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NDLEA destroys over 560,000 kilogrammes of illicit in landmark exercise

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NDLEA destroys over 560,000 kilogrammes of illicit in landmark exercise

NDLEA destroys over 560,000 kilogrammes of illicit in landmark exercise

By Michael Mike

Over 560,000 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs have been destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a single largest destruction in its 32-year history.

A press statement on Thursday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the NDLEA set ablaze over 560,068.31 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs on the same day, “the largest to be destroyed in the 32-year history of the NDLEA.”

Babafemi said leading other top officials of NDLEA, other security agencies and members of the public in the burning of heaps of illicit drugs, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) said the exercise is a strong message to drug barons and cartels that they will continue to lose their huge investments in the criminal trade if they fail to back out and look for other legitimate businesses.

He said a breakdown of the 560,068.31 kilogrammes of the illicit substances burnt at a brief ceremony in the Badagary area of Lagos include: 7,414.519 kilogrammes of cocaine; 161,206 kilogrammes heroin; 1,144.8 kilogrammes of methamphetamine; 60,144 kilogrammes ephedrine; 311,416.19 kilogrammes cannabis Sativa; 10,091.83 kilogrammes khat; 273.22 kilogrammes tramadol; 0.000170 kilogrammes benylin with codeine and 8,207.75 kilogrammes of other psychotropic substances, which were seized by commands in Lagos State including the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) command; Lagos state command; and the Seme Special Area command from persons convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court as well as abandoned seizures.

Speaking at the ceremony, Marwa said: “It is gratifying to know that our drug law enforcement efforts are not in vain. Our efforts not only resulted in the seizure of the aforementioned drugs but also culminated in the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the offenders in court. Since January 2021, we have arrested over 17,647 drug offenders of which 2,385 have been convicted in court.

“In the process, we have seized over 3.5 million kilos of assorted drugs. The business of today is yet another indication that officers and men of NDLEA are not relenting in the pursuit of the Agency’s mandate to make Nigeria safe from the drug scourge.

“I stand here today before you to give the assurance that NDLEA will continue to explore various ways, legal and within the ambit of orthodox drug law enforcement, to address the drug problem in the country. And there is no better time than now to adopt evidence-based programmes and policies to counter the destructive impact of the drug scourge, which has pervaded our society in the past few years.”

Marwa, while assuring that the agency will not only focus on drug supply reduction, he said, “we are equally broadening our drug demand reduction efforts, and especially working hard on drug use prevention programmes. Among other measures, we are reaching out to young people through prevention messages on our social media platforms. We are not oblivious of the fact that some teenagers and young adults are exposed to drugs at a very young age, particularly in deprived circumstances.

“The agency is working with other institutions to provide educational opportunities, vocational skills training and other socio-economic support for this vulnerable group.”

He added that: “In everything we do, we strive to align our efforts with international best practices. Only a few weeks ago, NDLEA launched a 24/7 toll-free call centre for people who are drug-dependent or suffering from drug use disorder, their families, employers of labour, and members of the public who need any form of help. The centre which has a team of dedicated, well-trained professionals in the mental health practices including psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists and counsellors, currently receives calls in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo languages.”

The anti-narcotics czar, while commending the officers and men of the agency for their commitment that has made possible notable achievements of the agency, praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his political will in tackling the drug menace.

He said: “We equally appreciate the contribution of our local and international partners, who are instrumental to the successes we have recorded. We also thank members of society who are working with us to safeguard the health of our communities.

“I urge all stakeholders in this campaign against abuse and trafficking of illicit substances to not relent but intensify support for NDLEA. On our part, we will continue to identify new approaches and expand our scope of operations to ensure that our communities, states and country is safe, healthy, and secure.”

The NDLEA boss had earlier led his top officials on a courtesy visit to the Akran of Badagry, Oba Claudius Dosa Akran, De When Aholu Menu-Toyi 1 who he implored to set up a drug control committee in his kingdom as part of efforts to support the war against drug abuse in the country.

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NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency

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NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a wanted drug baron, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, alias Chisco Bee, allegedly operating under the cover of a businessman and hotelier.

According to a statement by the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, his arrest was after weeks of intelligence and surveillance on his criminal activities.

Babafemi, said the 42-year-old Ibemesi, who is the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig Ltd, was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel, 66-68 Agbeke street, Ago palace way, Isolo Lagos in the early hours of Saturday after which he was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi street off Ago place way, Isolo where 42 jumbo bags and four cartoons of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 1,762.8 kilogrammes were recovered.

Also seized from him at the point of his arrest include: US$11,600; ⁠£2,000; €2,200 and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash.

Babafemi also said an attempt by a suspected drug syndicate operating at Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve, Ife South local government area, Osun state to load and distribute across the country large quantities of processed skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing a total of 11,135 kilogrammes were thwarted last Tuesday by NDLEA operatives after days of surveillance in the forest. Two trucks being used to transport the illicit consignments: a Volvo truck marked WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck with registration number AWK 713 YZ were seized and seven suspects arrested.

Those in custody in connection with the seizure are: Lucky Abiodun; Julius Amos; Victor Ngbikili; Sunday Oduegwu; Ibrahim Akanni; Eze Godstime; and Fred Ifeanyichukwu.

