Crime
NDLEA intercepts ephedrine, skunk, laughing gas consignments at Lagos airport
NDLEA intercepts ephedrine, skunk, laughing gas consignments at Lagos airport
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted various quantities of ephedrine, skunk and nitrous oxide, popularly known as laughing gas concealed in semovita packs and dry pepper being shipped to South Africa and Kenya through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The drugs were being transported by members of Transnational Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO), some of who were promptly arrested, their mansions raided and their luxury vehicles seized.
A statement on Sunday by spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said read that through credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives last Friday intercepted a notorious drug trafficker, Suleiman Oba who is a member of a cartel distributing cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and ephedrine between Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Europe.
According to Babafemi, Oba was arrested while attempting to board a Rwanda Air flight to South Africa with two boxes loaded with ephedrine sealed in semovita packs. He said the recovered substance is a precursor chemical and active ingredient in the production of methamphetamine.
He disclosed that Suleiman, who holds a South African passport and married to a South African woman and has lived there for over 20 years, in his statement,, identified Hakeem Salami who equally lives in Lagos and South Africa as the head of the drug ring.
Babafemi said a follow up raid in the house of Salami located at 75 Wosilatu Dawodu Street, Ijesha, Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos State last Monday revealed that he had fled the country on the same day Suleiman was arrested.
The spokesman said however, a white Toyota Venza car with registration number LSR 410 HT, a Mercedes Benz SUV marked LSD 998HP, phones and vital documents needed for further investigation were recovered from the house.
Babafemi recalled that in August 2021, the agency had seized 25.6 kilogrammes ephedrine from a trafficker, Arua Onwuka at the Lagos airport, a seizure that has also been traced to the same cartel whose identified members are currently on the run.
He revealed that an official of the airport, Godwin Shedrack (a.k.a Goddy) fingered as a member of the syndicate is also under investigation.
In the same vein, attempt by another syndicate to export 10.4 kilogrammes skunk concealed with scent leaf and pepper, going to Nairobi, Kenya, was equally thwarted by NDLEA operatives attached to the NAHCO export shed of the airport on Saturday 26th August. A suspect, Ekechukwu Ndubuisi, has already been arrested in connection with the seizure.
Babafemi said another bid to export a consignment of 180 cannisters of laughing gas to South Africa by a freight agent, Oyekola Gbenga for a fee of N2 million was also frustrated by operatives who seized the cargo and arrested the suspect.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Friday 25th August succeeded in arresting a drug kingpin, Ngene Onyedikachi, who recruited the fake couple, Ilonzeh Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Nonyelum arrested for ingesting 1.82 kilogrammes and 1.5 kilogrammes of cocaine respectively at the Lagos airport on 1st August while on their way to India. The kingpin was picked at his residence located at 28 Afolabi Brown Street, Akoka, Yaba, after an intensive surveillance that lasted 25 days.
Babafemi said during his interrogation, Onyedikachi confessed that the two suspects: Ilonzeh Onyebuchi and Ilonzeh Nonyelum were introduced to him by another member of his syndicate, who he claimed he met at Zion Church in Cele area of Lagos. He explained that the drug was sourced from Guinea Conakry.
He said the suspect revealed that when he got information about the arrest of the fake couple, he threw away his old mobile phone along with the SIM cards to avoid being traced, adding that he became relaxed and refused to leave his house because the two couriers do not know his house since they have only met twice at different locations. He said he was living in India before he returned to Nigeria in 2022 after the Indian authorities discovered that he was using Ivory Coast International passport. A blue Acura Legend car was part of items recovered from his home during his arrest.
Babafemi disclosed that operatives of the Lagos state Command of the agency last Monday arrested a suspect, Peter Iwebema, at Ikorodu with 79 and a half bags of cannabis sativa, weighing 864.5 kilogrammes. He said their counterparts at Tincan port command intercepted 27 parcels of Colorado, weighing 13.5 kilogrammes, adding that the seizure was made from a container, MSMU 5664550 coming from Toronto via Montreal, Canada during a joint examination with men of Customs Service.
He said the synthetic substance was discovered concealed in a bag hidden in a Ford Edge SUV, which was part of three units of used vehicles and motor parts in the container.
In Sokoto, operatives last Tuesday arrested two male suspects: Nafiu Arzika, 30, and Jamilu Aminu, 35, with 330 kilogrammes skunk, while another suspect, Ismaila Razak, 38, was nabbed with 34.5 kilogrammes of same substance and 9.5 grammes of methamphetamine was seized last Saturday at Olodo area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Babafemi said across the states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, NDLEA Commands intensified the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, worship places, palaces and local communities among others. He said for instance, the sensitization lectures were conducted at Holy Trinity Gospel Church, Ogbomoso, and for Muslim faithful at Jammatul Nasirul Islam mosque, Ilorin; members of the Association of Hair Stylists in Ado Ekiti; leaders of road transport union in Abeokuta; traders at Kwata market, Awka; pregnant women at primary health care centre, Bonny; Dekara district palace, Babana community in Borgu local government area and at Noorul Huda Islamiyya school, Kafin Maiyaki.
