Crime
NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron on the Run for 7 Years
NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron on the Run for 7 Years
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of a special operations unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a wanted 60-year-old alleged drug kingpin, Okpara Chigozie, who had been on the run for seven years.
A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said Okpara was caught attempting to ship large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine to the Southeast and other parts of the country.
He disclosed that Okpara has been on the wanted list of NDLEA since 2019 and was eventually nabbed at his hideout at 72 Micheal Ojo Street, Isheri in Ojo area of Lagos state on Sunday 13th July 2025 following the interception of some of his consignments at 5:45am same day at Ilasamaja along Apapa-Oshodi expressway.
Babafemi said in the early morning operation, a team of NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence arrested one of Okpara’s couriers, 51-year-old Achebe Nnamdi while heading to Onitsha, Anambra state in a white Toyota Sienna vehicle.
He said the agency’s sniffer dogs were subsequently brought in to search the vehicle after which 7.6 kilogrammes of cocaine and 900 grammes of methamphetamine were found hidden in body compartments of the space bus, adding that a follow up operation was promptly carried out at Okpara’s hideout in Isheri where additional 1.8 kilogrammes cocaine and 1.3 kilogrammes methamphetamine were recovered from his residence.
Babafemi said at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, NDLEA operatives in a joint operation with Aviation Security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) last Wednesday recovered 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from the luggage of an Italy-bound passenger, Omoregie Nice Uyiosa. The suspect who was going to Italy via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight claimed he purchased the drugs himself, hoping to sell them in Italy at higher prices.
In another arrest at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives at the export shed last Thursday intercepted 17 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1.7 kilogrammes concealed in packs of popular cereal, Golden Morn, going to Pakistan as part of a consolidated cargo. A suspect, Chioba Uchenna who presented the consignment for shipment was arrested.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Saturday raided Sarah Sam Hotels located at 115 Ogudu road in Kosofe where different party drugs are being distributed and sold. The raid followed credible intelligence and surveillance which confirmed a suspect Obayemi Oyetade as the arrowhead of the drug network.
Babafemi said at the time of the operation, 1.3 kilogrammes Chocolate Cannabis, 900 grammes of gummies and 22.9 grammes of skunk were recovered from Obayemi’s room in the hotel, which is a 20-room facility run as a family business, housing his mother and siblings. Other items recovered from the hotel include three vehicles.
He said three suspects: Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi and Emmanuel Madu were on Saturday arrested during an intelligence-led raid at Narayi High Cost area of Chikun local government area, Kaduna State, where 742.866 kilogrammes of skunk, and Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis were seized from them. In Kano, Lawan Rabiu was nabbed with 36,000 pills of tramadol along Danbatta-Kazaure road, last Wednesday.
He said while a total of 25,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from a suspect Aliyu Abubakar, at Gombe roundabout last Friday, the duo of Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were arrested same day with 49 blocks of compressed skunk that weighed 29 C180 at Kwadom, Yemaltu Deba local government area, Gombe state.
In Borno, NDLEA officers on patrol along Baga road, Maiduguri, on Saturday intercepted 74,360 pills of opioids in a Mercedes Benz C180 car marked GUB 409 AA and arrested Audu Modu, 44, in connection with the seizure, while in Bayelsa state, a 63-year-old grandma Akuna Nelson was last Thursday arrested at Osiri area of Yenagoa in connection with the seizure of 163 litres of skuchies.
He said four suspects: Ikechukwu Abugu, 42; Sunday Ani, 18; Chukwu Christian, 46; and Emmanuel Olisakwe, 55, were last Thursday arrested by NDLEA operatives along Okene-Lokoja highway, Kogi state in connection with the seizure of 2 kilogrammes methamphetamine recovered during a search of their vehicle coming from Onitsha, Anambra state to Minna, Niger state.
In Abia state, NDLEA officers last Monday raided the base of a notorious drug dealer, Nduka Obi, 39, at 4 Niger street, Ugwa road, Aba, where various quantities of tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and a total of N736,000 monetary exhibit were recovered from him.
While a total of 45,000 pills of tramadol were seized from a suspect Chisom Okpalaeke, 30, by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Onitsha – Enugu expressway, Enugu state last Wednesday, officers of the Taraba state command of the agency same day apprehended the duo of Ngwokwoka Thomas, 44, and Mohammed Audu, 44 with 10,000 caps of tramadol and a gramme of cannabis at Dan Anacha, Gassol local government area.
