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NDLEA intercepts about N18 billion worth of drugs at Lagos, Port Harcourt Ports

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NDLEA intercepts about N18 billion worth of drugs at Lagos, Port Harcourt Ports

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a total of 31, 124, 600 pills of tramadol 225mg and bottles of codeine-based syrup worth about N18 billion at both Port Harcourt and Apapa seaports.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi the seizures at both Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state and Tincan seaports in Apapa, Lagos, were made following intelligence processed by the agency on the movement of the shipments from their port of origin in India, leading to a demand for a 100 percent joint examination of the watch-listed containers with the Nigerian Customs Service and other sister security agencies.

He noted that a breakdown of the seizures show that 350,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered from two containers at Tincan port in Lagos last Thursday and Friday with each of the two containers having 175,000 bottles of the opioid.

He said at the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, NDLEA operatives equally intercepted a total of 447 cartons of tramadol 225mg containing 29, 840,000 pills of the opioid as well as 380,000 bottles of codeine syrup from three containers last Thursday, adding that the tramadol shipments came under different brand names such as Royal Tapetadol, Carisoprodol 225mg and Royal Tramadol Hydrochloride 225mg.

Babafemi said the following day, Friday, another set of three containers watch-listed by NDLEA were subjected to joint examination, and at the end of the exercise, a total of 3,030 cartons of codeine syrup containing 554,600 bottles of the opioid were recovered from them, bringing the total bottles of codeine seized at Onne, Rivers and Tincan in Lagos to 1,284,600 bottles worth N8,992,200,000.00 in street value while the combined seizure of tramadol stood at 29,840,000 pills valued at N8,940,000,000.00.

The spokesman said NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers state last Tuesday arrested a suspect, Eze Emekan, while attempting to board a Cronos airline flight to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea with 1,490 pills of tramadol concealed and packaged as cosmetics of different brands inside his luggage. His attempt to compromise the officers to evade arrest was rebuffed.

He said a wanted ex-beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas also known as Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye has surrendered to the Lagos Command of the agency after about eight months in hiding.

He recalled that the former beauty pageant was declared wanted by the agency in January after she escaped from her Lekki, Lagos residence when NDLEA operatives raided her apartment at Oral estate, Lekki following credible intelligence she deals in illicit substances.

Babafemi said the suspect was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of Queen Christmas Foundation, and recovered from her home during the search witnessed by the estate officials include 606 grammes of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale, large quantities of drugs packing plastics, a black RAV 4 SUV marked Lagos KSF 872 GQ, and her picture frame among others.

He said the suspect who claimed she has been hiding in Akure, Ondo state capital since January when she escaped arrest in Lekki Lagos however surrendered to the agency last Wednesday.

Babafemi disclosed that no less than 1,122 kilogrammes of cannabis were seized from a suspect, Mustapha Ibrahim when he was arrested last Monday along Orchid road, Ajah, Lagos, while 816 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance belonging to a suspect at large was recovered from the same location same day.

In Niger state, NDLEA operatives last Monday arrested a suspect Friday Gabriel along Minna-Suleja road while conveying 1,900 capsules of tramadol, 300 bottles of codeine syrup and 600 packets of exol-5 tablets; operatives in Bauchi state on Saturday arrested two suspects: Garba Muhammed, 35; and Usman Shehu, 31,
along Bauchi-Gombe road while transporting 308 blocks of cannabis weighing 246.4 kilogrammes, concealed in false compartment of a J5 bus marked Edo state URM 38 ZY.

The spokesman said commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

In his response to the latest seizures and arrests, Chairman/ Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended all the officers and men of PHPC, Tincan and the Special Operations Unit of the Agency that had been working on the targeted containers for their vigilance and professionalism.

He equally praised the support received from other stakeholders at the ports that enabled the seamless and successful operations in the course of targeting the shipments, while applauding operatives in Lagos, Niger, Bauchi and PHIA as well as other commands across the country for their diligence and balance in their drug demand reduction and drug supply reduction efforts.

NDLEA intercepts about N18 billion worth of drugs at Lagos, Port Harcourt Ports

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Armed Mob Led By “Bullet” Storms Aboh Ogwashi-Uku, Attacks Police Officers, Destroys Property Amid Ongoing Federal Court Case

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Armed Mob Led By “Bullet” Storms Aboh Ogwashi-Uku, Attacks Police Officers, Destroys Property Amid Ongoing Federal Court Case

Aboh Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State —

Pandemonium broke out yesterday in Aboh Ogwashi-Uku as a violent group of attackers alleged to be from Ibusa descended on the community in a coordinated assault that left residents injured, properties destroyed, and a serving police officer seriously wounded.

Eyewitness accounts and security sources confirmed that the attack was led by one Lucky Abuah, popularly known as “Bullet,” described by law enforcement authorities as a repeat offender and a person of interest in multiple violent incidents across jurisdictions.

The attackers reportedly invaded the area in broad daylight, unleashing violence on residents and damaging structures before security forces responded.

