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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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Suspected terrorist arrested by Niger National Guard in Bangoula

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Suspected terrorist arrested by Niger National Guard in Bangoula

By: Zagazola Makama

Elements of the Niger National Guard (GNN) stationed in Bangoula have arrested a suspected member of a terrorist armed group during a routine road check and identity verification operation.

According to sources, the suspect, identified as Soumaila Mahamadou Hamadou, 27, was intercepted on July 7, 2025, while attempting to travel without valid identification.

Hamadou, a native of M’banga and reportedly a dealer by profession, was found in possession of 2,250,000 FCFA and a mobile phone. He claimed he was visiting Niamey for the first time to recover payment from a business transaction involving 40 cans of 20-litre draining oil allegedly sold to an individual named Ousseini, and purchased from a man called Talla in Ballabe.

However, security personnel raised concerns over the credibility of his account, noting that commercial flows of draining oil typically move from Niamey to rural areas, not in reverse. This discrepancy prompted further investigation into the suspect’s activities.

Preliminary interrogation and forensic analysis of his phone revealed troubling information. Hamadou reportedly admitted to being affiliated with terrorist armed groups (GAT) since 2022 and operating under the pseudonym “Zoubeirou” within the sect.

He further confessed to being under the command of a certain AMIR Abdoulaye, who was recently linked to the attack on the Niger National Guard post in Bouloudjouga. Hamadou also claimed participation in a coordinated assault against the Nigerian Armed Forces in August 2024, involving approximately 300 motorcycles with two fighters each.

Security sources confirmed that Hamadou bears multiple gunshot wounds on his left forearm, shoulder, right chest, and left lower jaw, which he sustained during the aforementioned attack.

He is currently being held in custody at the Track Brigade, where investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of his activities and affiliations.

Suspected terrorist arrested by Niger National Guard in Bangoula

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Police rescue 26 kidnapped victims in Niger during operations along Birnin-Gwari, Kagara, and Yauri axis

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Police rescue 26 kidnapped victims in Niger during operations along Birnin-Gwari, Kagara, and Yauri axis

By: Zagazola Makama

The Niger State Police has rescued 26 kidnapped victims, mostly women and children, during a sustained rescue operation across Maikujeri, Kagara, and Yauri axis following a tip-off. Police sources at the Command confirmed the development to Zagazola Makama on Tuesday.

The sources said that the victims had been abducted earlier in Birnin-Gwari area of Kaduna State and were being transported by their captors towards the New-Bussa axis between July 4 and 5.

“On July 5, police patrol teams attached to Kagara Division intercepted and rescued multiple victims being moved along Maikujeri–Kagara Road towards Babanna.

Those rescued include: Tani Ali and her three children, Hajara Muhammad, Zainab Salihu and her minor child, Asabe Luka, all females from Munya and Rafi LGAs of Niger State, Zuwaira Ahmed from Basha village in Sardauna LGA, Taraba State, and her two daughters.

The sources added that on the same day, at about 9:30 p.m., another rescue operation led to the interception of a Toyota vehicle driven by one Yusuf Abdullahi of Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State.

“Thirteen more kidnapped victims were rescued from the vehicle. The movement was being coordinated by one Salma Usman, who was meant to contact the receiver of the victims in Yauri, Kebbi State,” he said.

“The police recovered five mobile phones from the victims and took all rescued persons to Asamau Clinic for medical evaluation,”said the sources.

The police source confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and reunite all the victims with their families.
End

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Troops neutralise militia during clearance patrol in Plateau community

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Troops neutralise militia during clearance patrol in Plateau community

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 5, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), have neutralised a suspected militia member during a clearance operation in Hokk community, Mushere West District of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation, which took place on July 3 at about 11:45 a.m., was part of a long-range patrol covering Tulus and Hokk communities along the Plateau–Nasarawa border.

The sources said that the troops came under attack from armed militias in Hokk but successfully repelled the assailants, killing one while others fled the scene.




As of the time of filing this report, troops have continued to dominate the general area with aggressive patrols to prevent further militia activity.

Troops neutralise militia during clearance patrol in Plateau community

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