Crime

NDLEA Impounds Spain-bound Cocaiine Consignment

Published

2 years ago

July 28, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

NDLEA Impounds Spain-bound Cocaiine Consignment

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have saved Spain from getting 1.2 kilogrammes of cocaine smuggled into it via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to a statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the success was recorded when a Spain based businessman, 50-year-old Francis Akajiobi, was arrested by operatives at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the airport after parcels of cocaine weighing 1.20 kilogrammes were discovered in his pair of sandals while attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Madrid, Spain.

Babafemi said the two parcels of cocaine were concealed in the soles of a pair of black sandals Akajiobi was wearing to board his flight when NDLEA operatives intercepted him last Thursday, and during his preliminary interrogation, he claimed the consignment was delivered to him at a bar in Port Harcourt, Rivers state and was to deliver it to his friend and neighbour in Spain for a fee of €5,000 upon successful delivery to the recipient.

In other clampdowns during the week, Makinde Lekan was arrested in connection with the seizure of 99 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 51.6 kilogrammes that arrived the SAHCO Imports shed of the Lagos airport on a Turkish Airlines flight from Canada via Istanbul, Turkey.

Operatives of the Special Operations Unit of the agency targeting syndicates that specialize in shipping large consignments of opioids into neighbouring countries from where they attempt smuggling them into Nigeria in smaller quantities through transport companies, have arrested one of the kingpins, Chukwuemaka Obodozie.

Obodozie was arrested in the early hours of Sunday 21st July at Cele bus stop along Oshodi-Apapa express road, Lagos with 100,000 tablets of tramadol 225mg loaded in two bags shortly after his arrival from Ghana via one of the transport companies plying the Lagos-Ghana route. The success followed an intelligence led operation which involved five months of surveillance around the accused.

No fewer than 17 suspects were arrested on Friday 26th July when NDLEA operatives raided the Owena forest in Oriade local government area of Osun State, where they destroyed 31,250 kilogrammes of cannabis on 12.5 hectares of farmland, while 84 kilogrammes of processed cannabis sativa was recovered along with a single barrel Dane gun.

Those arrested in connection with the crime include: Peter Osuya, 51; Zebron Ode, 46; Dogo Matthew, 35; Isaac Terna; Joseph Lawrence, 27; Ugochukwu Victory, 24; Olamilekan Abolarin, 26; Dele Ayibo, 44; Ojo Moses, 21; Nini Ayila, 27; Msughve Clement, 23; Chuks Ogeneku, 40; Dada Aribo, 20; Uche Endurance, 30; Patrick Agba, 21; Osakwe Kennedy, 45; and Ojo Babatunde, 29.

In Kaduna state, NDLEA operatives on stop and search patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway on Saturday 27th July intercepted a 32-year-old lady, Ubaida Aliyu in possession of 573 rounds of 7.60 live ammunition, which she claimed she was attempting to deliver to bandits in Sokoto, while a suspect, Godwin Udochukwu, 35, was arrested in connection with the seizure of 25,000 ampoules of Pentazocine injection by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna-Zaria highway, another suspect, Alkasim Mikailu, 35, was nabbed in Kano on a follow up operation following the seizure of 37,880 ampoules of Diazepam injection along Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Two suspects: Abioye Adeniyi, 39, and Rafiu Lekan, 41, were arrested with 55 jumbo wraps of Ghana Loud by NDLEA operatives at Oloko along Badagry-Seme road, Lagos last Friday 26th July, while Samson Egwutouhi, 30, was nabbed same day by officers on patrol along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway with 20 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa that weighed 10.5 kilogrammes. In Bauchi State, two suspects: Suleiman Yahaya, 50, and Ibrahim Bello (a.k.a Special), 35, were last Thursday arrested with 315 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 204.75 kilogrammes along Maiduguri bye-pass, Bauchi town.

Babafemi said with the same drive, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in 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 the Special Operations Unit, MMIA, Osun, Bauchi, Kogi, Seme, and Kaduna commands for the arrests and seizures, praised their pulverizing onslaught against drug cartels across the country.

