Crime
NDLEA Foiled Attempt to Smuggle 81 Pellets of Cocaine to Lebanon
NDLEA Foiled Attempt to Smuggle 81 Pellets of Cocaine to Lebanon
By: Michael Mike
A 59-year old businessman could have lost his life while trying to smuggle 81 pellets of cocaine, which he had ingested, to Beirut, Lebanon.
The man, Chijioke Igbokwe was saved by a surgery, exploratory laparotomy, which freed him of 57 out of 81 pellets of cocaine stuck in his stomach after seven days of ingesting the illicit substance in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, Igbokwe was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during the inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight on Sunday 26th January 2025.
He said Igbokwe was promptly taken for body scan, which revealed illicit drugs in his system, and was soon after taken into NDLEA custody for excretion observation.
Babafemi said investigation revealed that Igbokwe who claims to be into cloth business at Arena, Oshodi area of Lagos, departed Lagos on 22nd January to Addis Ababa where he ingested the 81 wraps of cocaine the following day 23rd January and boarded a flight to Beirut, Lebanon to deliver the illicit consignment for a fee of $3,000.
Upon his arrival in Beirut, he said he was refused entry because he had less than $2,000, the amount required to grant him entry. He was then deported to Addis Ababa where he attempted excreting the illicit drugs but could not. He thereafter proceeded to Lagos on Saturday 25th January with the consignment in his bowel. He was however arrested upon his arrival at the Lagos airport by NDLEA officers on 26th January.
After five days under excretion observation, he could only expel 24 pellets following initial medical intervention at the agency’s medical facility and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja.
Babafemi said with the clock ticking for him and the complication of other underlining medical conditions, the suspect was eventually admitted at the tertiary facility where he had to undergo exploratory laparotomy to extract the remaining 57 wraps of cocaine stuck in his stomach after his wife and brother endorsed the necessary consent forms last Thursday.
In all, a total of 81 pellets of the Class A drug with a gross weight of 1.943 kilogrammes were alleged to have being recovered from his stomach.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Lagos last Wednesday intercepted a consignment of 2,000 kilogrammes of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis produced in Ghana, at Lekki beach, where two suspects: Sunday Awoyede and Christopher Cletus attempted loading them into a truck. The suspects, the skunk shipment and the van were immediately taken into custody. Another suspect, Lawal Idris Olasunkanmi was also arrested same day with 55 kilogrammes skunk during a raid at his base in Mushin area of Lagos.
Babafemi said across the country, NDLEA commands and formations continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of MMIA Strategic Command for their vigilance and professionalism in handling Chijioke Igbokwe’s case, warned those involved in the illicit drug trade that they’re not only destroying the lives of others, but equally putting their own lives at great risk.
He equally applauded the Lagos State Strategic Command for blocking the huge consignment of skunk from coming into the country, and recognized the concerted efforts of their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA social advocacy lectures and sensitization activities to create a balance in drug supply and demand reduction efforts of the agency.
NDLEA Foiled Attempt to Smuggle 81 Pellets of Cocaine to Lebanon
Troops Neutralise Suspected Terrorist Scout Ambush Operation in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have neutralised a suspected terrorist scout during an ambush operation in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
Military sources said the operation was carried out at about 10:15 p.m. on June 6 by troops of the 73 Battalion (Main) following intelligence reports indicating the presence and movement of suspected terrorists around Malari village.
According to the sources, the troops deployed to the area and laid an ambush after receiving information suggesting that insurgents were massing within the vicinity.
During the operation, the troops reportedly observed an individual suspected to be conducting reconnaissance approaching from the direction of Malari village.
The sources said the suspect was challenged and ordered to stop but allegedly continued advancing toward the troops’ position.
The troops subsequently engaged the suspect, who was neutralised during the encounter.
The operation forms part of ongoing counter-insurgency efforts aimed at preventing attacks on military positions and communities within the North-East region.
Military authorities said troops remain on heightened alert and are continuing surveillance and offensive operations across the area to deny insurgents freedom of movement.
Troops Neutralise Suspected Terrorist Scout Ambush Operation in Borno
Troops Arrest Suspected Kidnappers’ Informant, Recover Pistol in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 8 of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) have arrested a suspected kidnappers’ informant and recovered a pistol during an operation in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources said the suspect, identified as Yahaya Haruna, was arrested in the early hours of June 7 at Mungi village following intelligence linking him to criminal elements operating in the area.
According to the sources, troops of Sub-Sector 81 deployed at Gyambwas carried out the operation at about 12:15 a.m. after receiving credible information on the suspect’s alleged activities.
The sources said a search conducted at the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of one pistol believed to be connected to criminal operations.
“Acting on intelligence, troops arrested the suspect and conducted a search of his house, during which one pistol was recovered,” the sources said.
They added that the suspect and the recovered weapon were taken into custody for further investigation.
Security officials said preliminary investigations were ongoing to establish the suspect’s alleged links with kidnapping syndicates and determine the source of the recovered firearm.
They noted that efforts were also being intensified to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network.
The arrest forms part of ongoing security operations aimed at disrupting kidnapping networks and dismantling criminal support structures across Plateau State.
Authorities urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other forms of criminality.
Troops Arrest Suspected Kidnappers’ Informant, Recover Pistol in Plateau
Mali Offers Multi-Billion CFA Rewards for Information on Wanted Terrorist Leaders
By: Zagazola Makama
The Malian government has announced financial rewards running into billions of CFA francs for information leading to the capture or neutralisation of some of the country’s most wanted terrorist leaders, as authorities intensify efforts to combat insurgency across the Sahel.
The move, approved under the leadership of military ruler Gen. Assimi Goïta, targets key figures accused of orchestrating attacks against civilians, security forces and state institutions.
According to official information reported by state media, a reward of two billion CFA francs has been placed on Iyad Ag Ghali, leader of the jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), while a reward of 1.5 billion CFA francs has been offered for information leading to the capture of Amadou Koufa, a prominent militant commander associated with Katiba Macina.
Several other leaders of armed groups operating in Mali and the wider Sahel region are also covered by the reward scheme, with varying sums attached to them.
The Malian authorities said the rewards would be paid to individuals who provide credible information leading to the location, arrest or neutralisation of the wanted suspects. Citizens were urged to cooperate with security agencies by sharing relevant intelligence.
The announcement comes amid renewed military operations against jihadist groups in northern and central Mali, where insurgents linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have continued to launch attacks despite sustained counterterrorism campaigns.
Malian authorities have vowed to continue pursuing the leaders and support networks of armed groups until they are brought to justice.
Mali Offers Multi-Billion CFA Rewards for Information on Wanted Terrorist Leaders
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