The spokesman said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of MMIA, SOU, Lagos, Kaduna, Osun, Bayelsa, Gombe, Borno, Abia, Kogi, Enugu, and Taraba commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron on the Run for 7 Years
18-Year-Old Herder Killed in Bassa, Suspected Irigwe Assailants Blamed
By Zagazola Makama
An 18-year-old herder, identified as Sani Ibrahim, has been killed while grazing livestock around Merimeli Village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, with suspected Irigwe assailants blamed for the attack.
The incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026, around the Kwachudu/Jebbu Miango axis.
A military source told Zagazola Makama that troops of Sector 3, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), deployed at Jebbu Miango, responded to a report of an attack and killing of a herder while he was grazing around Merimeli Village.
Upon arrival at the scene, the troops found Ibrahim’s lifeless body bearing gunshot wounds and machete cuts, suggesting that the victim had been attacked with both firearms and a sharp weapon.
The assailants had fled the area before the arrival of the troops.
Other herders who were in the company of the deceased reportedly escaped unharmed during the attack.
While preliminary accounts from the area pointed to suspected Irigwe elements as being responsible, the military sources said the identities and motives of the attackers had not been conclusively established, with investigation ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the killing.
The deceased’s remains were recovered from the scene and subsequently taken for burial by his family members.
Following the incident, troops intensified fighting patrols around the general area to prevent further attacks and deter possible reprisal violence.
The killing comes amid longstanding tensions between farming and herding communities in parts of Plateau State, where isolated attacks have continued to pose security challenges and threaten fragile peace in affected communities.
18-Year-Old Herder Killed in Bassa, Suspected Irigwe Assailants Blamed
One Killed As Troops Foil Fulani Bandits Attack on Nyerwai, Rayidi Communities in Plateau
By Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 4, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have foiled an attack by Fulani Bandits on Nyerwai and Rayidi communities in Fan District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A military source told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 11:05 p.m. on August 12, 2026, when troops deployed at Dorowa Babuje responded to reports of sporadic shootings in the two communities.
Upon arrival at the scene, the troops discovered the lifeless body of a 37-year-old man identified as Danya Nuhu.
The troops also rescued 28-year-old Abednego Davou, who had sustained gunshot wounds, alongside three cattle that were also injured by gunfire.
Preliminary findings indicated that the attack was carried out by suspected armed militias, who fled into the surrounding area upon sighting the advancing troops.
The injured victim was evacuated to the General Hospital, Barkin Ladi, for medical attention, while efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend the fleeing attackers.
The military has continued to intensify patrols across the Operation Enduring Peace Joint Operations Area, particularly around vulnerable communities, schools, places of worship and other critical national infrastructure, to prevent further attacks and maintain security.
One Killed As Troops Foil Fulani Bandits Attack on Nyerwai, Rayidi Communities in Plateau
Criminal Tiv Militia Kill Dangote Truck Driver, Woman in Benue
By Zagazola Makama
A Dangote truck driver and a woman have been killed by suspected criminal militia operating along the Kyado–Jootar road in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims were reportedly found dead inside a Dangote truck during a night fighting patrol by troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE.
A security source told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about midnight on August 13, 2026, when troops conducting a night patrol along the Kyado–Jootar road discovered two lifeless bodies inside a Dangote truck with registration number OPL-1B-029 at Igbayima.
Preliminary findings indicated that the victims had been killed by a gang of suspected criminal Tiv militias believed to be involved in kidnapping for ransom in the area.
The identity of the woman and further details about the circumstances surrounding her presence in the truck were not immediately available.
The troops also recovered 11 empty casings of 7.62mm Special ammunition from the scene, indicating that firearms were used in the attack.
Following the discovery, the bodies of the deceased were evacuated to the mortuary in Kyado, while the incident was formally reported to the police for further investigation.
Troops are currently working to track down the perpetrators.
The attack point to the grim situation where commercial vehicles and other road users travelling along the Kyado–Jootar axis, where criminal Tiv elements have reportedly continued to target commuters and motorists.
Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE are expected to sustain night fighting patrols and other security operations along the route to track down the perpetrators, prevent further attacks and reassure residents and road users of their safety.
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