Crime
NDLEA intercepts cocaine consignments at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt airports, arrests 7 traffickers
NDLEA intercepts cocaine consignments at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt airports, arrests 7 traffickers
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted at the nation’s three major airports of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt large consignments of cocaine which Brazil based drug cartels tried smuggling into the country.
According to the spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi arrested were seven traffickers in the smashes.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman said at the Port Harcourt International Airport, five suspects were arrested on Saturday 9th April. Three of them were arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt.
He said the three suspects departed Sao Paulo, Brazil on board same Qatar flight, en-route Doha to Abuja and Port Harcourt with a total of 24.96 kilogrammes of cocaine.
Babafemi sad the first is 51-year-old Udogwu Johnson who was arrested with 5.48 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in lotion plastic bottles sealed with candle wax. He claimed he agreed to traffic the drug for a fee of N1 million.
He said also arrested is Ezekwueme Valentine, 32, who was caught with 10.82 kilogrammes cocaine packed in 84 sachets concealed in seven duvets, while the third trafficker, Chiezie Ikechukwu Arinze, 35, was arrested with 8.66 kilogrammes cocaine hidden in 115 golden and silver colour 30ml breakable bottles factory packaged with lotion on top.
The fourth suspect, Uchechukwu Onwugbufor, 42, according to him, was arrested at the airport car park while waiting to receive one of the traffickers, Udogwu James and his consignment. He claimed he was contacted by someone in Brazil to receive Udogwu and lead him to Lagos for a fee of N100,000. Uchechukwu Onwugbufor was at the Airport with his neigbour, Nwogu Ezimadu, who is equally being investigated to determine if he is complicit in the crime or not.
He said at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, a Psychology graduate of Imo State University, Owerri, Sebastine Kelvin, 30, was arrested with 74 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.454 kilogrammes on arrival aboard Ethiopian Airline flight enroute Doula- Addis Ababa-Abuja last Wednesday.
He said the father of one who claims he is a motor spare parts dealer, said he lived in Cameroon for six years before going into the drug business to raise money to boost his trade. He added that he was introduced to the man who gave him the drugs at Addis Ababa by another person serving jail term for drug offence at the Doula Newbell Prison.
Also Read: Wamakko bags NDLEA Wider Ambassador Award
Babafemi said in Lagos, another Brazil based passenger, Uba Samuel was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, by NDLEA operatives last Friday on arrival aboard Ethiopian Airline flight from Sao Paulo via Addis Ababa to Lagos with sachets of cocaine weighing 633 grammes concealed in his footwear and toothpaste tube.
The suspect who claims to be a shoemaker and barber, while accepting ownership of the drug, said he used his shoe making knowledge to conceal the drug in his pair of sandals. Uba who is a regular traveller confessed he bought the drug to sell at a market in Abia.
In other clampdown, more illicit substances were recovered in raid operations in other parts of the country. In Gadaka village of Fika local government area, Yobe state, operatives arrested one Hassan Usman with a total of 22,110 tablets of Tramadol, D5 and Exol 5, while one Ali Mohammed was nabbed in a commercial vehicle coming from Kano to Maiduguri with 40 blocks of cannabis weighing 33 kilogrammes. Also arrested on the Kano-Maiduguri route was a driver Ibrahim Khalil Idris with 60 packets of Tramadol, all on Tuesday 12th April.
In Kogi state, 750 blocks of cannabis weighing 750 kilogrammes were seized from two suspects: Hassan Adamu, 25, and Abdulmalik Abdullahi, 24, along Okene-Abuja highway. The drug exhibits were concealed inside fabricated panels of a Ford bus.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of the PHIA, NAIA, MMIA, Yobe, and Kogi Commands of the agency for disrupting desperate attempts by drug cartels to traffic dangerous drugs into Nigeria and across the country. He said the huge seizures at the airports will send a strong message to drug barons that Nigeria will no longer be their safe destination or transit route.