Swift intervention by officers from the Ogwashi-Uku Area Command and reinforcements from the Delta State Police Headquarters, Asaba, brought the situation under control after an intense confrontation.

The attackers were eventually repelled, restoring a tense calm to the area.

Police sources disclosed that Lucky Abuah is already wanted by authorities in Abuja in connection with similar violent activities, and that criminal charges bordering on aggravated assault and grievous harm have been filed against him at the Delta State High Court.

A senior community leader, Chief Ralph Okafor, reacting to the incident, condemned the attack in strong terms, describing Abuah and his associates as “notorious land grabbers” who have repeatedly carried out violent incursions into neighbouring communities.

“This is not an isolated incident. These individuals have a pattern of using violence and intimidation to push false claims. What happened in Aboh Ogwashi-Uku is a clear example of lawlessness that must be decisively addressed,” he stated.

The attack comes at a highly sensitive time, coinciding with the commencement of proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 18, 2026, before Honourable Justice Omotosho, concerning the proper name and legal location of Admiralty University.

Members of the Ogwashi-Uku community maintain that the institution is situated within Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom in Aniocha South Local Government Area, and not in Oshimili North, stressing that local government boundaries are constitutional matters that cannot be altered arbitrarily or by administrative claims.

According to community sources, the recognized boundary between Ibusa (Oshimili North) and Ogwashi-Uku lies several kilometers away from the university’s actual location, and the matter is now squarely before the Federal High Court for judicial determination.

Observers have raised concerns that the violent incident may not be unconnected with attempts by certain elements to preempt or influence ongoing judicial proceedings through intimidation and public pressure.

There are also growing criticisms of calls from some Ibusa figures urging government intervention in a matter already pending before competent courts, a move legal experts describe as a dangerous encroachment on judicial independence.

Chief Okafor further dismissed claims circulating in some quarters about a purported 1986 Supreme Court judgment allegedly settling the boundary dispute, describing such assertions as “false, misleading, and legally untenable.”

“The Delta State Government does not execute court judgments. It is the courts that enforce their decisions through due process. How can anyone suddenly resurrect a supposed judgment from forty years ago, which did not even address boundary issues, and attempt to use it to justify present-day claims? It is completely absurd,” he said.

He emphasized that the actual boundary dispute between the two communities is currently before the Delta State High Court, presided over by Honourable Justice Obi, and urged all parties to respect the judicial process.

“No amount of intimidation, propaganda, or violent grandstanding will alter the facts before the court. Ogwashi-Uku will not be bullied or pushed around by fabricated claims,” he added.

The latest development sharply contradicts recent narratives from Ibusa representatives portraying the community as peaceful and law-abiding, raising serious questions about the credibility of such claims in light of the violent events in Aboh Ogwashi-Uku.

Security has since been reinforced in the affected areas, while residents remain on edge, calling on authorities to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

As tensions continue to rise, all eyes are now on both the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Delta State High Court in Asaba, where the legal battles over boundary and institutional identity are expected to provide definitive answers.

For many observers, however, one thing is clear — the rule of law, not violence, will determine the true ownership and identity of the disputed territory.

Armed Mob Led By “Bullet” Storms Aboh Ogwashi-Uku, Attacks Police Officers, Destroys Property Amid Ongoing Federal Court Case

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RPGs, ammunition recovered from neutralised bandits in Katsina

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RPGs, ammunition recovered from neutralised bandits in Katsina

By: Zagazola Makama

Security operatives in Katsina have recovered two rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) rifles and large quantities of ammunition from three bandits neutralised in a recent clash with community vigilantes.

Sources said the discovery was made on Wednesday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. in Sabon Gida Village, Jibia Local Government Area, following a violent confrontation between vigilante members and repentant bandits on March 17.

According to the sources, a concealed sack recovered from the neutralised bandits contained two RPG rifles, 139 rounds of live ammunition, and two magazine chains.

The items were safely recovered by security personnel.

RPGs, ammunition recovered from neutralised bandits in Katsina

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Troops arrest two suspected ISWAP informants in Borno

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Troops arrest two suspected ISWAP informants in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested two suspected informants linked to ISWAP in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno.

Security sources said the suspects were apprehended at about 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday following credible intelligence from a watchkeeper on suspicious movements within the Mainok general area.

According to the sources, troops of the 156 Task Force Battalion swiftly responded and intercepted the suspects while moving towards the Goni–Masari axis.

The sources disclosed that the suspects were found in possession of electrical cables at the time of their arrest, raising suspicions over possible sabotage or support activities for terrorist elements.

“They are currently in custody and undergoing preliminary investigation to ascertain their roles and possible links with terrorist groups,” the source said.

He added that the operation underscores the importance of community-based intelligence in ongoing counter-insurgency efforts across the North-East.

The source reaffirmed that troops remain vigilant and committed to denying terrorists freedom of action within their areas of responsibility.

Troops arrest two suspected ISWAP informants in Borno

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