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
Crime
Eight police personnel injured in road accident in Borno
Eight police personnel injured in road accident in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Eight police personnel and eight other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries in a motor vehicle accident along the Rann–Maiduguri axis in Borno State.
Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at about 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at Musene village in Ngala Local Government Area.
The source said the accident involved a Toyota Hilux patrol vehicle conveying police personnel escorting electoral materials and officials of the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) from Rann to Maiduguri, and a Sharon car.
According to the source, the vehicles had a head-on collision due to poor visibility caused by heavy dust along the road.
The injured police personnel were all attached to Kal-Balge Division.
The source added that eight passengers in the Sharon car, including an immigration officer whose identity was not disclosed, also sustained injuries.
Following the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ngala led a Motor Traffic Department (MTD) team to the scene, where photographs and relevant measurements were taken.
The sources said that all the injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital, Ngala, where they are currently receiving treatment and responding positively, the source said.
The case is under investigation.
Eight police personnel injured in road accident in Borno
Crime
10 livestock shot dead 12 inured in attack on Fulani in Gero village as another reprisal in Plateau deepen
10 livestock shot dead 12 inured in attack on Fulani in Gero village as another reprisal in Plateau deepen
By: Zagazola Makama
Tension heightened in Gero village, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau, following the killing and injury of livestock in an attack against Fulani allegedly carried out by Berom militias, an incident residents warned could trigger another round of reprisals across the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on Sunday when armed men stormed grazing areas around Gero village and opened fire on cattle belonging to Fulani herders.
According to the sources, no fewer than 10 cattle were killed on the spot, while 12 others sustained fatal injuries and were later abandoned.
Community leaders described the attack as part of a growing pattern of unreported violence against pastoral communities in Jos South and adjoining local government areas.The attack at Gero is not an isolated incident. Similar cases have been happening quietly, a community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
The sources alleged that repeated complaints to authorities had yielded little response, accusing the Plateau State Government of reacting mainly to incidents from one side of the conflict.

Zagazola reports that the Gero incident came amid heightened tension following a series of violent episodes across Plateau in recent days, particularly in Barkin Ladi, Riyom and Jos East Local Government Areas.
In one of the most disturbing incidents, four children were killed on Thursday in Dorong village, Foron District of Barkin Ladi LGA, in a reprisal attack linked to earlier assaults on pastoral communities and large-scale cattle rustling.
The victims were identified as Precious Joshuah, 17; Isa’ac Joshuah, 9; Mary Joshuah, 7; and Eve Sambo, 3.
The reprisal followed coordinated attacks in which more than 160 cattle were reportedly rustled in Barkin Ladi and Jos East LGAs, while several others died after grazing on poisoned substances in Riyom LGA.
Zagazola report that concern of recent narratives suggesting bandits were planning fresh attacks ahead of the Christmas season failed to reflect the realities on the ground. Many of these reprisals are being triggered by killings, cattle rustling and livestock poisoning that go largely unreported, some allegedly involving government-supported militias,” another source said.
Zagazola warned that unless the government intervened decisively by investigating all attacks, arresting perpetrators irrespective of affiliation and addressing grievances on all sides, Plateau would continue to slide into more violence.
“We fear another round of reprisals if these issues are ignored. Innocent people, especially women and children, who dont know anything always pay the price,” the source added.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Government and security agencies were yet to issue an official statement on the Gero village incident.
10 livestock shot dead 12 inured in attack on Fulani in Gero village as another reprisal in Plateau deepen
Crime
Gunmen kill police inspector, two others in Nassarawa, cart away rifle
Gunmen kill police inspector, two others in Nassarawa, cart away rifle
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen have killed a police inspector and two civilians during an attack on a patrol team in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, the police have confirmed.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Dec. 14, 2025, at about 6:30 p.m. along Ajimaka Village road en route to Rukubi town.
According to the sources, the patrol team, attached to Operation Restore Peace and led by Inspector Jampi Mbursa, was ambushed by a group of unidentified gunmen while on routine patrol alongside vigilante members.
“The assailants shot Inspector Jampi Mbursa, as well as two other persons identified as Julius Igbogh and Raphaeal Julius, all from Ajimaka Village,” the sources said.
The attackers reportedly carted away the inspector’s AK-47 rifle containing 30 rounds of live ammunition before fleeing the scene.
The victims were rushed to Rukubi General Hospital, where they were confirmed dead by medical personnel. Their remains have been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.
The police said efforts were ongoing to recover the stolen firearm and arrest those responsible for the attack.
End
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