Crime

NDLEA arrests Lagos airport cleaner who leads drug syndicate

Published

4 years ago

August 28, 2022

Ochuwa Ibrahim

NDLEA arrests Lagos airport cleaner who leads drug syndicate

By Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a cleaner at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Sunday Ohiagu, alleged to be the lead of a drug syndicate at the international wing of the airport.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said Ohiagu was nabbed last Tuesday following the arrest of an intending passenger on Air Peace flight to Dubai, UAE, Obinna Osita who was arrested with three bags, two of which contained eight blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 4.25 kilogrammes concealed in cassava product, gari and crayfish.

Babafemi said one other member of the airport syndicate who works with Ohiagu has also been arrested while operatives are after another suspect.

He said investigations revealed that a Dubai-based drug dealer recruited 42-year old Obinna, to traffic the drugs and equally contracted Ohiagu, a 34-year-old airport cleaner to create access for the unhindered passage of the trafficker.

He said the drug syndicate bust, which is the first drug arrest at the new terminal of the MMIA comes on the heels of the seizure of a consignment of bottles of Viju and Fearless energy drinks used to conceal skunk for export to Dubai, UAE through the NAHCO export shed on Monday 15th Aug of which a freight agent has already been arrested in connection with the seizure.

The spokesman also revealed that an attempt by a syndicate to export illicit drugs through the Lagos airport last Wednesday was foiled during an outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airline to Oman via Addis Ababa.

He said a suspect Jonah Chukwuemeka was arrested with a total of 1,995 tramadol tablets with a gross weight of 900 grammes hidden in locust beans in his luggage. The bag containing the illicit substance was handed over to him at the airport by one Olagunju Abbas who was promptly arrested.

Also packs of tramadol 225mg containing 119,500 capsules were last Thursday transferred to NDLEA by the Nigeria Customs, cargo wing of MMIA. The consignment had come in through Ethiopian Airline from Pakistan.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Saturday raided a car shop, Bolak Motors at Ewela bus stop, Oshodi where bags of 615.2 kilogrammes cannabis were recovered along with nine vehicles. Efforts are ongoing to track the car dealer, Alhaji Ismail who is currently at large.

Babafemi said no fewer than eight suspects were arrested and bags of illicit drugs seized from them when Akerele area of Agege, Shogunle and Mafoluku areas of Oshodi, Fagba area of Ogba, Ipodo area of Ikeja and Iyana Ipaja park were raided in Lagos state.

In Yobe state, two suspected fake security agents taking 14kg cannabis to Maiduguri, Borno state were intercepted along Potiskum- Damaturu road. While Adetula Olarenwaju was arrested with four blocks of the substance last Thursday on his way from Lagos, Sadiq Garba returning from Gombe was nabbed with 22 blocks of the substance on Saturday.

In Edo, Abu Sunday was arrested with 48.4 kilogrammes cannabis at Idk quarter, Ibilo, while Rosemary Afekhuai was caught with 1,130 tramadol caps, among others at Oluma quarters, Otuo, Owan East local government area.

In Delta, Mustapha Isah, was arrested at Oko Market with 9, 800 tramadol caps weighing 6.4 kilogrammes while NDLEA operatives in Kaduna also nabbed Chinedu Onnuka, at Narayi Kaduna with 33,000 tablets of Bromazepam.

He said no fewer than 80 blocks of cannabis sativa were recovered from an abandoned tricycle with reg. no: BAU 70 WL while 25,000 tablets of exol-5 were seized from a dealer, Usman Muhammed who was nabbed along Bauchi-Gombe road.

He said a raid operation at a market in Mubi, Adamawa state last Wednesday 24th led to the seizure of 62,360 tablets of tramadol, diazepam and exol-5 while two suspects, Sirajo Idris and Anas Abubakar were arrested same day with 107 pallets of cannabis at Kamba, a border town in Kebbi State. The skunk weighing 90 kilogrammes was smuggled in from Benin Republic.

In Kano, a drug dealer Lawal Adamu, 31, was arrested along Zaria-Kano road, Kwanar Dangora, with 203 blocks of cannabis weighing 136 kilogrammes, while another suspect, Taheer Abdullahi was nabbed on Friday 26th Aug. at Gadar Tamburawa, with 3000 ampules of tramadol injection.