He said a total of 1,902.1 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered in parts of Edo state. While 184.1 kilogrammes was recovered along a bush path at Oza/Igbanke road, Igbanke, in Orhionmwon local government area last Thursday, 672 kilogrammes was evacuated from Utese forest, Ovia North East local government area on Friday, with 494 kilogrammes recovered from a Mercedes Benz car marked DE311BEN along Benin-Akure road where a suspect Felix Edah, 45, was arrested same day, just as Lucky Abagha, 51, was nabbed in another Mercedes Benz car marked JJJ 56 JW conveying 552 kilogrammes.

While four suspects: Micheal Okoh; Offor Agada; Raphael Nkemjika and Nwabueze Franklin were arrested with 68 kilogrammes skunk and 3.150 kilogrammes methamphetamine along Ijebu-Ode expressway in Ogun state, Danjuma Tukura, 50, was nabbed with 172 kilogrammes skunk at Sunkani area of Ardo Kola local government area, Taraba state on Friday and Wisdom Titus, 24, with 84 kilogrammes of same substance at Takum area of the state.

In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Friday recovered 396,000 capsules of tramadol from a suspect Ahmed Nda, 50, at Aliyu Mustapha International Airport Yola, while 785 kilogrammes of skunk was evacuated from the warehouse of a drug dealer currently at large at Asob Maraba Karu, Nasarawa state.

Two suspects: Jamiu Kardoso and Oriyomi Waliu were on Friday arrested with 130 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 65.150 kilogrammes in Surulere area of Lagos, just as Taofeek Moraina was nabbed same day with 282 blocks of Ghana Loud with a gross weight of 141 kilogrammes at Otto, Oyingbo area of Lagos.

In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives last Thursday intercepted a truck marked T- 0262KT along Ilorin – Jebba expressway conveying 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565 kilogrammes and 155 cartons of rubber solutions. The truck driver Umar Yakubu was taken into custody.

In another operation, a commercial bus with registration number KJA- 657CY was intercepted at Eiyenkonrin, Ilorin last Wednesday with 20 blocks of skunk concealed in a 50-litre jerry can recovered and the driver Ibrahim Bello arrested.

The commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in 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 while commending the officers and men of the SOU, Osun, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Kwara commands for the arrests, and seizures, (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Baron, Recovered Hard Currency

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Breaking! THREE MONTHS AFTER ARRAIGNMENT OF YELWATA AND PLATEAU MASSACRE SUSPECTS, DSS, SUSPECTED MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER

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Breaking!
THREE MONTHS AFTER ARRAIGNMENT OF YELWATA AND PLATEAU MASSACRE SUSPECTS, DSS, SUSPECTED MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER

▪︎Musa Abubakar Admits to Patronage From Armed Groups.

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have successfully disrupted a high target arms supply network linked to terrorist activities in Plateau and neighboring states.

The operation, which followed precise intelligence on November 12, 2025, led to the arrest of Musa Abubakar, an alleged key arms dealer.

A top security source, said: “The suspect confessed to having manufactured and distributed high-calibre weapons and ammunition to armed groups involved in violent attacks in Plateau State and other northern regions.”

His arrest reportedly followed credible intelligence on activities of the suspect, which led to a targeted raid on his arms manufacturing workshop located in the Mista Ali area of Bassa Local Government Area, Plateau State.

Prior to the raid, DSS operatives had conducted extensive surveillance on Abubakar’s residence and workshop to gather critical intelligence.

‘Abubakar was apprehended red-handed with various Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components, chemicals, and equipment, which have all been confiscated by DSS operatives’, added the source.

This significant arrest comes shortly after the recapture of Abdulazeez Obadaki, aka Bomboy, a Kuje Prison escapee who masterminded Owo and Deeperlife Church attacks.

These recent operational successes recorded by the DSS display the Agency’s commitment to combating terrorism and enhancing national security.

It could be recalled that the DSS arrested a total of 9 high-profile suspects involved in the Plateau and Benue attacks including Timna Manjol (46), who already pleaded guilty to two of four count charges including illegal possession of firearms in a charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/451/2025. Manjo, of First Baptist Chuch, Mangu LGA, Plateau State.

Breaking!
THREE MONTHS AFTER ARRAIGNMENT OF YELWATA AND PLATEAU MASSACRE SUSPECTS, DSS, SUSPECTED MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER

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Crime

Bandits kill two, injure six in Ikara community attack

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Bandits kill two, injure six in Ikara community attack

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have killed two residents and injured six others during an attack on Gidan Duma in Gangarida village, Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at about 12:35 a.m. on Friday.

The source said the gunmen, armed with sophisticated weapons, invaded the residence of one Yakubu Samaila, 37, and abducted him after firing multiple shots.

According to sources , members of the community mobilised in an attempt to rescue the victim, during which Samaila managed to escape with gunshot wounds.

The sources said two other residents Ibrahim Isah, 45, and Solomon Ishaya, were shot and fatally injured during the confrontation.

“Four others, namely Irimiyah Samaila, Halilu Isah, Abel Markus, and Elkana Mohammed, all from Katsinawa village, also sustained various gunshot injuries,” the source added.

The sourcss disclosed that security teams were mobilised to the area and evacuated the injured victims to the hospital for treatment.

Those confirmed dead were certified at the hospital, while the injured are currently receiving treatment at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria.

The source added that intensified operations were ongoing to track down the attackers.

“Investigation has commenced and further updates will be communicated,” he said.

Bandits kill two, injure six in Ikara community attack

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