Connect with us

News

NDLEA intercepts cocaine shipment from Brazil, detains ship, 20 Filipino crew members

Published

on

NDLEA intercepts cocaine shipment from Brazil, detains ship, 20 Filipino crew members

By: Michael Mike

Barely six months after 10 Thai sailors and their ship were convicted and fined $4.3 million for bringing 32.9 kilogrammes cocaine into Nigeria, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have again intercepted another commodity laden vessel- MV Nord Bosporus marked 9760110 from the port of Santos in Brazil at the Apapa seaport in Lagos with no less than 20 kilogrammes of the Class A drug buried under its cargo.

A statement on Friday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the illicit drug consignment was discovered on board the vessel last Sunday by NDLEA officers who thereafter took the Master of the ship, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus and 19 other crew members who are all Filipinos into custody for investigation.

Babafemi said following the seizure and arrest of the crew members, the NDLEA filed an application for an order of court for the detention of the vessel and the 20 Filipinos on board for further investigation.

He disclosed that the motion ex-parte in suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25 was argued before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, who on Thursday granted the application for an initial 14 days detention of the vessel, Capt. Corpus and 19 other Filipino crew members.

Babafemi said preliminary investigation revealed that this was the first time the vessel was coming to Nigeria and Africa as it’s been largely transporting coal between Colombia and Brazil while Captain Corpus has been barely three months with the ship.

He recalled that the agency had in a similar circumstance arrested 10 sailors who are nationals of Thailand on 13th October 2021 on board a vessel named MV Chayanee Naree for trafficking 32.9 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport. Nine Nigerian suspects were also arrested along with the Thai crew members.

He said the 10 Thai sailors and the vessel were eventually convicted on Thursday 15th May 2025 by a Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor who also fined them $4.3 million.

In his reaction to the latest significant seizure of 20 kilogrammes cocaine on board MV Nord Bosporus, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers, men and women of the Apapa Strategic Command of the agency as well as the Directorate of Seaport Operations for their vigilance, diligence and professionalism.

​Marwa said the cocaine seizure is not just an operational success but “a clear demonstration of our heightened capacity and unwavering resolve”, adding that “we will continue to tighten our grip on all entry and exit points, especially our seaports, which transnational criminal organisations have historically attempted to exploit.”

According to him, “Let this be an unambiguous message to every international drug cartel and every internal collaborator: Nigeria is not, and will never be, your space or your foothold. The NDLEA is operating with zero-tolerance, and we will not permit any illicit drug to pass through our borders, whether by air, land, or sea. You may scheme, you may attempt sophisticated concealment, but you will fail. Our intelligence network, collaboration with international partners, and the dedication of our officers are steps ahead of your nefarious activities.”

He reminded any Nigerian who chooses to collaborate with foreign syndicates in the illicit drug trade of the consequences their action.

He said: “You are not just committing a crime; you are betraying your nation’s future. The consequences of aiding and abetting drug trafficking will be severe and unrelenting. We are committed to using the full force of the law to dismantle your structures, seize your illicit assets, and secure your long-term incarceration.”

NDLEA intercepts cocaine shipment from Brazil, detains ship, 20 Filipino crew members

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Two die following clash at Tumbi Market in Gamawa LGA in Bauchi

Published

on

Two die following clash at Tumbi Market in Gamawa LGA in Bauchi

By: Zagazola Makama

Two young men have died following a violent altercation at Tumbi Market in Bachel Village, Gamawa Local Government Area, Bauchi State.

The incident occurred on March 13, 2026, at about 11:00 p.m., involving Bello Baba, 25, Auwal Bayaro, 20, Umaru Alh Gimba, 18, Haruna Adamu, 20, Yayaji Wakili, 20, and Ori Dadi, 20, all residents of Bachel Village.

Sources said that a disagreement among the group escalated, and the suspects reportedly attacked each other using sticks, resulting in serious injuries.

The injured were immediately conveyed to General Hospital, Gamawa, where Bello Baba and Auwal Bayaro succumbed to their injuries. Their remains have been released to their families for burial.

Police have intensified efforts to apprehend the other individuals involved.

They said that the case remains under investigation, and further updates will be communicated as developments unfold.

Two die following clash at Tumbi Market in Gamawa LGA in Bauchi

Continue Reading

News

UNICEF vaccinates 330 children in Gombe IDP camp

Published

on

UNICEF vaccinates 330 children in Gombe IDP camp

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Gombe State Government, has vaccinated no fewer than 333 displaced children sheltering in a camp in the state.

