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Insecurity: Go all out for drug barons, cartels, Marwa charges NDLEA commanders
Insecurity: Go all out for drug barons, cartels, Marwa charges NDLEA commanders
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has declared all round war against drug barons, instructing all commanders of the agency at different level to go all out and smoke out those still in hiding.
He as well ordered for the dismantling of all drug cartels as part of ongoing efforts to totally cut off drug supply which he insisted would drastically reduced growing insecurity and criminalities in the country.
Marwa gave the charge in his meeting with directors and all commanding officers of the agency at the national headquarters of the NDLEA in Abuja, where he commended them for the unprecedented successes achieved so far and tasked them not to rest on their oars.
He said no effort must be spared to remove illicit drug equation from the security challenges facing the country.
According to him, “Within the limit of our resources, we have been able to push boundaries. The statistics of our operations, empirical facts from the field, the general anti-illicit drug climate we have built and the rapport between us and our domestic and international partners, all speak volumes about how we are faring, especially against the backdrop of where we are coming from, of what the situation used to be a few years ago.
“Commendations apart, we also cannot afford not to tell ourselves the plain truth; we still have a long way to go. Hence commanders, officers and men of NDLEA can’t afford to rest on their oars.
“Yes, we have kept the flag of performance flying, but there’s still room for improvement. There is still much to do. And we cannot afford to be complacent now as we have committed to a lot of ongoing efforts to improve our operational capabilities. We are constantly engaging stakeholders within and outside the country to support and help optimise our capabilities. So, if anything, our performance should justify these ongoing efforts. We need to remind ourselves that to achieve our mandate, professionalism and discipline must be maintained at all times and in all our operations.
“We’re working with relevant authorities for improved funding so that we can comprehensively and holistically play our role as part and parcel of the solution to the security challenges facing the nation because if we are able to totally cut the access to and availability of drugs to the criminals, we would have effectively tampered with their nefarious activities and so we’re going to plead for enhanced funding to do more things in support of the fight against insecurity and I trust that the President will give us a listening ear because he’s interested in the progress of the NDLEA.
“This year, we want to raise the bar of our performance and this calls for commanders who are up to the task to be up and doing on the job. We must clean our streets and communities of illicit substances. We all are witnesses to the upsurge in the cases of kidnapping and such vices, this means NDLEA must remain upstanding. For those who have been watching and listening, recently, there is another demand by kidnappers and bandits aside money, which is drugs. In that sense, it means NDLEA is working because they don’t ask for it before, meaning that they’re no longer as available as they used to be and the prices of those available have gone beyond their reach.”
He charged the commanders to always ensure that the corporate integrity of the agency is always protected in all they do. He said: “Therefore, every command must shun any act capable of bringing into disrepute the hard-earned reputation of NDLEA. Where inappropriate actions occur, the management certainly will not overlook it. There will be penalties, just as there are rewards for good conduct, hard work and results. Now, the onus is on every commander to ensure the protection of our corporate integrity.”
While assuring that he remains committed to staff welfare including conducive work environment, allowances, remuneration and entitlements, and the basic welfare package, he asked the commanders to replicate such in their various commands.
He however warned that Commanders will have to justify their retention in Command positions with their performance.
“We have applied meritocracy to the rank and file; it is also fair to apply the same standard to the leadership. The implication for commanders is that your retention in command positions will henceforth be measured by your performance, which will be reviewed every quarter. In the new NDLEA, there is no room for laggards, and there are no excuses for laxity. Where there is a clear deficit of leadership, at zonal, state or area command, the agency will not hesitate to review and make a change of leadership, if necessary. This year, we want to raise the bar of our performance and that calls for having commanders who are up to the task.
“Our jobs are clearly defined: We must clean our streets and communities of illicit substances. Therefore, go and perform and let’s see greater results in the weeks ahead. And I assure you that at any time, you need backup, we are here to provide the necessary reinforcement. On this note, I want to implore commanders to let us keep our eyes on the ball. Let’s be prepared to work hard in 2024 and achieve unprecedented goals.”
Insecurity: Go all out for drug barons, cartels, Marwa charges NDLEA commanders
News
NDLEA Arrests Ex-Lagos Councillor, Uncovers Drugs Hidden in Baby Diapers, Intercepts IED Components
NDLEA Arrests Ex-Lagos Councillor, Uncovers Drugs Hidden in Baby Diapers, Intercepts IED Components
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intensified their nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking, arresting a former Lagos councillor and uncovering a series of drug consignments concealed in unusual ways, including inside baby diapers, while also intercepting components suspected to be meant for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
In one of the most striking arrests, NDLEA officers apprehended Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, a former two-term councillor in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, following intelligence linking him to illicit drug activities.
Olalekan, 45, who represented the Orimedu community during his tenure and currently serves as a legislative aide, was arrested on March 2 at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki. A search of his home led to the discovery of 40 kilogrammes of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, hidden in one of the rooms.
