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NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others

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NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have thwarted desperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations (DTO) to move illicit consignments such as Cocaine, Tramadol, Loud, Molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and the Lagos airport.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said at least, two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos have already been arrested. One of them is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor May who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday 8th March 2025.

Babafemi said when she was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage. In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy.

He said at the export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers last Tuesday arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400 grammes of skunk going to New York, United States of America.

Babafemi disclosed that at the some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilogrammes of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI.

The spokesman added that other shipments of 230 grammes of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.

In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479 kilogrammes were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect Hassan Haruna who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Chalawa area of the state last Wednesday, while no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi state in a commercial bus coming from Lagos en-route Abuja last Tuesday.

Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna state last Thursday led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him, just as a similar exercise in Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North local government area, last Friday resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered.

He said while a total of 40,200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara state last Friday, NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect Salisu Usman along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin last Thursday.

In Taraba state, NDLEA officers last Friday arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, at Bente road, Kurmi local government area, with 15.77 kilogrammes skunk, while in Osun state, operatives last Thursday, intercepted a commercial bus marked SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island in front of King University, Ode-omu, with a total of 48.7 kilogrammes Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis. Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.

A 58-year-old suspect Ade Esan (aka Pastor) was last Tuesday arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja. In Abia state, NDLEA operatives last Saturday raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North local government area, where a 34-year-old suspect Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money) was arrested with 274 grammes of heroin, 141 grammes of methamphetamine, 2.931 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, 4 grammes of cocaine and N753,015 monetary exhibit.

Meanwhile, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and FCT commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others

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Troops Arrests Fulani Youth Leader Over Terror Attack in Kaduna Community

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Troops Arrests Fulani Youth Leader Over Terror Attack in Kaduna Community

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 7 under Operation Enduring Peace have arrested a Fulani youth leader in connection with a recent terrorist attack on Naridon Community in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect, identified as Zakari Yahu Adamu, was apprehended at about 4:00 p.m. on Aug. 6 at Fadan Chanwe in Kauru LGA following ongoing investigations into the attack.

According to the sources, Zakari Yahu Adamu is a Fulani youth leader in the area and is being investigated over his alleged connection to the recent terrorist incident at Naridon Community.

The suspect is currently in custody, while investigators continue efforts to establish his level of involvement and identify other individuals linked to the attack.

Security sources said the arrest is part of sustained intelligence-led operations by Operation Enduring Peace to track down those responsible for violent attacks and strengthen security across affected communities in Kaduna State.

Troops Arrests Fulani Youth Leader Over Terror Attack in Kaduna Community

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Troops Impound 28 Livestock Over Illegal Grazing, Farm Destruction in Plateau’s Mangu

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Troops Impound 28 Livestock Over Illegal Grazing, Farm Destruction in Plateau’s Mangu

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have intercepted 28 livestock, comprising 23 cattle and five additional cattle found destroying farmland, as well as 10 rams, during separate operations against illegal grazing in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that at about 6:05 p.m. on Aug. 2, troops of Sector 8 deployed at Telengpat Guard Location intercepted 23 cattle and 10 rams grazing in a restricted area at Telengpat Village.

The livestock were immediately moved to a safe location to prevent further damage, while the MACBAN youth leader in Pushit was contacted to assist in identifying the owners for necessary administrative action.

In a related development, at about 6:21 p.m., troops deployed at Lamor Guard Location responded to a distress call over the destruction of a farm belonging to Mr. Felix Garba at Lamor Village, also in Mangu LGA.

On arrival, the troops intercepted five cattle grazing on the affected farmland without any herder in attendance.

The livestock were similarly secured and moved to a safe location pending the identification of their owners.

Security sources said efforts are ongoing to trace the owners of the animals and ensure appropriate action is taken in accordance with existing conflict-resolution procedures aimed at preventing further escalation of farmer-herder tensions in the area.

The operations form part of ongoing efforts by Operation Enduring Peace to curb illegal grazing, protect farmlands during the farming season and prevent disputes from degenerating into violent communal clashes across Plateau State.

Troops Impound 28 Livestock Over Illegal Grazing, Farm Destruction in Plateau’s Mangu

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Troops Arrest Suspected Boko Haram Fighter Linked to May Attack on Military School in Yobe

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Troops Arrest Suspected Boko Haram Fighter Linked to May Attack on Military School in Yobe

By Zagazola Makama

Troops have arrested a suspected Boko Haram terrorist allegedly involved in the May 8 attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School (NETTS) in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspect, Musa Abdulhamid, 26, was arrested at about 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 4 while allegedly attempting to infiltrate the military facility.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspect, who said he hails from Potiskum, Yobe State, allegedly confessed to being among the Boko Haram fighters that attacked the school on May 8, 2026.

According to the sources, the suspect identified three alleged Boko Haram commanders—Mohammed, Mustapha, and Ismail—as those who led the operation.

He further claimed that the assault had been planned for a long time, with the fighters hiding in bushes near a rocky area around Buni Gari before launching the attack.

The suspect also disclosed that although commanders usually concealed casualty figures from rank-and-file fighters, the group was believed to have lost more than 10 members during the operation, as many of those who took part never returned to their camps.

According to the sources, the suspect said the group’s commanders rarely disclosed details of planned attacks in advance. Instead, fighters were reportedly briefed only when operations were imminent, after their mobile phones had been collected, and were then directed to designated targets.

He also claimed that the insurgents constantly moved from one hideout to another to evade detection by security forces and admitted to operating a long firearm during the attack, although he said he did not know its specific type.

Military sources said the suspect remains in custody and will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and profiling.

The arrest is expected to provide security agencies with additional intelligence on the planning, command structure and operational methods of Boko Haram cells operating in the North-East.

Troops Arrest Suspected Boko Haram Fighter Linked to May Attack on Military School in Yobe

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