her on Monday 28th November, while a follow up operation to Ebute-Meta area of Lagos the following day, Tuesday 29th November led to the arrest of the alleged actual owner, Afam Chibuke, who is a spare parts seller.
He noted that this was followed by the seizure of 100,000 tablets of Royal brand of Tramadol 200mg with a gross weight of 68.9 kilogrammes imported from Karachi, Pakistan on Ethiopian Airlines at the SAHCO import shed.
He disclosed that in Abuja, operatives stormed the warehouse of a notorious drug lord and an ex-convict, Ibrahim Momoh, alias ‘Ibrahim Bendel’ who escaped from prison custody to return to his criminal trade and recovered 81 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,278 kilogrammes.
He said though Though the fleeing drug dealer is still at large and is wanted by the agency, his warehouse keeper, 55-year-old Ghanaian, Richard Forson was arrested.
He noted that Ibrahim Momoh was first arrested on 27th November, 2014 with the same substance weighing 385.1 kilogrammes. He subsequently prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on 22nd April, 2020 but escaped from jail after three months.
He also disclosed that no fewer than 2,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were seized in a commercial bus by operatives on Friday 2nd December along Lokoja – Abuja expressway.
In Rivers state, operatives on Saturday arrested a 29-year-old pregnant woman, Kate Ibinabo with 34.4 kilogrammes cannabis sativa in Okrika area of the state.
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He said the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), has however directed that she be granted administrative bail pending when she’s delivered of her baby and thereafter return for her prosecution because at the time of her arrest, she’s in her ninth month of pregnancy.
In Ondo state, 241 bags of the psychoactive substance with a gross weight of 3,133 kilogrammes were recovered from a building at Ilale Cashew, Ehinogbe, Owo, last Tuesday; and at least, 507.9 kilogrammes of cannabis were also seized during a raid at the hideout of a fleeing drug dealer in Mushin area of Lagos last Thursday.
In Cross River, 53 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 567.05 kilogrammes were seized from three suspects: Bassey Boniface, 38; Effiong Akiba, 30 and Ngbong Raymond, 45 at Mpara junction, Odukpani local government area last Thursday while conveying the consignment in a bus marked CKK 74 AA.
Babafemi said operatives equally arrested another suspect, Ali Mohammed along Potiskum- Damaturu road after they found 29,090 tablets of tramadol in his personal Honda car marked ABC 914 RW coming from Gombe to Damaturu, Yobe state.
Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Rivers, Ondo, Lagos, Cross River and Yobe commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, Marwa charged them and their counterparts across other formations to continue to step up their offensives against drug cartels.
Grandma, pregnant woman in NDLEA nets for drug offence
Crime
Terrorism: Woman bags 20 years jail term on DSS Charges of Unlawful Possession of 302 Rounds of Live Ammunition
Terrorism: Woman bags 20 years jail term on DSS Charges of Unlawful Possession of 302 Rounds of Live Ammunition
By: Zagazola Makama
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday sentenced a housewife, Halima Haliru Umar, to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and supporting acts of terrorism.
The sentence was handed down by Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa after the defendant pleaded guilty to two out of a four-count charge filed against her by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Yilwa held that the growing menace of banditry and terrorism in the country had become a serious threat to national security and should not be handled with leniency.
The judge noted that although the convict appeared remorseful and pleaded for mercy, offences connected to terrorism and arms trafficking remained grave threats to the safety of citizens.
The court heard that the convict admitted serving as a courier for the transportation of ammunition intended for bandits operating in Plateau State.
During the trial, the first prosecution witness and DSS operative, Fahad Tahir, told the court that the accused was arrested on July 6, 2025, with 302 rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition and N57,100 cash while allegedly transporting the items to armed bandits in Plateau.
According to Tahir, the defendant made a confessional statement in Hausa language at the DSS Plateau State Command, where she disclosed that one Alhaji Sani had sent her to Zaria in Kaduna State to procure the ammunition from another individual.
The witness further stated that the accused was later transferred to the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja on Aug. 11, 2025, where another interview was conducted in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.
He said the defendant again admitted ownership and transportation of the ammunition and cash exhibits.
The prosecution counsel, Dr. Callistus Samson Ezeh, tendered the 302 rounds of ammunition, the cash sum of N57,100, and the defendant’s statements as exhibits before the court.
The exhibits were admitted without objection from defence counsel, Hamza Dantani.
In open court, the defendant also admitted being in possession of the ammunition and cash at the time of her arrest.
One of the charges stated that the convict knowingly rendered support for acts of terrorism by transporting 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition between Katsina and Plateau States, contrary to Section 13(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another charge accused her of unlawful possession of ammunition contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004.
The DSS also accused the defendant of concealing information about suspected gunrunners and kidnappers allegedly linked to terrorist activities.
Following her guilty plea and review of the evidence presented, Justice Yilwa convicted and sentenced the defendant to 20 years imprisonment.
Terrorism: Woman bags 20 years jail term on DSS Charges of Unlawful Possession of 302 Rounds of Live Ammunition
Troops Discover 7,800 Litres of Stolen Crude Oil in Rivers State
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 343 Artillery Regiment (Army) deployed at Oando Oil Company in Omoku have uncovered a large cache of illegally refined crude oil concealed within the riverine area of Ebocha Egi LII in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Security sources said the discovery was made at about 9:40 a.m. on May 13 during a routine patrol and surveillance operation in the area.
The troops reportedly recovered about 7,800 litres of suspected illegally refined crude oil, stored in 130 sacks and concealed along the riverine corridor.
According to the sources , the recovered products were handled in line with existing directives under Operation Delta Safe.
Military authorities stated that follow-up operations were ongoing to track down individuals and networks involved in crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in the region.
Troops Discover 7,800 Litres of Stolen Crude Oil in Rivers State
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 16 Brigade Garrison operating under the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), have intercepted a vehicle conveying about 400 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Security sources said the interception occurred at about 3:10 p.m. on May 12, 2026, along the Oruma–Kolocreek road during ongoing anti-illegal bunkering operations in the area.
According to the sources, the suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled upon sighting the troops approaching the area.
The vehicle and the illegally refined petroleum products were subsequently handled in accordance with operational directives guiding Operation Delta Safe activities.
The military has sustained operations across the Niger Delta to curb crude oil theft, illegal refining and related economic sabotage threatening the nation’s oil infrastructure.
Troops Intercept Vehicle Conveying Illegal Diesel in Bayelsa
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