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NDLEA Says Illicit Drugs were found in Senator Ashiru’s House, Aides ProsecutedInsists Criticism Borne Out of Vendetta

NDLEA Says Illicit Drugs were found in Senator Ashiru’s House, Aides Prosecuted
Insists Criticism Borne Out of Vendetta
By: Michael Mike
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has alleged that the house of Senator Oyelola Ashiru (APC Kwara South) warehouse illicit drugs, insisting that his recent attack of the agency was borne out of vendetta rather national interest.
The agency also alleged that some of the aides of the lawmaker were arrested in the raid on his residence and are currently being persecuted with one of them already sentenced to jail.
The agency made the revelation on Monday at its National Headquarters in Abuja
during a press briefing called to respond to a statement made by Senator Ashiru that “the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is corrupt and compromised…”
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), represented by his spokesman, Femi Babafemi at the briefing, said the NDLEA is compelled to call this press briefing today because of an unfortunate development earlier last week during plenary in the Nigerian Senate when some uncomplimentary, unfounded, defamatory remarks were made against the Agency.”
Marwa said while acknowledging the great work of the Senate towards the upliftment of Nigeria and Nigerians especially their support for the ongoing concerted efforts towards the amendment of the NDLEA Act, the agency however said it is duty-bound to respond to the unprovoked attack against it by Senator Ashiru during his contribution to the debate on a new bill for an Act to establish the National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
He said the agency waited for a whole week hoping the lawmaker will clarify his position on such a weighty allegation against it but failing to do that, it is left with “no option than to come out and set the record straight for the benefit of other distinguished members of the Senate, our local and international partners as well as the general public.”
He added that: “There is no doubt that setting up another agency is within the power of the Senate and if we are invited to contribute to the debate we will be willing to offer our opinion. While we cannot fault the power of the Senate on that, yet for a member of the upper chamber to have made such an unfounded and unwarranted categorical statement against the agency led us to look inward to see what could have been responsible for such a carpeting general statement.
“What we found was shocking, and we concluded that his statement came from a place of vendetta and certainly not out of public interest or any altruistic motive.”
He revealed that: “The personal house of the senator in GRA Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, had been raided in recent past, where drugs and illicit substances were recovered while two of his aides: Ibrahim Mohammed and Muhammed Yahaya were arrested. Based on credible intelligence and surveillance which confirmed that the senator’s house was being used as a drug joint for drug dealers and users, the house was raided by our operatives at 1:30pm on February 4, 2024 during which the two aides were arrested, while a third suspect escaped arrest.
“In another encounter with the senator, the agency also received intelligence that some of his boys popularly known as “Omo Senator” operating from his home town, Offa, were equally dealing in illicit drugs. A raid was subsequently carried out on their joint in Offa where one of them, Oluwatosin Odepidan was arrested and illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and cannabis recovered from him on June 11, 2023.
“The bid to get the agency drop the case against Odepidan including a visit to the Kwara State Command headquarters of the agency in Ilorin by the Personal Assistant to the senator, one Omoluabi, was rebuffed as Odepidan was promptly charged to court and prosecuted. Though the culprit jumped court bail in 2023, he was rearrested in 2024 after the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. He was eventually convicted and sentenced in June 2024.
“So, going by this backstory, it is deductible that these encounters that the agency has had with the senator, must have been responsible for his outburst, and unfortunately, false allegation, the type that nobody within and outside of government has ever levelled against NDLEA before.”
He noted that despite the impression Senator Ashiru was trying to create about its image, the NDLEA has continued to receive accolades from local and international bodies for its successes in the fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
He said: “Incidentally, the next day after Senator Ashiru made the statement, NDLEA in Lagos commissioned a new Marine Command Headquarters building donated by the Government of the UK. A similar facility at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport was donated last year by the same British government. We have had other facilities donated by United States INL and executed by UNODC in the past 12 months. We have been receiving various support from the governments of France, Germany and the US, among others.
“Suffice it to say that in the past three years, NDLEA has emerged as a regional leader among national drug law enforcement agencies. So, come to think about it, an agency so badmouthed by Senator Ashiru couldn’t have been attracting such international goodwill and commendation for being the “most corrupt government agency” in Nigeria.
“Against the background of our encounter with people linked to him, we are wont to believe that Senator Ashiru’s invectives against NDLEA were borne out of vendetta and not any opinion made in the public interest.
“As an agency, we have been professional in our activities and interactions with citizens as we carry out arrests daily. In the past three years, we have made over 52,000 arrests and got more than 9, 000 convictions, including three life sentences this year. And, as part of our mandate, we have engaged in over 7,000 awareness and sensitisation activities in schools, workplaces, worship centres and communities; treatment and rehabilitation of more than 33,000 drug users including the last two persons arrested in the senator’s house; supported by governments, organisations and other stakeholders in the country and around the world.
“Outside this country, NDLEA has become a reference for drug law enforcement. Therefore, the statement by Senator Ashiru, made in the country’s hallowed chamber in the course of a legislative debate, and made to justify the creation of another agency is motivated by malice; it is a gross misrepresentation of fact; and it is defamatory to the image of NDLEA. We believe the well-meaning public; our stakeholders and our partners can see through such calculated mendacity.”
The NDLEA vowed it will remain undeterred by Senator Ashiru’s attack but will be relentless in ongoing effort to dismantle all illicit drug networks across the country including the one operating in the lawmaker’s house.
“So, if Senator Ashiru has a personal grudge against NDLEA, it shouldn’t be cloaked as a matter of public concern. His statement of October 15, 2024, uttered in the hallowed chamber of the Nigerian Senate, is a gross abuse of his position as a legislator of the Federal Republic to undermine an agency of government by wrong accusation calculated to erode public confidence in NDLEA and detract from its integrity. And we dare say that such will not deter us from our ongoing effort to dismantle all illicit drug networks including the one operating from the senator’s residence.”
He stressed that: “NDLEA since January 2021 has been on a journey of reforms, and so far, we are glad with the progress we are making. We are grateful to the federal and state governments for the support we have been enjoying. We are equally grateful to the National Assembly for the huge support they give that has made possible the turnaround of NDLEA from a dormant agency to a vibrant government organ. We equally acknowledge the unprecedented collaboration with our partners, which has made our work easier. We have concrete results to show for our efforts, and those results cannot be wished away by anyone’s careless remarks.”
NDLEA Says Illicit Drugs were found in Senator Ashiru’s House, Aides Prosecuted
Insists Criticism Borne Out of Vendetta
News
Hunter kills one, injures two in accidental shooting in Katsina

