Crime
NDLEA intercepts drug consignments in wooden statue, imported vehicle
NDLEA intercepts drug consignments in wooden statue, imported vehicle
. Seizes 3,975kgs skunk, 58,200 tramadol pills in cross country interdictions
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted over 37.5 kilogrammes of illicit substances at airport and seaport in Lagos in the last one week.
The anti-narcotics agency also arrested 11 suspects in interdiction operations across the country during which seizures of almost four tonnes of skunk were recorded in the same period.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said attempts by elements of Organised Criminal Groups to use various disingenuous modes of concealment to import consignments of illicit substances into Nigeria and export same to the United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirate through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Tincan seaport, Lagos were thwarted.
He said: “No less than 37.5 kilogrammes of such illicit consignments were intercepted in the past week, with the arrest of 11 suspects in interdiction operations that led to the seizure of almost four tons of skunk in Kaduna, Kano and Lagos state.”
Babafemi disclosed that at the Lagos airport, a freight agent Ogunsina Damilare was arrested last Friday following a bid to export 1.5 kilogrammes of skunk hidden in foodstuffs to Dubai, UAE through the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA, while a similar attempt to ship 11.5 kilogrammes of the same substance to the United Kingdom was frustrated when the consignment concealed in a giant wooden sculpture was intercepted by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI) at a courier company in Lagos.
He added that: “Curiously, the latter emanated from Ghana with London as destination.”
He said at the Tincan port in Lagos, a shipment of 24.5 kilogrammes cannabis indica to Nigeria from Montreal, Canada was intercepted by operatives while a bribe of N8 million offered to NDLEA officers by the importer has been secured in an account for the prosecution of the case.
He revealed that while the importer, Cedrick Maduweke is still at large, one of his accomplices, Steve Adigwe has been arrested, noting that the consignment was hidden in a used Toyota Sienna vehicle that arrived the port along with three other cars in a container marked MSMU 5082733.
Babafemi also disclosed that a total of 3,672 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa were recovered from two locations and five suspects arrested in Kaduna during separate raid operations.
He said arrested at a warehouse at Rido village last Wednesday include: Edward Emmanuel, 28; and Miracle Madu, with 298 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 3,576 kilogrammes.
He said investigations revealed that the consignment was moved from a southern state to Kaduna in a petroleum product bearing truck, adding that two other suspects: Sunday Bassey, 29 and Jessica Daniel, 14, were nabbed with 96 kilogrammes of same substance at Gonin Gora area of the state, while Sanusi Isah, 30, was arrested last Saturday at Giwa area with over 12,000 tablets of tramadol 225mg and Diazepam.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives last Saturday intercepted Kabiru Abdulhamid, 40, with 119 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 73 kilogrammes at Semugu area, while a total of 28,400 tablets of tramadol and over 230 kilogrammes of cannabis were seized in raid operations in Festac town and Lagos Island areas of Lagos state.
He said some of the suspects arrested in the Lagos raids include: Rukayyat Eshinlokun; Pelumi Alejo and Banna Maina who specializes in distribution of illicit drugs disguised as a dispatch rider.
He said in Imo state, a suspect, Amechi Moses was arrested in a follow up operation last Friday following the interception of 29,800 tablets of tramadol 225mg in a commercial bus along Owerri – Onitsha road going to Aba in Abia state.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of Tincan, MMIA, DOGI, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Imo Commands for the arrests and seizures, charged them and their compatriots across the country to intensify the heat on drug cartels in Nigeria, urging them to balance their efforts on supply reduction with drug demand reduction activities.
NDLEA intercepts drug consignments in wooden statue, imported vehicle
Crime
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
By: Zagazola Makama
A catastrophic fire has torn through the Kalari settlement in Konduga Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, claiming three lives and displacing over 3,000 people. The blaze, which erupted at approximately 1:00 PM, engulfed three villages, reducing more than 1,500 thatched houses to ashes.
Zagazola Makama gathered that In response to the disaster, the military, along with the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF), mobilized swiftly to provide emergency assistance. Personnel from the 222 Battalion rendered first aid to the wounded and transported the injured to Maiduguri Specialist Hospital via Army ambulances.
The timely intervention of key local officials, including the Chairman of Konduga LGA, a Member of the House of Assembly, and the Commissioner for Environment, ensured immediate relief efforts for the affected families.
This incident comes on the heels of severe flooding that devastated Konduga LGA in September 2024, following the collapse of the Alau Dam. The flash floods from the dam’s collapse also affected Maiduguri and Jere LGAs, displacing an estimated 240,000 people. Many residents are still recovering from that catastrophe, and the latest fire disaster has further intensified the region’s humanitarian crisis.
An Official of SEMA, said the Borno State Government has made an urgent appeal for humanitarian aid to support the thousands affected by both the recent fire and previous flood disasters. Efforts are underway to provide shelter, food, and medical care to those impacted by these successive calamities.
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
One Killed, Several Injured in Niger Communal Clash Over Farmland
By: Zagazola Makama
A communal clash over farmland between youths from Gbajibo and Goragora communities in Jebba District of Mokwa Local Government Area has left one person dead and ten others seriously injured.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on April 5, 2025, at about 2:00 p.m., when armed youths from Gbajibo Community, predominantly of the Nupe ethnic group, launched an attack on Goragora, a Hausa settlement, allegedly over disputed farmlands belonging to the Nupes but cultivated by the Hausa settlers.
Armed with locally made guns and machetes, the attackers clashed violently with residents of Goragora.
Security forces were swiftly mobilized to the scene to restore order.
Eight individuals from Goragora and two from Gbajibo sustained various degrees of injuries. They were taken to the General Hospital Mokwa for treatment, but one of the victims was confirmed dead on arrival.
Security forces have restored calm to the area, with additional personnel and local vigilantes deployed to maintain peace and prevent further violence.
One Killed, Several Injured in Niger Communal Clash Over Farmland
Bandits Attack, Set Houses Ablaze, Abduct Five Women in Tsafe, Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
A group of armed bandits launched a violent attack on Rakyabu Village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State on April 5, 2025, at around 6:30 p.m.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the assailants shot indiscriminately, causing panic among the villagers, and set several houses on fire.
The sources said that during the attack, the bandits abducted five women, including Rakiya Adamu and four other victims, before fleeing the area to an unknown destination.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were quickly mobilized to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the bandits had already deserted the village.
Sources have confirmed that efforts are underway to secure the safe release of the abducted women.
Bandits Attack, Set Houses Ablaze, Abduct Five Women in Tsafe, Zamfara
VP Shettima Demands More Private Sector Engagement In Healthcare Reforms
BREAKING NEWS: 3 killed And 3,000 displaced as Devastating Fire Sweeps Through Kalari Settlement in Konduga, Borno State
Six Die in Taraba Boat Mishap, Nine Rescued
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics8 months agoKashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident
