Crime
NDLEA arrests Saudi-bound trafficker with cocaine in sandals
NDLEA arrests Saudi-bound trafficker with cocaine in sandals
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a member of Lagos major drug syndicate, a 56-year-old, Lawal Oyenuga who was on a mission to deliver 400 grammes of cocaine concealed in a pair of palm sandals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Orenuga’s arrest led to a swift follow up arrest of a wanted notorious kingpin, Wasiu Gbolahan popularly known as Teacher, who is notorious for the recruitment of mules for the cartel.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said operatives of the anti-narcotics agency attached to the screening point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos had on Thursday 24th November intercepted Oyenuga with a pair of black palm sandals packed in the luggage he was going with to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia via Addis Ababa on an Ethiopian Airways flight.
Babafemi disclosed that a thorough examination of the sandals revealed they were used to conceal two parcels of cocaine weighing 400 grammes, noting that this was barely a week after a 56-year-old widow and mother of four, Mrs. Ajisegiri Sidika was arrested at the airport over her attempt to traffic 400 grammes of cocaine concealed in her footwear to Makkah, Saudi Arabia on board a Qatar Airways flight.
The spokesman said Oyenuga in his statement claimed he was recruited to traffic the drug by Wasiu Gbolahan popularly known as Teacher, adding that he was first given some pellets of cocaine to swallow but when he couldn’t do that, he was given the ones concealed in the palm sandals.
He confessed to have resorted to the criminal trade to raise money to pay an examination fee for his daughter who is in Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3.
Babafemi said the agency’s database revealed that Wasiu Sanni (Teacher) has been linked to some previous attempts to traffic cocaine to Saudi Arabia and Dubai, UAE, and had been fingered as the one who recruited a BRT driver, Bolajoko Babalola for Lagos socialite and owner of Adekaz Hotels, Alhaji Ademola Kazeem (a.k.a Alhaji Abdallah Kazeem Muhammed) to traffic drugs to Dubai.
Bolajoko was arrested on 27th June while taking 900 grammes of cocaine to Dubai while Ademola Kazeem was nabbed on Thursday 10th November, barely 10 days after he was declared wanted by NDLEA.
Babafemi said a follow up operation in the early hours of last Friday led to the arrest of the kingpin, Teacher, who specialises in recruiting mules for drug barons in Lagos and its environs at his residence located in Ikorodu area of Lagos. The 64-year-old Wasiu Sanni Gbolahan is a housing and property agent, with seven children and four wives, one of whom is now late.
He also revealed that in another follow up operation to the seizure of 1.1 kilogrammes cannabis concealed in bottles of body cream going to Dubai on 9th September, the actual owner of the consignment, Wordu Chukwuemeka who runs a boutique business in Port Harcourt, Rivers state was arrested in the Garden City last Thursday.
In the same vein, operatives attached to NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport on last Tuesday intercepted a consolidated cargo from Johannesburg, South Africa via an Airpeace Airline flight.
The cargo contained different items, including cloths, cereals, baby toys, drinks, and a set of two big black speakers, which were used to conceal 25 parcels of Loud variant of cannabis, with a gross weight of 5.5 kilogrammes.
Similarly, operatives attached to the SAHCO export shed of the airport same Tuesday intercepted a carton of food items used to conceal 500 grams of cannabis going to Dubai, UAE while the owner, Uzoma Kingsley was promptly arrested.
Babafemi said in a related development, attempt by an Organised Criminal Group to traffic 131 kilogrammes of Ephedrine, a dominant precursor chemical for the production of Methamphetamine to Congo Kinshasa through the SAHCO export shed of the airport was foiled on Monday 21st November by NDLEA operatives in conjunction with Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
He said the two freight agents: Nwazuru Georgewill and Saheed Muritala linked to the bid were promptly arrested.
He said an attempt by a drug trafficker, Udogwu Johnson, facing multiple charges of drug offences to flee the country after he jumped bail has been thwarted by NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport where he was arrested last Friday.
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He said the 51-year-old suspect was already facing trial at a Federal High Court in Lagos before he was arrested again on Saturday 9th April in Port Harcourt for importing 5.48kg cocaine concealed in lotion plastic bottles sealed with candle wax. He was granted bail by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Wednesday 23rd November over his latest offence while the Lagos court had issued a warrant of arrest against him for jumping bail over his case in Lagos.