He also expressed delight in the balance of their drug supply reduction efforts with drug demand reduction activities while urging them not to rest on their oars.

NDLEA Impounds Spain-bound Cocaiine Consignment

Crime

Troops Rescue Two Abductees Near Gwoza, Borno

Published

2 hours ago

October 18, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Troops Rescue Two Abductees Near Gwoza, Borno

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of the 192 Battalion (Mechanised), in collaboration with personnel of the 26 Task Force Brigade, have rescued two abductees around the Kuranabasa axis of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

Security sources said the rescue operation was conducted at about 2:35 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2026.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the victims had been held captive at a suspected terrorist camp in Chikide, within the Mandara Mountains.

The two rescued victims were subsequently handed over to the officials of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Gwoza for further assistance and necessary action.

The rescue forms part of ongoing military efforts to locate and free people held captive by terrorist groups operating around the Mandara Mountains and other parts of the North-East.

Further investigations are expected to establish the circumstances of the abduction and determine whether other victims remain in captivity.

Troops Rescue Two Abductees Near Gwoza, Borno

Crime

ISWAP Fighter, Wife and Son Surrender to Troops in Borno

Published

2 hours ago

October 18, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

ISWAP Fighter, Wife and Son Surrender to Troops in Borno

By Zagazola Makama

A member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has surrendered to troops of the Nigerian Army alongside his wife and son in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.

Security sources said the fighter surrendered at about 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 16, 2026, to troops of the 202 Battalion ahead of the Bravo Kilo 16 location in Bama.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the fighter escaped from a terrorist enclave in Zarmari Village, around Bula Daloye in the same local government area.

He reportedly attributed his decision to surrender to internal conflicts within the terrorist group and logistical difficulties arising from ongoing military operations against the insurgents.

The troops recovered one pump-action gun, two cartridges and a mobile phone from the surrendered fighter.

The fighter, his wife and son, alongside the recovered items, are currently in military custody for further investigation and necessary action.

The development highlights the continued pressure on terrorist networks operating in the North-East, as military operations target their camps, logistics and freedom of movement.

Further screening is expected to establish the fighter’s operational background and provide additional intelligence on ISWAP activities in the area.

ISWAP Fighter, Wife and Son Surrender to Troops in Borno

Crime

Troops Rescue 27 Kidnap Victims, Including Six-Month-Old Baby, in Katsina

Published

1 day ago

October 17, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Troops Rescue 27 Kidnap Victims, Including Six-Month-Old Baby, in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation FANSAN YANMA have rescued 27 kidnapped victims, including a six-month-old infant, following a gun battle with suspected terrorists in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The operation was conducted by troops of the 17 Brigade under the Joint Task Force (North West) after receiving a distress call from residents of Gamji community at about 12:25 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2026, reporting the activities of suspected terrorists in the area.

Security sources said the troops immediately mobilised to the community but the suspected terrorists had fled into the surrounding bushes with their captives before the soldiers arrived.

The troops subsequently launched a pursuit through Gangare Village towards Kamba Village, where they made contact with the fleeing suspects at about 6:05 p.m.

The soldiers engaged the suspected terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon the captives and flee in disarray into the surrounding bushes.

A subsequent search of the area led to the successful rescue of all 27 victims, comprising 15 males and 12 females, including the six-month-old infant.
The rescued victims were later handed over to the village head of Gamji, Alhaji Falalu Suleiman, following preliminary investigations.

The sources said no casualties were recorded among the troops during the operation, while the casualty status of the suspected terrorists remained unconfirmed.

They added that troops had continued aggressive patrols across the general area to prevent further criminal activities, deny the suspected terrorists freedom of action and enhance the safety of residents.

The successful rescue underscores the importance of timely intelligence from local communities and rapid military response in ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other security threats in the North-West.

Troops Rescue 27 Kidnap Victims, Including Six-Month-Old Baby, in Katsina