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NDLEA intercepts Qatar-bound illicit drugs concealed in African salad, dried vegetables

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NDLEA intercepts Qatar-bound illicit drugs concealed in African salad, dried vegetables

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have detained a 35-year-old lady, Chidinma Agbazue after she was caught attempting to export 20 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 10.7 kilogrammes concealed in African salad popularly called Abacha and dried vegetables to Doha, Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos

A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi on Sunday said NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport working in partnership with men of the Department of State Security (DSS) last Thursday intercepted Chidinma, an outbound passenger from Lagos to Doha, on Qatar Airways during clearance of passengers at the screening point of terminal 11 of the MMIA.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that Chidinma was based in Qatar but returned to Nigeria last December for Christmas celebration. She said preparatory to her return to Doha, she lodged at Club Dice Hotel in Ikotun area of Lagos where the consignment was handed over to her for trafficking to the Arab country.

Babafemi also said two suspects: Monday Okeke and Chigozie Emeka were last Tuesday arrested by NDLEA operatives in Oniwaya, Yaba and Agege area of Lagos, where they recovered from them 842,560 pills of opioids especially tramadol in addition to 15 litres of codeine syrup and 596 grammes of Molly.

He said attempt by Okeke to bribe the NDLEA officers with N5 million cash was rebuffed while the money was documented as part of exhibits to prosecute the suspects in court.

In Bayelsa State, the bid by three suspects: Ebuka Eze, 31; Ugochukwu Okoro, 44; and Kingsley Uzim, 27, to smuggle opioids including codeine, molly, tramadol and diazepam weighing a total of 73.425 kilogrammes to the creeks in Southern Ijaw area of the state was thwarted last Wednesday by NDLEA operatives at Swali jetty, Yenagoa where Ebuka and Ugochukwu were arrested while Uzim was nabbed at Amasoma in a follow up operation.

He revealed that the drugs were concealed in jumbo sacks and conveyed to the jetty in a tricycle.

Also arrested with 137 blocks of cannabis weighing 71 kilogrammes during a raid at Orile Imo, Ogun state last Friday were two suspects: Eniola Muyideen and Bankole Shuaib.

NDLEA operatives in Taraba State recovered 39,980 pills of tramadol from a suspect, Abubakar Mohammed, 33, in Lankaviri village, and another suspect, Apaji Vincent, 29, arrested in Wukari last Thursday l with 131 kilogrammes cannabis sativa.

In Abia state, Nwachukwu Chinedu, 28, was arrested last at Akara Ahuba, Isikwuato local government area by NDLEA officers. Recovered from him include 46.65 kilogrammes cannabis and different quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine and rohypnol as well as N71,500 monetary exhibit.

In Ondo State, at least, 127.5 kilogrammes cannabis loaded in a Volkswagen Vento saloon car marked NTT 215 AA was recovered along Isua/Kabba road, Idoani area of Ose local government area, while a 30-year-old female suspect, Chinasa Christopher was arrested with 400 bottles of codeine syrup in Sabon Gari area of Kano. The owner of a consignment of illicit drugs intercepted along Zaria-Kano road, Bakura Goni was arrested at Mile 2 market in Lagos last Tuesday in a follow up operation and flown to Kano to face charges. The consignment consisting of cannabis and tramadol weighing 73.8 kilogrammes was earlier seized in a truck conveying it from Lagos to Kano.

In Edo State, 278 kilogrammes of cannabis going to Idoani in Ondo state was recovered during a raid at Oloma-Okpe forest, Akoko-Edo local government area, not less than 3,065.255 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance was razed on two farms at Amahor waterside forest in Igueben area of the state where three suspects: James Thankgod; Wisdom James and Akpa Festus were arrested last Thursday.

Babafemi revealed that NDLEA commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy lectures in the past week.

Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Taraba commands of the agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures.

NDLEA intercepts Qatar-bound illicit drugs concealed in African salad, dried vegetables

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Troops neutralise two suspected terrorists in ambush along Aulari–Kawuri axis in Borno

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Troops neutralise two suspected terrorists in ambush along Aulari–Kawuri axis in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have neutralised two suspected terrorists during a night ambush along the Aulari–Kawuri road ahead of Forward Operating Base Aulari in Borno State.

A military source told the Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 2:15 a.m. on March 31 after surveillance cameras sighted two suspected terrorists moving along the route towards Yale forest axis.

