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
Police Launch Manhunt After Officer Attacked, Robbed in Ogun
By: Zagazola Makama
The Ogun State Police Command has launched a manhunt for suspected hoodlums who attacked and robbed a police officer along the Dangote–Eggua Express Road in Yewa North Local Government Area of the state.
Police sources said the incident was reported at the Igbogila Division by ASP Abimiku Ewuga Wahala, a Patrol and Guard officer attached to the Area Command, Ayetoro.
According to sources, the officer was travelling from Ayetoro to Igbogila on June 14 when he was ambushed by four armed hoodlums between Olu-Omo Petrol Station and Iya Shadia Junction.
The attackers, armed with sticks and cutlasses, allegedly assaulted the officer and left him unconscious before fleeing with his belongings.
Items stolen during the attack included a Boxer motorcycle with registration number OGUN AKM 658 UV, which the officer had borrowed from a friend, his police uniforms and accoutrements, a Tecno T303 mobile phone and a Tecno Pop 7 Android phone.
Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) led a team of detectives to the scene as part of efforts to track down the suspects.
Police authorities said investigations were ongoing and efforts had been intensified to arrest the perpetrators and recover the stolen items.
The command urged members of the public with useful information to assist security agencies in apprehending those responsible for the attack.
Police Launch Manhunt After Officer Attacked, Robbed in Ogun
Fulani bandits Kill 18 in Fresh Attack on Plateau Communities
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected armed Fulani bandits have reportedly killed 18 persons in a fresh attack on Kawel and Kopkon communities in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Sources said that the troops of Sector 5 under Operation Enduring Peace responded to the coordinated attack at about 1:20 a.m. on June 20.
According to sources, the assailants invaded Kawel and Kopkon villages, shooting sporadically before fleeing the scene prior to the arrival of security forces.
Upon arrival, troops discovered 12 bodies in Kawel village and six bodies in Kopkon village, bringing the total number of fatalities to 18.
The attackers had reportedly escaped before troops could make contact.
The sources stated that troops immediately launched offensive operations in the general area aimed at tracking and apprehending the fleeing suspects.
Plateau State has continued to witnessed a series of violent incidents across some local government areas, including Bokkos and Riyom, where farmers and herders clashes continued to escalate resulting in multiple fatalities, despite response by the security agencies.
Operation Enduring has intensified patrols and security deployments in parts of Plateau State following recurring attacks in some rural communities.
Fulani bandits Kill 18 in Fresh Attack on Plateau Communities
Again, Troops Arrest Suspected ISWAP Spy in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested a 26-year-old man suspected of spying for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and plotting attacks against military formations in Borno State.
Security sources disclosed that the suspect, identified as Mustapha Mohammed, was apprehended by troops of 19 Brigade deployed at the Kekeno-Monguno checkpoint on June 19 following credible intelligence.
According to reliable information obtained on Sunday, the suspect was allegedly involved in intelligence gathering and collaboration with ISWAP terrorists.
Sources indicated that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect was linked to plans by terrorists to attack troops deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Kekeno.
“Acting on credible intelligence, troops of 19 Brigade deployed at the Kekeno-Monguno checkpoint arrested one Mustapha Mohammed, aged 26 years, suspected to be an ISWAP terrorist spy.
“The suspect was arrested for allegedly collaborating with terrorists on possible plans to attack troops deployed at FOB Kekeno,” the report stated.
Military authorities said the suspect is currently in the custody of 19 Brigade for further interrogation and intelligence exploitation.
Again, Troops Arrest Suspected ISWAP Spy in Borno
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