He said the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of the agency across the Commands for their efforts in drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities, charged them to remain steadfast.
NDLEA intercepts ephedrine, skunk, laughing gas consignments at Lagos airport
Nigerien Forces Capture Two Suspected Bandits, Seize Heavy Weapons, Starlink in Bilma
By: Zagazola Makama
Nigerien security forces have captured two suspected armed bandits and seized a vehicle, heavy weapons, ammunition and communication equipment following a pursuit in the southwestern outskirts of Bilma.
According to a security report dated Oct. 19, 2026, the operation followed the continued pursuit of a vehicle occupied by suspected bandits by a departmental patrol.
The report said the chase extended into a sandy area dotted with dunes in the southwestern part of Bilma, where the suspects’ vehicle became stuck.
The occupants reportedly abandoned the vehicle, identified as a V6, and attempted to take positions on the surrounding dunes.
The patrol, upon sighting the abandoned vehicle and the suspects’ movements, engaged them in a firefight.
The report said the security forces, through coordinated action, successfully neutralised the threat and captured two suspects.
The vehicle, bearing Chadian registration number T10-14908, was recovered alongside a substantial arsenal of weapons and military equipment.
Items seized included one 12.7mm machine gun with its serial number erased, one RPG-7 launcher, one Kougar launcher, one AK-103 rifle with three empty magazines, 12 RPG-7 rounds, including two unserviceable rounds, and eight Kougar grenades.
The forces also recovered 60 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 64 rounds of FM80 ammunition, four sealed ammunition boxes, 12 RPG-7 charges, a spare FM80 barrel and a pair of RPG-7 binoculars, according to the report.
Other items recovered included a Starlink satellite communication device, three Motorola radios, an Android mobile phone, an analogue telephone, a power bank, a compressor and a pressure controller.
The military-related items seized also included two military uniforms, an AK-47 magazine pouch, a Chadian Army red beret and an adjudant’s rank insignia.
Additional items recovered were a wristwatch, a microphone and two travel bags.
The report identified the suspects as Ahmad Djiti, born around 1998 in Massaroufa, Chad, and Oumar Mahamad, born around 1991 in the same locality.
Djiti was described in the report as a Chadian national and serving Chadian military personnel, while Mahamad was identified as a Chadian rebel allegedly affiliated with the Front pour l’Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad (FACT).
The report stated that the two men were married and had children.
The relevant authorities have been notified, while investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the suspects’ activities, the origin of the seized weapons and equipment, and their possible links to other armed groups operating in the region.
Nigerien Forces Capture Two Suspected Bandits, Seize Heavy Weapons, Starlink in Bilma
Troops secure release of kidnapped civilian in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have secured the release of a civilian abducted along Cubana Street in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 10:05 p.m. on Oct. 18, prompting troops from Sectors 1 and 3 to launch a search-and-rescue operation.
The sources said the troops subsequently searched Dutsen Kura, Rafin Bauna and Rafiki communities in an effort to locate the victim and track down the abductors, but made no contact with the fleeing criminals.
They added that the victim was later released following sustained pressure mounted on the abductors by the troops.
The rescued civilian was subsequently reunited with his family.
The sources said efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
They added that security operations would be sustained to prevent further incidents and improve safety in the area.
Troops secure release of kidnapped civilian in Plateau
Troops, NDLEA operatives arrest four suspects in Kebbi raids
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested four suspects during raids on suspected criminal flashpoints in Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi.
Security sources said the operation was conducted at about 5:11 p.m. on Oct. 18 by troops of 1 Battalion and NDLEA personnel at Dakin Kowa, Karaye and Gubba villages.
The sources said four suspects were apprehended during the raids, while some items were also recovered.
They added that the suspects and recovered items had been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and necessary action.
The operation was part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to tackle criminal activities and strengthen security in the state.
Troops, NDLEA operatives arrest four suspects in Kebbi raids
2027: Nwankwo Warns INEC Against Unclear AI Use, Urges Credible Elections
IPCR Seeks Stronger Field Offices as Insecurity Spreads Across Nigeria
600m Africans Without Electricity as Summit Targets Power Sector Overhaul
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News3 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions5 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News2 years agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
Opinions5 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News3 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
ACADEMICS3 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns3 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Politics1 year ago2027: Why Hon. Midala Balami Must Go, as Youths in Hawul and Asikira/Uba Federal Constituency Reject ₦500,000 as Sallah Gift