At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the move by a Brazilian returnee, Iroegbute Francis, 46, to smuggle 4 kilogrammes cocaine soaked in towels stuffed in his hand luggage into the country was foiled on Thursday 24th Nov by NDLEA officers who arrested him, upon his arrival on a Qatar Airline flight from Brazil -Doha-Abuja.
According to Babafemi, no fewer than 5,851.3 kilogrammes (5.8 tons) of cannabis sativa were seized from dealers across five states in the past week, including a notorious cripple, Ibrahim Yusuf, 45, who was arrested on Monday 21st November at Gasline, Ifo, Ogun state with 4 kilogrammes of the psychotropic substance, while a total of 36 bags weighing 570 kilogrammes of the same substance were recovered in another raid at a forest in Ogunmakin town, Obafemi Owode local government area.
In Edo, operatives last Tuesday evacuated 141 bags of cannabis sativa with a gross weight of 1,884 kilogrammes (about 1.9 tons) stored in a warehouse in Okpe forest, Akoko Edo local government area, while last Thursday, NDLEA officers arrested Ismaila Abubakar, 50, at Okada junction, Ovia South West local government area with 22 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 216.5 kilogrammes, and a day after, operatives also seized 112 bags of cannabis sativa stored in Obi Camp forest, Ovia South West local government area weighing 1,512 kilogrammes.
He said this was also followed by another seizure of 45 bags that weighed 529.5 kilogrammes while officers equally intercepted a Toyota Sienna bus with Reg. No. BDG 598 FZ (Lagos) loaded with 566.5 kilogrammes cannabis going to Onitsha, Anambra State, and a suspect, Sunday Mathias, 30, arrested with the seizure.
In Ondo state, NDLEA operatives stormed Oke-Ogun forest last Friday where Onyebuchi Chime was arrested with 88 kilogrammes cannabis, a gun and some ammunition while they also recovered 149.5 kilogrammes of the substance at Ipele forest. Not less than 12.42 hectares of cannabis farms were destroyed and 195 kilogrammes processed weeds of the substance recovered at Efon Alaye, Ekiti state where two dealers: Richard Ebong and Nze Abraham were arrested on Saturday.
In Oyo state, operatives arrested a 27-year-old Mrs. Adebayo Rahmat last Thursday at Sabo-Ilupeju, Atiba local government area, with 136.3 kilogrammes cannabis, while no fewer than 84,000 pills of tramadol tablets were recovered from a suspect, Muhsin Abdullahi in Bodinga area of Sokoto state same day. Also 16,000 pills of Exol-5 and D5 concealed in palm oil were seized from Lawal Rabe, 24, last Friday at Kokami village, Danta local government area, Katsina while a total of 54,500 tablets of tramadol and Exol-5 were seized from the duo of Basiru Muhammadu and Saidu Yusuf in the same area on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the officers and men of the MMIA, NAIA, PHIA, Edo, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Katsina and Oyo Commands of the agency for their professionalism in the discharge of their duties and the remarkable results that followed.
He however enjoined them and their compatriots across the country not to let down their guards as the nation approaches the festive season.
NDLEA arrests Saudi-bound trafficker with cocaine in sandals
Crime
Fulani youths shot by suspected Berom militia in Jos South in latest unprovoked attack in Pleateau
Fulani youths shot by suspected Berom militia in Jos South in latest unprovoked attack in Pleateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Two Fulani youths were ambushed late Tuesday while returning from Gero village in Jos South Local Government Area (LGA) in the latest unprovoked attack by suspected Berom militia in Plateau state.
Zagazola Makama gathered from sources that the victims, Zakariya Abdullahi and Jibrin Musa, were attacked by suspected Berom militia around 8:00 p.m. Abdullahi was killed on the spot, while Musa sustained gunshot injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
The latest ambush of Zakariya Abdullahi and Jibrin Musa fits this established pattern of escalating attacks, in which pastoral and farming communities are alternately targeted in a cycle of reprisals.
The recent spate of violence follows the deadly December 31, 2025, attack in Bum community, Chugwi area of Vwang District, Jos South LGA, where at least seven farmers were killed in their homes and farmlands. That attack occurred despite prior security alerts warning of potential threats to several rural communities.