A raid operation at Kara Masaka, back of Mararaba market and Zamani estate on Saturday 27th Aug. led to the arrest of 26 suspects, while 25.7 kilogrammes cannabis, 4.5kg codeine and 300 tablets of rohypnol tablets were seized from the drug joints raided. In Sokoto state, the village head of Ruga, Shagari local government area, Alhaji Umaru Mohammed (aka Danbala), a notorious drug dealer who was arrested last will be facing charges any moment from now.

He said before his recent arrest during which 436.381 kilogrammes cannabis and 1 kilogramme diazepam were recovered from his house, an earlier raid on his home on July 20th 2022 had led to the seizure of 11.5 kilogrammes cannabis, 2.259 kilogrammes exol5 and 500 grammes of diazepam.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Edo, Delta and Lagos Commands for the arrests and seizures. He however charged them and their compatriots across the country not to rest on their oars.

NDLEA arrests Lagos airport cleaner who leads drug syndicate

Crime

Troops Neutralise Terrorist, One Vigilante Injured in Sokoto

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Troops Neutralise Terrorist, One Vigilante Injured in Sokoto

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised a suspected terrorist during a firefight in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 12:10 a.m. on April 23 when troops of 8 Division Garrison, deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Marnona, responded to intelligence on terrorist activities at Illela village.

The sources said the troops made contact with the assailants and engaged them in a gun battle.

“Following the exchange of fire, one terrorist was neutralised, while others fled the scene,” the sources said.

They added that a vigilante member who supported the operation sustained a gunshot wound during the encounter and was evacuated for medical attention.

According to the sources, troops have continued to dominate the general area to forestall further terrorist activities.

Troops Neutralise Terrorist, One Vigilante Injured in Sokoto

Crime

Troops Arrest Two Suspected Terrorists, Recover Items in Kogi

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Troops Arrest Two Suspected Terrorists, Recover Items in Kogi

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested two suspected terrorists during a routine patrol in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Security sources told Zagazola that the suspects were apprehended at about 1:00 p.m. on April 22 by troops of 12 Brigade deployed at Dankolo.

The sources said the troops intercepted the suspects while on patrol along the Adankolo–Adankolo road.

According to the sources, the suspects claimed they were invited to the area for cattle rearing and provided a phone number of a civilian contact, which could not be reached.

Items recovered from the suspects include one mobile phone, two mobile phone batteries, charms, and the sum of ₦1,500.

The sources added that the suspects and recovered items are currently in the custody of 12 Mechanised Infantry Regiment for further investigation and necessary action.

They noted that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to enhance security and prevent criminal activities in the area.

Troops Arrest Two Suspected Terrorists, Recover Items in Kogi

Crime

Troops Discover 7 Additional Terrorist Graves, 2 ISWAP Dead Bodies After Kukareta Attack

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Troops Discover 7 Additional Terrorist Graves, 2 ISWAP Dead Bodies After Kukareta Attack

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have discovered additional graves and bodies of suspected ISWAP terrorists during follow-up exploitation operations after the failed attack on Kukareta community in Borno State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the latest discovery was made during continued clearance and exploitation of the general area following the earlier engagement in which 24 insurgents were neutralised.

The sources said troops uncovered 7 freshly dug graves believed to belong to terrorists killed during the encounter, as well as 2 additional bodies of suspected ISWAP fighters along withdrawal routes.

They noted that the findings further confirmed significant casualties suffered by the insurgents during the failed assault on the community.

According to the sources, the operation followed a coordinated attack launched by the terrorists in the early hours of April 23, which was decisively repelled by troops after a prolonged firefight.

Troops had earlier recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the scene, including 18 AK-47 rifles, 3 General Purpose Machine Guns, 2 PKT anti-aircraft guns, 3 RPG tubes, 2 mortar tubes, 4 hand grenades, 18 AK-47 magazines, and large quantities of 7.62mm ammunition.

The sources added that exploitation efforts are ongoing, with troops continuing to comb surrounding areas for fleeing terrorists, additional bodies, and abandoned equipment.

They described the development as a major setback for the terrorist group, noting that sustained military pressure would be maintained to further degrade their operational capabilities.

The general security situation in the North-East theatre remains under close watch, with troops maintaining aggressive patrols and clearance operations to prevent further attacks.

Troops Discover 7 Additional Terrorist Graves, 2 ISWAP Dead Bodies After Kukareta Attack