Crime
NDLEA raids drug warehouse in Lagos, recovers N4.8billion worth of opioids
NDLEA raids drug warehouse in Lagos, recovers N4.8billion worth of opioids
. Intercepts $20miilion counterfeit notes in Abuja
By: Michael Mike
Multi-billion naira worth of illicit drugs have been seized at a warehouse tucked in the midst of popular International Trade Fair Complex, Alaba, Ojo area of Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday revealed that the seizure was made on Saturday.
He said recovered from the warehouse owned by a wanted billionaire drug baron, include: 1.4 million pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 826 kilogrammes; 3.2 million pills of codeine with gross weight of 3,360 kilogrammes; and 2,841 cartons of codeine syrup containing 284,100 bottles with 28,410 litres of the psychoactive substance, with a combined street value of over N4.8 billion.
He added that during the operation that lasted hours, a suspect, Paulinus Ojukwu, who is Chief Security Officer to the wanted drug baron that parades as automobile spare parts dealer, was arrested and now assisting ongoing investigation.
He noted that the latest drug warehouse bust is coming on the heels of the arrest of a drug baroness, Faith Nwankwo who was nabbed on 9th August with 2,750,000 pills of tramaking, a brand of tramadol 225mg and 250mg recovered from her residence at House 6, C close, 3rd Avenue, Festac area of Lagos and a warehouse located at Plot 3432 Sola Akinsola Street, Divine Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos.
He also revealed that NDLEA operatives last Friday intercepted $20 million suspected to be counterfeit during a stop and search operation along Abaji – Lokoja road, within the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the suspected fake money was recovered from a bus coming from Lagos to Abuja, while the 53-year-old driver of the vehicle, Onyebuchi Nlededin was arrested. The previous day, last Thursday, Jude Ndubuisi, 52, was arrested with 2.2 kilogrammes of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Kabusa village, FCT.
He noted that the suspect was initially arrested with 20.75 kilogrammes cannabis on 7th July 2022 and was on court bail following his ongoing prosecution when he was nabbed for yet another drug crime.
He said another raid of two notorious drug joints within the FCT: Dei Dei and Tora-Bora Hills led to the recovery of 82.8 kilogrammes skunk, 1.8 kilogrammes rohypnol and 1.2 kilogrammes diazepam last Wednesday.
In Osun, NDLEA operatives in the early hours of Saturday destroyed clusters of cannabis farms measuring about 3.49 hectares (over 7.5 tons) at Mopatedo in Ifedayo local government area of the State. Two suspects: Sunday Otogbo, 40, and Peter Makra, 35, were arrested inside the cannabis farms. Additional 30 kilogrammes cannabis weeds and 16.9 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds were also recovered from the farms.
He disclosed that at least, three suspects: Ndubuisi Okorie, 44; Ebilima Emmanuel, 38, and Okechukwu Smart, 40, were arrested in connection with the seizure of 168 kilogrammes cannabis consignment from them when their vehicle was intercepted along Owerri-Onitsha expressway, Imo state on Saturday 19th August. Another shipment of controlled drugs containing 6,000 capsules of tramadol, 1,200 tablets of swinol, 155 bottles of codeine syrup and 20 tabs of Molly was equally seized on the same road on Sunday 13th August while a follow-up operation in Oyigbo area of Port Harcourt, Rivers state led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Remigius Ogechukwu, 33.
He said while a teenager, Boniface Odinakachukwu, 19, was apprehended with 99.4 kilogrammes skunk at Isikwe Road, Achi in Oji-River local government area, Enugu state last, a wanted teenage bandit, Aliyu Mohammed Altine, 19, was arrested by NDLEA operatives along Illela- Sokoto road with some wraps of skunk last Thursday, with the suspect who is on the wanted list of the police since been transferred to the police in Sokoto state for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while expressing his satisfaction with the professional conduct of the officers and men involved in the Lagos, FCT, Sokoto, Osun, Imo and Enugu operations as well as the results of the raids, charged operatives of the Lagos command to ensure that the fleeing baron is smoked out from his hiding to face charges.