According to the agency, the suspect admitted ownership of both the drugs and the property where they were recovered.
In a separate operation in Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted a businessman, Emeka Okwor, 32, travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory.
During a search of his luggage, officers discovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg concealed inside baby diapers. The suspect reportedly confessed that he was transporting the drugs to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he operates a provision store.
On the same day, NDLEA patrol officers along the Kabba–Obajana highway in Kogi State intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 1.55 kilogrammes, concealed inside a carton of a standing fan.
According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the drugs were traced to a 36-year-old Cameroonian national, Mey Ali Muhamat, who was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon through Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri.
In another security-related development, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Mokwa–Jebba road in Niger State intercepted a commercial bus transporting 500 components suspected to be used for improvised explosive devices.
The items were concealed in a white sack and were reportedly meant to be delivered to a recipient in Pelegi community. Babafemi said a swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Mashegu Local Government Area.
The agency also recorded major drug seizures in other parts of the country. In Yola, Adamawa State, NDLEA officers uncovered 122,000 tramadol pills and 700 grammes of methamphetamine hidden in a false compartment of a truck carrying 2,000 cartons of local drinks.
In Kano State, a 20-year-old suspect, Muhammed Ali, was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa with 11,283 tramadol pills.
Similarly, operatives in Ogun State raided a drug hideout in Ogere, arresting Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa with 46 kilogrammes of skunk.
In Delta State, two suspects — Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22 — were apprehended in Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63 kilogrammes of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.
A major cannabis cultivation site was also dismantled in Edo State, where NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Eke London, 48, and Austin Isusi, 49, at Egbisi forest in Uhumwonde Local Government Area and destroyed 1,910.25 kilogrammes of skunk on two farms.
Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was arrested in Ikhin town, Owan East Local Government Area, with 176.5 kilogrammes of skunk.
Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said it continued to expand its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, religious centres and communities nationwide.
The outreach programmes included awareness lectures in several secondary schools across Oyo, Niger, Zamfara, Lagos, Sokoto, Ebonyi and Anambra states.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Maj. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.) commended officers across the Lagos, FCT, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Delta and Adamawa commands for the arrests and seizures.
He urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced strategy of aggressive enforcement alongside public education aimed at reducing drug abuse and trafficking across the country.
NDLEA Arrests Ex-Lagos Councillor, Uncovers Drugs Hidden in Baby Diapers, Intercepts IED Components
Passenger stabbed to death after minor accident in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
A minor road accident in Bayo Local Government Area of Borno on Saturday turned fatal after a passenger was allegedly stabbed to death during a dispute that followed the incident.
Sources said the incident occurred on March 7 at about 5:30 p.m. at Gamadadi involving a Golf vehicle and a motorcycle.
The Golf vehicle with registration number FUG 283 AE, Edo, driven by Danjuma Abdullahi of Kodom Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, was conveying five passengers from Biu to Gombe State when the accident occurred.
The motorcycle, a TVS model with registration number ABM 340 QA, Abuja, was ridden by Abdullahi Umar of Dadi Kowa and had two passengers identified as Abubakar Musa and Yahaya Ibrahim.
According to police, the motorcyclist attempted to overtake the vehicle from the passenger side but collided with it and fell.
As a result of the crash, the rider and one of the passengers, Abubakar Musa, sustained minor injuries.
However, in the aftermath of the accident, Yahaya Ibrahim, 30, allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the vehicle passengers, Ahmed Mohammed, 27, of Tudun Wada Fantami in Gombe State, on the leg.
Police said the suspect also smashed the front windshield of the vehicle with a heavy stone.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Bayo led a patrol team to the scene where the victim was found in a pool of blood.
He was rushed to the Cottage Hospital in Hinna but was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor.
The suspect has been arrested and the weapon used in the attack recovered as an exhibit.
Police said the corpse was photographed and later released to the victim’s family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
Passenger stabbed to death after minor accident in Borno
Troops repel bandit attack in Zamfara community
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Fansan Yanma, in collaboration with police tactical teams, have repelled a bandit attack on Yankaba Village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara.
Security sources said the incident occurred on March 7 at about 6:00 p.m. when suspected armed bandits stormed the community, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents.
The sources said troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA along with other security agencies were swiftly deployed to engaged the terrorists in a gun battle.
According to the sources, the bandits were forced to retreat after encountering superior firepower from the troops. The attackers subsequently abandoned their mission and fled the area.
Troops have since intensified patrols and surveillance in the community to forestall further attacks.
The sources added that monitoring and security operations were ongoing in the area to ensure the safety of residents.
Troops repel bandit attack in Zamfara community
NDLEA Arrests Ex-Lagos Councillor, Uncovers Drugs Hidden in Baby Diapers, Intercepts IED Components
Passenger stabbed to death after minor accident in Borno
Troops repel bandit attack in Zamfara community
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