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NDLEA asks political parties to make drug test part of screening for aspirants

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NDLEA asks political parties to make drug test part of screening for aspirants

NDLEA asks political parties to make drug test part of screening for aspirants

By: Michael Mike

Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has advised  political parties to make drug integrity test part of the screening requirements for aspirants seeking to contest political offices in the 2023 elections on their platforms.

Marwa, gave this advice while responding to questions from journalists at the 2022 First Quarter Best Performing Commands Awards ceremony at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said: “For politicians, we have long advocated and I take the opportunity again to repeat the advocacy that when they run for public office it demands a lot of responsibility from the person and we need to be certain if he’s a person that is already a drug addict/user who will spend all the money he’s given for public service to consume cocaine and his head will not be in a stable condition to handle the affairs he has been entrusted with. 

“For this reason, we have advocated and will continue to advocate that drug test be conducted for politicians; some state governments like Kano state is already doing this.

“Not just politicians, but government appointees, and I’ve just sent a letter this morning to the National Chairman of APC, who will be the first of the national working committee I wish to pay an advocacy visit on this issue. I recommended that drug tests be incorporated in the screening process for all those interested in running for public office; we’ll do the same to the PDP and other important parties.”

The NDLEA boss, while addressing officers and men of the agency present at the event, said the ceremony “has become part and parcel of our corporate culture. Recognizing and rewarding hard work and excellence has always been a pragmatic way of stimulating productivity and enhancing the attainment of organisational goals; making it a tradition for the agency is our way of enshrining meritocracy in the system.”

He said: “Statistics from the first quarter (Q1) report, indicated that our performance level has not dropped off. Indeed, achieving 3, 539 arrests, 677 convictions and seizures of 65, 916 kg of drugs in three months is no mean feat. Little wonder our performance continually earns the Agency deserved accolades from the right quarters within the country as well as from abroad, especially from international partners and peers. While we have not yet achieved the utopia of a drug-free society, the results showed that we are getting it right.” 

He told the officers that the awards and commendations are expected to spur them to surpass their current feats at the next awards ceremony.

.Also Read: Quadruplets Delivery: Husband solicits support from Lagos…

He said: “The ceremony should be a poignant reminder for us not to forget where we are coming from. And there is no better way to say it other than for us to be mindful of the saying that success has a hundred fathers, but failure is always an orphan. No organisation would understand this adage better than NDLEA in the light of our past rock bottom experience. 

“Therefore, we should all be mindful that we hold the fate of NDLEA in our hands, and that fate will be determined by our patriotism and dedication to duty, as well as our collective resolve to work towards the attainment of the agency’s mandate.

“Let me also seize this occasion to remind you about the importance of propagating the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) programme in your various commands. There is much we can achieve when our communities are working hand-in-hand with us. That is why our roadmap, the NDCMP 2021-2025, strongly emphasises collaboration with all the stakeholders in society. We have to woo members of society to work with us on this very important assignment. Therefore, I charge you to ensure that WADA is correctly and deeply entrenched in the spheres of operation of your respective commands.”

Marwa, while assuring the officers that the agency is proud of them, said: “The sacrifice of a narcotic officer cannot be quantified in gold or silver, for he is fulfilling a higher calling. As we go about our duty of securing our society against the corrosion of illicit drugs, we should be aware that we are the direct beneficiaries of our work because for every kilo of drugs seized, we are making our streets and society safer for our children, family and kinsmen.

NDLEA is proud of its workforce; the agency treasures the effort of its officers and men; the management shall continue to look out for their best interest. We shall continue to reward hard work and excellence.”

NDLEA asks political parties to make drug test part of screening for aspirants

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Two Bandits Killed While Testing IEDs in Zamfara

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Two Bandits Killed While Testing IEDs in Zamfara

By: Our Reporter

Two suspected bandits were killed during an attempt to test Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at a camp reportedly established by the notorious extremist leader, Bello Turji, in Zamfara State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred in Barikin Daji Village and Dan Bagudu Hills, both located in Talata Mafara Local Government Area.

The explosion is said to have resulted from an IED mishap during a high-risk testing exercise conducted by the bandits under the supervision of a key lieutenant of Turji, identified as Dogo Auta.