He also urged them and their colleagues across the country to intensify the heat on drug cartels.
NDLEA raids drug warehouse in Lagos, recovers N4.8billion worth of opioids
Exclusive: How bandit kingpin Jankare was killed in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Fresh fact have emerged how the Notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Abdurrahman Jankare, was killed by a rival in an internal dispute in Tsaskiya village, Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Reliable security and local sources Zagazola Makama that Jankare was gunned down on Thursday by a fellow bandit identified as Nazanku, a trusted ally of another notorious bandit leader, Dan Ori.
The incident, sources said, stemmed from a feud over the seizure of a rifle and a bag containing magazines belonging to Nazanku.
“Last week, Jankare seized Nazanku’s rifle, and just yesterday, he also took a bag in which he kept magazines. This provoked Nazanku, who confronted him and shot him dead,” one of the sources said.
Only seven people reportedly attended Jankare’s funeral prayer before he was buried later in the day.
Until his death, Kachalla Jankare was one of the most feared lieutenants of the late Kachalla Usman Modi Modi and was linked to several deadly attacks and kidnappings in Dutsinma, Safana, and Kurfi Local Government Areas of Katsina State.
His death is said to have triggered renewed tension among rival bandit factions across the northwest forest axis.
Exclusive: How bandit kingpin Jankare was killed in Katsina
JNIM claims first attack in Kwara, four months after announcing new brigade
By: Zagazola Makama
Al-Qaeda–linked militant group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for an attack in Kwara State, its first in Nigeria, four months after announcing the establishment of a new brigade in the country.
According to intelligence sources, the attack reportedly occurred in the northern part of Kwara, along the border corridor linking Niger and Kogi States.
JNIM, which operates mainly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, announced in June the creation of a new brigade for Nigeria, raising concerns about a possible southward expansion of jihadist influence.
Zagazola said that the claim aligns with earlier intelligence warnings of cross-border infiltration through smuggling routes connecting Benin Republic and Niger.
“JNIM’s latest statement describes the attack as the debut operation of its Nigerian brigade. If verified, this would indicate a dangerous evolution of the regional threat landscape,” the source said.
Security operatives in Kwara, Niger, and Kogi States should intensify patrols and surveillance in response to the development, with reinforcements deployed to border communities.
Military and intelligence agencies should work to identify possible linkages between JNIM operatives and local extremist networks.
The incident comes amid heightened regional insecurity and the continued fragmentation of terror groups across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.
JNIM claims first attack in Kwara, four months after announcing new brigade
ISWAP ambush mobile police patrol team in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Wednesday ambushed a mobile police patrol team along the Bara–Gulani axis of Yobe State, inflicting injuries on two officers and carting away a rifle.
Zagazola learnt the ambush occurred at about 5:00 p.m. while the team, comprising operatives from 19 PMF on special duty in Bara and 79 PMF Buni Yadi, was responding to a distress call from Kojoli village in Gulani Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the officers had been alerted by residents after armed herders reportedly invaded local rice farms and destroyed crops. The patrol team, led by ASP Sunday Yunana, moved to the scene but came under heavy attack from the assailants.
The insurgents, believed to be operating under the ISWAP faction, opened fire using assault rifles and other weapons before retreating into the bush.
Two personnel, identified as Sgt. Abdullahi Aminu and Cpl. Aliyu Suleiman, sustained machete injuries during the exchange, while one of their rifles was initially seized by the attackers.
However, the team reportedly fought back, recovering the stolen weapon and dispersing the attackers after an intense gun battle. A large herd of cattle suspected to have been used by the assailants to cover their movement was also recovered.
The wounded officers were evacuated to the General Hospital in Bara for treatment, while security reinforcements were deployed to the area to forestall further attacks.
ISWAP ambush mobile police patrol team in Yobe
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