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NDLEA Saves Nigeria off 7.5m tramadol pills, 95,400 codeine bottles during Christmas

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NDLEA Saves Nigeria off 7.5m tramadol pills, 95,400 codeine bottles during Christmas

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted desperate attempts by transnational criminal organisations to flood Nigerian communities with large quantities of assorted illicit drugs during the yuletide season with the interception of millions of tramadol 225mg pills, thousands of codeine syrup bottles and bags of Canadian Loud in consignments arriving the country ahead of the Christmas celebration.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi read that at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, all tricks employed by the drug syndicates to smuggle into the country 7.5 million pills of tramadol 225mg through the NAHCO import shed of the airport were frustrated by NDLEA officers with the cooperation of men of the Nigeria Customs and other stakeholders.

Babafemi said the consignment which was taken into custody last Friday came onboard Turkish airline with no country of manufacture or origin, adding that apart from being the first time such shipment would be seized on the airline’s flight, it was equally the first of such coming from Hamburg, Germany.

He said the 7.5 million tramadol 225mg pills were also specially designed and packaged as tamol-x concealed in 100 big cartons weighing 7,150 kilogrammes, which arrived the country on 11th December and placed under surveillance until last Friday, stating that preliminary test of the tablets proved positive to tramadol hydrochloride.

Babafemi said operatives of the Lagos Command of the agency last Wednesday conducted a search operation on two shops marked Chex Mat Global Link Limited at Trade Fair complex in Ojo area of Lagos where 258 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup and eight cartons of codeine tablets were recovered. The cartons contain: 49,200 bottles of codeine syrup and 46,200 tablets of same opioid.

He said the following day Thursday, NDLEA operatives raided a house in Mushin area of Lagos where a 70-year-old grandma, Selifat Cole and her son, Babajide Cole were arrested with 117.9 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, adding a consignment of spare parts that originated from Asaba, Delta state and going to Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, India was intercepted at the cargo terminal of the Lagos airport last Wednesday with the help of NDLEA sniffer dogs.

Babafemi said the dogs were able to identify the particular shipment containing illicit drug concealment, which a physical examination later confirmed to be cocaine measuring 200 grammes.

The spokesman said not less than 70 parcels of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, with a gross weight of 35 kilogrammes were seized by operatives of the Tincan Command of NDLEA from a container, marked BEAU 4993525 coming from Toronto via Montreal, Canada. He noted that the container contained four used vehicles, including a Honda CRV 2006 model, where bags of the psychoactive substance were concealed.

He said in Abuja, NDLEA operatives last Monday intercepted a waybill consignment of 25,000 pills of tramadol, while their counterparts in Anambra arrested two suspects at Onitsha head bridge, Ejiro Emmanuel was driving a bus marked EFR 31 XB conveying 61,100 tramadol capsules; 1,025 bottles of codeine; 1,350 tablets of rohypnol and 46 grammes of designer drug, while Daniel Ogbiyoyo was caught in a bus marked SAP 540 YK conveying 55,950 tramadol capsules; 3,117 bottles of codeine; 1,530 tablets of swinol and 1,350 tablets of rohypnol.

Operatives in Delta state last Monday in a joint operation with the military raided the home of a drug kingpin, Chukwuma Eneriku at Okanaro street, Abbi town, where bags of cannabis weighing 353 kilogrammes were recovered. Same day, NDLEA operatives in Enugu recovered bags of cannabis sativa weighing 435.1 kilogrammes in a warehouse located at Trans Ekulu, Enugu East local government area.

In Edo state, Babafemi said five persons dressed in NDLEA operational jackets were arrested with a fabricated gun and pistol carved from wood following intelligence that they were impersonating as officers of the agency and conducting illegal operations. The suspects include: Sebastine Asekiamhe, 22; Raymond Otaru, 28; Emmanuel Wisdom, 23; Solomon Edogamhe, 27; and Bonaventure Oghibui, 22. While some others in NDLEA jackets escaped, a bottle of codeine-based syrup was found with those arrested.

He said the ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, worship centres and communities took place at Ikuduru local government area, Imo; with advocacy visits to Fuji music maestro, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, Kwara First Lady and Chairperson Nigeria Governors Wives Forum, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazak, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; and sensitisation lecture to members of Jama’atu Fitayanul Islam at Aliyu Mustafa College, Yola.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd), while commending the efforts of the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Delta, FCT and Tincan Commands of the agency as well as the K-9 Unit for jobs well done in the past week, urged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and get ready for the next phase of operations in the new year.

NDLEA Saves Nigeria off 7.5m tramadol pills, 95,400 codeine bottles during Christmas

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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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