The children alongside their parents were displaced from their communities in Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State, following attacks by bandits on their villages.

The victims are currently staying in a camp located in Kashere town of Akko Local Government Area, Gombe State.

The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Abdulrahman Shuaibu, while speaking during the visit of UNICEF team to the camp on Friday said health interventions were ongoing to support displaced families.

Shuaibu said that children’s health remained a priority, with several zero-dose children already vaccinated.

He said that about 300 children had received routine immunisation as of Thursday, adding that 33 children previously classified as zero-dose had also been vaccinated.

He further said girls that are nine years old were receiving human papilloma virus vaccines.

“What we have done in the health section is to ensure we conduct reactive vaccination amongst children.

“We have a lot of children that are zero-dose, meaning they are children that have never received any form of vaccines, we have started immunising them.

“We have other children that are less than five that are receiving routine immunisation.

“We have our outreach team that come here at least three times a week to vaccinate children and we have surveillance officers amongst the IDPs that also refer clients from the IDPs to our nearby facilities for treatment,” he said.

According to him, two children had died in the camp while two babies had been delivered since the displaced families arrived.

The state government, he said, was working with UNICEF to provide therapeutic food for malnourished children.

On her part, Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, said her team visited the camp to support the displaced persons with 600 dignity and WASH kits to improve hygiene and sanitation at the camp.

Dr Rafique said that the intervention aimed to prevent disease outbreaks and improve conditions in the camp.

She expressed concern over poor sanitation and stressed the need to strengthen hygiene practices to safeguard the health of women and children.

“UNICEF is here especially to support immunisation and health services for pregnant and lactating mothers, including deliveries at a nearby facility where services are available.

“Today we distributed hygiene and dignity kits because sanitation is very poor here and hygiene must improve to prevent cholera and other diseases.”

On immunisation, Rafique said vaccination had also begun for many children who had not previously received routine immunisation.

She explained that several zero-dose children at the camp were now being covered under the immunisation programme.

According to her, children who had never attended school were also being supported through plans to establish temporary learning facilities.

“So we will establish a safe learning space so these children can begin learning and continue when they return to their communities,” she said.

Rafique commended the governments of Gombe and Bauchi states for supporting displaced persons.

She also praised the host community for helping to manage the camp and maintain order among residents.

UNICEF vaccinates 330 children in Gombe IDP camp

Continue Reading

News

India Strengthens Youth Ties with Nigeria Through Essay Competition Awards

Published

on

India Strengthens Youth Ties with Nigeria Through Essay Competition Awards

By: Michael Mike

The High Commission of India in Nigeria has honoured Nigerian winners of an essay competition organised under its newly introduced “Youth Junction” initiative, a programme designed to deepen youth engagement and strengthen people-to-people relations between India and Nigeria.

The prize distribution ceremony which took place at the High Commission in Abuja, drew participation from Nigerian and Indian youths who gathered to celebrate academic excellence, creativity and the growing partnership between the two nations.

Speaking at the event, India’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, said the Youth Junction initiative was created to provide a dynamic platform for young people in both countries to interact, share ideas and explore collaborative opportunities.

He explained that the programme seeks to inspire creativity, learning and innovation among youth while also promoting cultural understanding and strengthening the longstanding diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

Singh noted that young people remain central to the future of bilateral cooperation, stressing that platforms such as Youth Junction would encourage meaningful exchanges and partnerships in areas of shared interest.

The essay competition, which formed part of the initiative, was launched on February 6, 2026 with the theme “Strength of India–Nigeria Bilateral Relationship.” The contest invited Nigerian students to reflect on the evolving partnership between the two countries and highlight opportunities for deeper cooperation.

A representative of Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, commended the initiative, describing it as an important platform for strengthening bilateral relations through youth-driven engagement.

The representative noted that by bringing young Nigerians and Indians together, the initiative would encourage collaboration in areas such as technology, entrepreneurship, cultural exchange and digital skills development.

Participants at the event expressed optimism that sustained youth-focused programmes would open new avenues for cooperation and mutual understanding between both countries.

The High Commission congratulated the award recipients and reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the Youth Junction initiative as part of broader efforts to deepen the enduring partnership between India and Nigeria.

India Strengthens Youth Ties with Nigeria Through Essay Competition Awards

Continue Reading

Trending

Verified by MonsterInsights