The source said troops of 202 Battalion swiftly engaged the targets after confirmation of hostile intent, resulting in the neutralisation of both suspects.

According to him, the operation was part of ongoing efforts to deny terrorists freedom of movement along key routes within the theatre of operations.

He added that troops patrol operations continue to prevent further infiltration by terrorist elements.

Troops neutralise two suspected terrorists in ambush along Aulari–Kawuri axis in Borno

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Troops arrest suspected drug peddlers in Delta raid operation

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Troops arrest suspected drug peddlers in Delta raid operation

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 3 Battalion (Rear), in collaboration with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested two suspected drug peddlers during a raid operation in Warri metropolis, Delta State.

A military source told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 3:00 p.m. on March 31 at suspected drug hideouts in Ugborode, Agbarho, Uti communities, Airport Road and Ekpan general area.

The source said the joint team acted on credible intelligence targeting illicit drug distribution points within the metropolis.

He added that two suspects were arrested during the operation, while assorted illicit drugs and substances suspected to be cannabis sativa and codeine syrup were recovered.

According to him, the suspects and recovered items were handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.

The source said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to curb drug abuse and related criminal activities in Delta State.

He reaffirmed the commitment of security agencies to sustain joint operations aimed at maintaining law and order across the Niger Delta region.

Troops arrest suspected drug peddlers in Delta raid operation

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3 civilians killed as troops contain escalation, restore calm in Jos after unrest spreads to flashpoints

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3 civilians killed as troops contain escalation, restore calm in Jos after unrest spreads to flashpoints

By: Zagazola Makama

Three civilians have been confirmed dead following a wave of unrest that spread across multiple communities in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau, before troops and other security agencies intervened to restore calm.

Security sources said the violence, which erupted on April 1, was a spillover from the March 29 attack on commuters and residents around Angwan Rukuba Junction along the Jos–Bauchi highway.

The initial incident had heightened tensions in the area, with fears of reprisals, which later manifested into coordinated disturbances in parts of Jos metropolis.

According to the sources, the unrest began at about 9:30 a.m. in Nasarawa area of Jos North and quickly escalated, spreading to other volatile locations including Katako Junction, Farin Gada, Gada Biu, Angwan Rogo, Rikos and adjoining communities.

“The situation deteriorated rapidly as hoodlums took advantage of the tension to cause mayhem, attacking properties and attempting to ignite further violence across the affected areas,” the source said.

Troops drawn from Headquarters 3 Division Nigerian Army, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), and other special forces, alongside personnel of sister security agencies, were immediately deployed to the flashpoints.

The swift and coordinated response, according to security officials, helped to contain the disturbances before they could degenerate into widespread communal clashes.

“The troops responded decisively and were able to stabilise the situation across the affected locations. Their presence prevented further escalation and restored relative calm in the metropolis,” the source added.

During the operations, security forces foiled several attempts by miscreants to set ablaze some places of worship, particularly in Katako Junction, Angwan Rogo and along Bauchi Road.

Despite the success in containing the unrest, three civilians lost their lives in the course of the disturbances. Their corpses were evacuated to medical facilities, while normalcy has gradually returned to the affected areas.

Following the restoration of calm, troops have maintained a strong presence across Jos metropolis, conducting aggressive patrols and surveillance operations to deter further breakdown of law and order.

The deployment has also been extended to neighbouring local government areas, including Jos South, Riyom and Bassa, where security presence has been reinforced.

Residents in the affected communities have expressed cautious relief as normal activities gradually resume, though tension remains in some quarters.

Security authorities assured that the situation is under close monitoring and urged residents to remain law-abiding, avoid spreading unverified information, and cooperate with security agencies.

In a related development, troops also recorded operational success in rural parts of the state.

At about 2:30 p.m. on April 1, security operatives responding to reports of cattle rustling in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area engaged suspected rustlers heading towards Farin Lamba in Riyom LGA.

The criminals, upon contact with troops, abandoned 30 rustled cows and fled into nearby bushes. The livestock were recovered and handed over to their rightful owner.

Security sources noted that routine patrols have been intensified across the Joint Operations Area to safeguard critical national infrastructure, schools, markets and places of worship.

They reiterated commitment to sustaining peace and preventing any resurgence of violence in Plateau and its environs.

3 civilians killed as troops contain escalation, restore calm in Jos after unrest spreads to flashpoints

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