Hunter kills one, injures two in accidental shooting in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Katsina State says it has arrested a 25-year-old hunter, Bashir Bala, for allegedly shooting three civilians, leading to the death of one person in Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Thursday at about 4:10 p.m. when Bala, a member of a hunters’ group attached to the security personnel in Malumfashi, visited a known blackspot at Marabar Kankara to purchase cannabis.
According to the report, an argument ensued during which Bala discharged his rifle, striking three civilians.
“One civilian was confirmed dead at the scene while two others sustained gunshot injuries. The injured victims were rushed to the General Hospital for medical attention while the deceased’s body was released to his family after medical certification.
“A joint team comprising Police, the Nigerian Army and vigilantes responded to the scene, and the suspect has been apprehended. Security measures within the area of responsibility have also been reinforced,” the sources said.
Hunter kills one, injures two in accidental shooting in Katsina
News
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA neutralise seven bandits in Katsina

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA neutralise seven bandits in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have neutralised seven armed bandits and recovered four motorcycles during a decisive operation in Baba, Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The encounter, which lasted for over two hours on Thursday, followed credible intelligence on the movement of criminal elements terrorising farming communities in the area. Security sources said the troops engaged the bandits, killing seven while the remaining suspects fled with gunshot injuries.
Four motorcycles used in their criminal activities were recovered during the operation.
The military operation is part of ongoing efforts across frontline local government areas to dismantle criminal hideouts and ensure the safety of residents, especially farming communities during the rainy season.
Residents were urged to continue providing timely information to security agencies to support ongoing operations and help restore peace across the North West.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA neutralise seven bandits in Katsina
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Yobe records progress under Governor Buni—Hon. Usman Gimba

Yobe records progress under Governor Buni—Hon. Usman Gimba
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State, under His Excellency Governor, Hon. Dr. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, Chiroman Gujba, has recorded measurable progress in various sectors, viz., education, health, agriculture, and other social and economic empowerment initiatives in the state.
This was revealed by the Senior Special Assistant to His Excellency Dr. Mai Mala Buni CON COMN on youth and sports, Hon. Usman Gimba (Sarkin Adon Gubana), at the graduation ceremony of Shettiman Malamai School for Marriage Education in Potiskum.
He said under the governorship of my boss, His Excellency Mai Mala Buni CON, Yobe State is experiencing a giant transformation in the development of infrastructure, human capital, and agriculture.
According to Sarkin Adon Gubana, upon the inauguration of Governor Buni into office, he had set out to create an educated and a well-secured and empowered society with access to the education sector.
At the graduation ceremony, Hon. Gimba said, “What we need in the community is for all of us to be educated, including those who were in the school and those that are in the house, and this school consists of teaching those that are in the house.”
He maintained that the importance of sound and qualitative education to the growth and development of any human society needs not to be emphasized. Adding to that, the school consists of women, but wisely, we also need men; we need the education.
“Because this school is for marriage education only, but we men ourselves need it because we need to be educated on how we can handle our wives when we are married, he charged the students to make good use of what they learned from the school,” Sarkin Adon Gubana said.
The Senior Special Assistant on Youths and Sports thanks the CEO, Malam Abdurazak Abdullahi Usman, for making this gigantic initiative and calls on our leaders—traditional, politicians, and religious—to come out en masse to support the school to move forward.
Yobe records progress under Governor Buni—Hon. Usman Gimba
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