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 arrest suspect over assault on Nigerian Air Force personnel in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have arrested a suspect in connection with the assault on a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 8:15 a.m. on June 25, when troops of Sector 8 (Sub-Sector 82) responded to a distress report of an attack on an aircraft man attached to the 263 Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, Daura, Katsina State.
The airman was reportedly on welfare pass to Gital Community in Tafawa Balewa LGA when he was assaulted by a group of assailants.
On arrival at the scene, the troops arrested one of the suspects, identified as Umar Farouq Saidu, while other members of the group fled on sighting the security personnel.
Security sources said the arrested suspect is currently being interrogated to provide leads that will facilitate the arrest of the fleeing suspects and aid further investigation into the incident.
The military said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects and ensure they are brought to justice.
Troops arrest suspect over assault on Nigerian Air Force personnel in Bauchi
Boko Haram family members surrender to troops in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
No fewer than 11 family members of Boko Haram terrorists, comprising five women and six children, have surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Borno State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the surrender took place at about 6:00 p.m. on June 24 at separate locations in Banki, Bama Local Government Area.
According to the sources, four women and four minors from Chongolo village voluntarily surrendered to troops of the 152 Task Force Battalion, while another woman and two minors from Ladantar surrendered to troops of the 151 Task Force Battalion at Banki Junction.
The sources said preliminary profiling revealed that all 11 individuals are family members of Boko Haram terrorists who fled insurgent enclaves in search of safety.
Following documentation and profiling by the troops, the surrendered individuals were handed over to the Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp for further processing and rehabilitation in line with established procedures.
Military sources said the surrender is part of the continuing wave of defections from terrorist enclaves as sustained military pressure under Operation HADIN KAI continues to weaken insurgent groups operating in the North-East.
They added that the overall security situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, while troops remain vigilant and maintain high morale in ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
Boko Haram family members surrender to troops in Borno
Crime
Troops intercept two suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers, seize 750 litres of petrol in Yobe
Troops intercept two suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers, seize 750 litres of petrol in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested two suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers and recovered a large quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during a snap checkpoint operation in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 3:30 p.m. on June 24 by troops of the 27 Task Force Brigade Garrison following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected terrorist collaborators along the Buni Gari–Bara road.
The suspects were identified as Lawali Alhaji Yunusa and Musa Ibrahim Baguwa, both natives of Kukawa Ward in Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Items recovered from the suspects include two TVS motorcycles, 30 jerrycans of 25 litres each filled with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), amounting to about 750 litres of fuel, one Tecno mobile phone and the sum of ₦49,650.
Military sources said the suspects and the recovered exhibits are currently in the custody of the 27 Task Force Brigade Garrison for further investigation to establish their links with Boko Haram logistics networks.
The arrest is part of ongoing efforts by Operation HADIN KAI to disrupt the supply chain sustaining terrorist activities in the North-East by intercepting fuel, food and other logistics destined for insurgent enclaves.
Troops intercept two suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers, seize 750 litres of petrol in Yobe
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