Zagazola had link the Bum killings to an escalating cycle of reprisal attacks. On December 27, 2025, five Fulani youths were shot near Con Filling Station along Bukuru Express Road, sustaining critical injuries. Local sources allege that the gunmen, suspected Berom militia, targeted the youths without provocation as they returned from Bukuru Cattle Market.
The December violence traces further back to attacks on mining sites and pastoral assets. On December 16, 2025, gunmen attacked an illegal mining site at Tosho community, Barkin Ladi LGA, by Fulani Bandits, killing 12 miners and abducting three others. The assault reportedly followed cattle rustling in nearby communities, including the loss of 137 cattle in Nding community on December 12, and additional theft and poisoning of livestock across Jos East and Riyom LGAs.
The unrest has also seen civilian casualties, including the killing of four children in Dorong village, Foron District, Barkin Ladi LGA, in what residents describe as a Fulani reprisal attack. Other retaliatory attacks have reportedly targeted Gero village in Jos South LGA, resulting in the deaths and injury of both humans and livestock.
Despite multiple warnings and early alerts, affected communities have repeatedly decried slow response by the state government and selective enforcement that fails to dismantle armed militias on all sides.
The lack of decisive action against armed militias on both sides has fueled unending attacks, mistrust, making people in rural settlements increasingly vulnerable to attacks. Unresolved issues such as cattle rustling, livestock poisoning, and targeted killings act as triggers for revenge attacks, creating a self-perpetuating spiral of violence.
Fulani youths shot by suspected Berom militia in Jos South in latest unprovoked attack in Pleateau
Collapsed fence kills five in Maiduguri
By: Zagazola Makama
Five people were killed and one injured after a fence collapsed in Bintu Sugar, Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
Zagazola report that the incident occurred on Jan. 4 at about 8:12 p.m., when six individuals were reportedly near the fence at the community.
According to the sources, the victims were immediately evacuated to the State Specialists Hospital, Maiduguri, for medical attention. However, Hadiza Mohamed, Adamu Umar, Abdul Malik Usman, Abdullahi Usman, and Salamatu Mohammed Dibal, all residents of Gomari, Bintu Sugar, were certified dead.
One survivor, Ya’u Labaran, 16, is responding to treatment at the hospital.
The Borno Police Command confirmed the incident noting that the corpses were photographed and released to relatives for burial according to Islamic rites. Investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fence collapse is ongoing.
Collapsed fence kills five in Maiduguri
Crime
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace, police arrest seven over Qua’an-Pan genocide, cattle rustling
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace, police arrest seven over Qua’an-Pan genocide, cattle rustling
By: Zagazola Makama
A combined security forces from Operation Enduring Peace have arrested seven suspects in connection with the killing of residents and rustling of cattle in Bong/Kook village, Qua’an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the suspects, all locals of Plateau state, were arrested on Jan. 4 at about 9:30 p.m. following credible intelligence.
According to the sources, the arrests were carried out at Namu while the suspects were en route to Nasarawa State by a combined team of the police, Operation Enduring Peace and local hunters.
“The suspects arrested include both the masterminds and those who directly participated in the attack and killing at Kook village,” the sources said.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Jan. 2, involved armed men who invaded Bong/Kook village in Doemak District, rustled some cows and shot dead residents during the attack.
The Plateau State Police Command had earlier confirmed that at least seven persons were killed and several others injured during the invasion, adding that two of the attackers were also neutralised during a pursuit by security forces.
Sources said a joint team of soldiers, police personnel, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and vigilantes pursued the attackers, who allegedly killed residents to facilitate their escape before abandoning the rustled cattle.
The security forces clarified that preliminary investigations linked the incident to criminal elements involved in cattle rustling, and not to ethnic or religious motives.
It added that the rustled cows had been recovered, while security deployment had been intensified across the area to prevent further attacks.
Security agencies said efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest other fleeing suspects and to recover weapons used during the attack.
Zagazola Makama observed that the arrest of seven suspects connected to the killings failed to attract significant attention as part selective narrative in the reporting and advocacy around violence in the state.
Zagazola has previously reported how the deadly attack attracted unusually low publicity and muted reactions because the perpetrators were locals of the state and not Fulani bandits. It failed to generate the level of outrage, media coverage and international attention often associated with similar killings in Plateau State.
“The attack did not fit into the familiar ethnic or religious framing that usually drives strong reactions. The assailants were identified as Plateau indigenes, and the victims were neither Fulani nor linked to pastoral communities,”Makama said.
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