Crime

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

Published

3 years ago

August 4, 2022

Ochuwa Ibrahim

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.

Related Topics:kilogrammes landmark NDLEA

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Crime

One killed, four injured in farmers-herders clash in Gombe

Published

2 days ago

October 27, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

One killed, four injured in farmers-herders clash in Gombe

By: Zagazola Makama

One person has been confirmed dead and four others injured following a clash between farmers and herders in Komi District, Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred on Oct. 26, 2025, at about 6:15 p.m., during a fracas that erupted as a result of a disagreement between farmers and herders in the area.

During the altercation, Mohammed Jibrin, aged 27, a farmer from Komi District, sustained serious injuries, while three other farmers and one herder suffered minor injuries.

Police operatives led by the O/C Wawa swiftly visited the scene, and the critically injured victim was taken to General Hospital Biri, Nafada LGA, where he later died while receiving treatment. His remains were released to the family for burial according to Islamic rites.

The other injured persons were treated and discharged at Wawa Primary Health Care Centre, Funakaye LGA.

The police said normalcy has been restored to the area, while monitoring continues to prevent further escalation.

One killed, four injured in farmers-herders clash in Gombe

Crime

Police arrest UNIJOS student for killing, burying colleague in shallow grave

Published

2 days ago

October 26, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Police arrest UNIJOS student for killing, burying colleague in shallow grave

By: Zagazola Makama

The Police Command in Plateau has arrested a 23-year-old student of the University of Jos for allegedly killing and burying his colleague in a shallow grave inside his room at Rusau village in Jos North Local Government Area.

Sources confirmed the incident on Sunday in Jos, citing a report received from the institution’s Chief Security Officer.

According to the sources , the suspect, identified as David Nanpon Timmap, a 300-level student of the university, allegedly attacked and matcheted Peter Mata Mafurai, aged 22, to death in his residence.

Following the distress call received at about 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, the Divisional Police Officer of Laranto Division led a team of officers to the scene, where the suspect was arrested.

The sources said investigations revealed that the suspect buried the deceased in a shallow grave he dug inside his room. The remains of the victim were exhumed and deposited at Bingham University Teaching Hospital morgue for autopsy.

The sources said the suspect is in custody while an investigation is ongoing to ascertain the motive behind the killing.

Police arrest UNIJOS student for killing, burying colleague in shallow grave

Crime

NDLEA uncovers UK-bound cocaine in cream containers, meth in water heater

Published

3 days ago

October 26, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

NDLEA uncovers UK-bound cocaine in cream containers, meth in water heater

By: Michael Mike

A total of 70 parcels factory packed cocaine in walls of cocoa butter formula body cream containers heading to London, United Kingdom have been uncovered at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with three suspects arrested in series of follow-up operations across Lagos.

A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi on Sunday stated that the cocaine consignments weighing 3.6 kilogrammes were discovered on 14th October 2025 during examination of cargoes packaged as personal effects going to London, UK on an Air Peace flight.

It added that a cargo agent Lawal Olakunle who presented the consignment for airfreight was promptly arrested while investigations stretching into two weeks led to the arrest of two principal suspects linked to the attempt to export the concealed Class A drug to the UK.

Babafemi said in a follow up operation on 18th October, a female healthcare worker Ogunmuyide Taiwo was arrested following which Mutiu Adebiyi, the Chief Executive Officer of a travel agency, Mutiu Adebiyi & Co, was arrested at his 23 Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja GRA Lagos office last Monday.

In a similar development, attempt by a 35-year-old Lesotho national Lemena Mark to export 103.59 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in a diabeta herbs coffee tea pack to the Philippines on an Ethiopian airlines flight from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu last Wednesday was thwarted by NDLEA officers who arrested him and recovered the illicit drug.

No fewer than 21,950 capsules of tramadol 250mg concealed inside a 100-litre water heater were recovered from a suspect Umar Abubakar, 40, who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Bode Saadu, Morro local government area of Kwara state following credible intelligence last Tuesday.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives in the early hours of Sunday raided Proxy Night club at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island where a drug party was going on. Over 100 suspects including the owner of the club Mike Nwogu alias Pretty Mike, were arrested and taken into custody for screening.

Cartons of illicit substances including Loud, and laughing gas, were recovered from suspects at the party and the club’s store.

The raid followed intelligence about the drug party. NDLEA operatives who were embedded in the party between 11pm on Saturday 25th October however disrupted the gathering at 3am on Sunday based on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

In Taraba, the duo of Auwal Musa, 26, and Salihu Bala, 22, were last Tuesday arrested with 450,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 at Dan-anacha checkpoint while conveying the consignment in a truck loaded with building materials from Onitsha, Anambra state to Mubi, Adamawa state.

While NDLEA officers on patrol along Okene/Lokoja highway, Kogi state seized 162.200 kilogrammes skunk, a strain of cannabis, from a truck last Friday, operatives in Nasarawa state last Wednesday recovered 128 kilogrammes of same psychoactive substance from a suspect, Abubakar Muhammad, 55, in Keffi area of the state.

A mother of two Oyonumoh Effiong who is a major distributor of Canadian and California Loud, both strong strains of cannabis in Lekki, Ajah, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and VGC areas of Lagos have been arrested by NDLEA operatives last Friday during a raid at her Lekki home where 500 grammes of the illicit substances were recovered.

In Ikorodu area of Lagos, NDLEA officers last Thursday raided the home of a suspect Ogunyabo Adenigbigbe at Solomade estate where 275 litres of skuchies, a new psychoactive substance produced with black currant drink, cannabis and opioids, were recovered.

A 75-year-old grandpa Echendu Onuoka was last Wednesday arrested at Ovum village, Obingwa local government area, Abia state with 4.7 kilogrammes skunk seized from him while a 60-year-old grandma Aukana John was nabbed with 225 grammes of same substance at Apanta village, in the same local government area.

While 150 kilogrammes skunk was recovered during a raid operation at Lot camp, Ikun Akoko, Ondo state, two suspects: Bashir Mohammad, 50, and Samini Tijjani, 35, were nabbed with 234.5 kilogrammes of same substance at Yan aya , Saminaka in Lere local government area, Kaduna last Friday just as another set of suspects: Isah Usman, 50, and Salvation Okoler, 18, were arrested with 8,600 pills of tramadol 225mg and rohypnol along Abuja/Kaduna highway.

At the Seme border area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives last Wednesday nabbed Jacob Ojugbele with 55 kilogrammes skunk at Ashipa area of Badagry while Amusa Oluwabukola was arrested with 121.3 litres of skuchies at Itoga Badagry.

In Zamfara state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Gummi-Anka road last Monday arrested a suspect Abubakar Ibrahim, 30, in possession of AK 47 riffle and 1,746 assorted calibres of ammunition, for AK 47 and GPMG rifles while moving them from Sokoto to Bagega forest, Anka local government area, Zamfara. Both the suspect and the exhibits have since been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities 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, AIIA, Lagos, Kwara, Abia, Nasarawa, Kogi, Ondo, Anambra, Taraba, Kaduna, Seme and Zamfara Commands for the arrests, and seizures, urged them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

NDLEA uncovers UK-bound cocaine in cream containers, meth in water heater