NDLEA intercepts cocaine consignments at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt airports, arrests 7 traffickers
Crime
Troops Repel Deadly Ambush by Armed Berom Militia in Plateau, Recover Nine Dead Cattle After Attack on Herdsmen
Troops Repel Deadly Ambush by Armed Berom Militia in Plateau, Recover Nine Dead Cattle After Attack on Herdsmen
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have repelled a deadly ambush by suspected armed Berom militia during a response operation following targeted attacks on cattle in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on May 10, 2026, after troops received reports of gunshots around Gero area in Jos South LGA.
The sources said troops of Sector 3 swiftly mobilised to the scene in support of personnel of Sector 6 OPEP already operating within the area.
While attempting to link up with Sector 6 troops, the security personnel reportedly came under ambush from suspected armed Berom militia who allegedly attempted to encircle the troops from surrounding mountainous areas.
Troops, however, responded with superior firepower, forcing the attackers to withdraw toward Nyango and Daron communities within Jos South LGA.
Military sources said troops expended ammunition during the exchange while continuing pursuit operations across the general area.
Following the operation, troops confirmed that nine cows were killed while five others sustained gunshot injuries during the attack.
A herder identified as Aliyu Yusuf also sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed for medical treatment.
The attack in Jos South is not an isolated incident. Only recently in Mangu Local Government Area, troops deployed to stop attacks linked to illegal mining unrest came under deadly assault from another groups of armed Militia.
During the confrontation, a senior Nigerian Army officer was killed after troops were attacked while attempting to restore order. Two of the armed terrorists were instantly gunned down.
Troops have since intensified patrols and domination operations within the affected communities to prevent further attacks and restore calm.
Zagazola report Violence keeps recycling itself because armed groups on all sides continue launching attacks knowing that ethnic sympathy and propaganda will later shield them from accountability.
Troops Repel Deadly Ambush by Armed Berom Militia in Plateau, Recover Nine Dead Cattle After Attack on Herdsmen
Crime
Troops Arrest Suspect with Over 1,300 Empty Ammunition Casings in Borno
Troops Arrest Suspect with Over 1,300 Empty Ammunition Casings in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forces headed by the Special Adviser of the Borno State government, Ibrahim Mohammed, who was the former OC Crack in Borno state have arrested a suspect in connection with the discovery of a large quantity of empty ammunition casings following an explosion incident in Kaleri general area of Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that operatives, in collaboration with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), mobilised to the scene at about 9:13 p.m. on May 6, 2026, after receiving information on the explosion.
On arrival, one suspect was apprehended in possession of 1,341 empty cases of 12.7 x 99mm ammunition as well as 47 ammunition boxes.
Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that the recovered items were linked to the suspect’s brother, a soldier serving at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri, who allegedly removed warheads from live rounds and diverted the empty casings for illegal sale.
The suspect is currently in police custody while further investigations are ongoing to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the diversion and possible network involved.
Troops Arrest Suspect with Over 1,300 Empty Ammunition Casings in Borno
Crime
23 Suspects, Including Notorious Gang Leader, Transferred After Joint Security Screening in Adamawa
23 Suspects, Including Notorious Gang Leader, Transferred After Joint Security Screening in Adamawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Security agencies have transferred 23 suspected criminals, including a wanted gang leader, to the Adamawa State Police Command following a joint screening operation in Mubi South and Mubi North Local Government Areas.
Security sources told Zagazola that the development followed a joint raid conducted on May 6, 2026, in which 73 suspects were arrested at a suspected criminal hideout within the area.
The sources said a joint screening exercise was carried out at about 10:00 a.m. on May 7, 2026, at the Mubi South Police Division, involving intelligence operatives, military police, Nigeria Police Force representatives and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Following the screening, 50 of the suspects were released to their families after being cleared of direct involvement in criminal activities.
However, 23 suspects were retained for further investigation and subsequently transferred to the Adamawa State Police Command for additional interrogation and possible prosecution.
Among those transferred was a suspected notorious gang leader identified as Mallam Salim Danabba, also known as “Bravo Boy Leader,” who is reportedly on the security watchlist for involvement in organised criminal activities in the area.
Security authorities said the joint operation was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and improve security across Adamawa State and surrounding border communities.
They added that follow-up operations and intelligence-driven raids would continue to prevent the regrouping of criminal elements in the region.
23 Suspects, Including Notorious Gang Leader, Transferred After Joint Security Screening in Adamawa
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