According to credible intelligence reports, the extremist group had recently received a consignment of weapons, ammunition, and IED-making materials transported via camels to the camp. The materials were reportedly intended to facilitate increased attacks in the area as directed by Turji.

The explosion caused panic among residents of nearby communities, including Garin Gwale Village, forcing many to flee their homes out of fear of further attacks.

Sources indicate that extremist groups in the northwest are increasingly adopting IEDs to target military bases, patrol teams, and civilian areas.

Zagazola warn that the abundance of explosives from illegal mining activities in the region could further exacerbate the situation, leading to heightened security threats.

Security forces have also been advised to remain vigilant and on high alert for potential attacks in the coming days.

Two Bandits Killed While Testing IEDs in Zamfara

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Operation Fansan Yamma: Troops Neutralize Terrorists, Capture Weapons in Zamfara

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Operation Fansan Yamma: Troops Neutralize Terrorists, Capture Weapons in Zamfara

By: Our Reporter

Troops of Forward Operating Base Anka under 1 Brigade in the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma Theatre in collaboration with Zamfara State Community Protection Guard (ZSCPG) and local vigilantes conducted fighting patrol to Bambaran Village, Anka Local Government Area and had encounter with terrorists.

As a result 2 terrorists were neutralized while items recovered from the terrorists include a PKT machine gun, one AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and 3 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

This successful operation underscores the collaborative efforts between the military and other security forces in the Operation Fansan Yamma Theatre of Operations towards ensuring safety within Zamfara State and the North West Zone at large.

Operation Fansan Yamma remains dedicated to eliminating threats to peace and stability in the North West, striving to protect the lives and property of residents as operations continue.

ABUBAKAR ABDULLAHI
Lieutenant Colonel
Coordinator Joint Media Coordination Centre
Operation Fansan Yamma

Operation Fansan Yamma: Troops Neutralize Terrorists, Capture Weapons in Zamfara

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Crime

Engineer in NDLEA Custody Iver Illicit Drug Consignments in Pressure Machines

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Engineer in NDLEA Custody Iver Illicit Drug Consignments in Pressure Machines


…As Operatives Arrest 65-year old Grandma with Apiods in Lagos

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Egwu Inya who claims to be a building engineer, while attempting to take delivery of illicit consignments concealed in pressure machines imported from South Africa.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the 42-year-old Egwu was arrested last Monday at Okeyson motor park Enugu when he showed up to collect three units of pressure machines inside which were hidden parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 7.4 kilogrammes.

Babafemi said the consignments had arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos import shed on 29th November 2024, and following credible intelligence, officers of the MMIA Strategic Command of the agency had monitored the shipment pass through clearing processes up to a logistics company’s warehouse outside the airport where it was to be collected by the consignee.

He noted that the importer however changed the point of collection to Enugu at the last minute, and as a result, NDLEA operatives in a follow up operation in Enugu arrested Egwu when he showed up to collect the consignments.

In another clampdown, no fewer than 511,000 pills of tramadol were recovered from a Siena vehicle at Hildi, Askira Uba way in Adamawa state by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the road in the early hours of last Friday. The occupants of the vehicle were said to have made a detour on sighting the NDLEA team and after a distance abandoned the vehicle with the consignments after noticing the operatives were on their heel.

In Ekiti state, two suspects: Olanrewaju Alale, 48, and Babatunde Ijadahun, 55, were arrested along Ise- Emure road in a J5 bus marked EPE 958 XJ while transporting 108 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,323 kilogrammes to Owo, Ondo state from where they claimed the consignment will be moved to the North for distribution.

Another suspect, Adekunle Yusuf, 33, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives with 704 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance, concealed in white sacks last Friday at Idere road, Igboora, Oyo state.

In Lagos, a grandmother, 65-year-old Ramata Adeyemo was on Friday arrested by NDLEA operatives at 62 Odunfa street, Lagos Island, where 20.6 litres of codeine-based syrup were recovered from her. Also arrested in Lagos was Alhaji Lawan Manga who was picked at Ogundana Street, Ikeja last Thursday while 4.7 kilogrammes cannabis and 1.3 kilogrammes tramadol were recovered from him.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization lectures to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others 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, Adamawa, Ekiti, Lagos, and Oyo commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

Engineer in NDLEA Custody Iver Illicit Drug Consignments in Pressure Machines

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