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NDLEA seizes illicit drug consignment at MMIA, intercepts 5 pregnant teenage girls exploited for child trafficking

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NDLEA seizes illicit drug consignment at MMIA, intercepts 5 pregnant teenage girls exploited for child trafficking

By: Michael Mike

Latest attempts to export various quantities of methamphetamine and skunk by members of some transnational drug trafficking organisations through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and courier companies in Lagos been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) who intercepted the illicit drug consignments concealed in different items.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi read that at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives last Tuesday intercepted an intending passenger going to Oman, Ugwu Tochukwu, while trying to board a Qatar Airways flight, noting that upon a thorough search of his luggage, 7.50 kilogrammes of skunk were discovered concealed inside crayfish mixed with dry bitter leaf.

Babafemi added that NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations attached to some courier companies also intercepted Dubai-bound 2.9 kilogrammes of skunk and 14 grammes of methamphetamine concealed in bags of semovita and soles of ladies’ high heel shoes respectively.

He said in Imo state, operatives on patrol along Aba-Owerri expressway last Wednesday intercepted five pregnant teenage girls suspected to be victims of child trafficking used as baby factory. He disclosed that they were picked up while being relocated from their hideout in Naze area of Owerri to Ikenegbu area of the state capital.

The victims include: Chioma Emmanuel, 15; Uma Faith, 15; Divine Adimonye, 17; Opara Gift, 15; and Amarachi Mbata, 16. In their statements, they claimed they didn’t know the men who impregnated them. The Imo state command of the agency has since been directed to hand them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for further investigations.

Babafemi also said two suspects: Moses Akowe, 32, and Sunday Gabriel, 31, were arrested with 227.1 kilogrammes of cannabis last Tuesday at Ikebe village, Ankpa local government area of Kogi state, even as a female suspect, Bilikisu Salako, 35, was nabbed with 108 kilogrammes of same substance last Saturday in Ifo area of Ogun state.

He revealed that a total of 100 blocks of cannabis weighing 55 kilogrammes and 600 bottles of codeine-based syrup seized from the duo of Salisu Murtala and Shafi’u Dahiru last Tuesday along Abuja road have been traced to two other suspects: Muntari Nasiru and Yusuf Ali who were arrested in follow up operations in Kano.

In FCT Abuja, a 27-year-old Kingsley Chimaobi was arrested with 6,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup along Lokogoma-Abuja road last Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Lagos last Wednesday sentenced to five years imprisonment a drug dealer, Segun Odeyemi for trafficking and dealing in 3,842 kilogrammes of skunk. He was arrested on Saturday 1st July while conveying 89 jumbo bags of the illicit substance in his truck around Eleganza area of Ajah, Lekki. He was subsequently charged in suit number FHC/L/388C/2023 presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko.

Babafemi said across the country, various commands of the agency continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in the past week taking advocacy messages to the stakeholders. He noted that instances of this include, WADA advocacy visit to the head of Kadiria Islamic Sect of Africa, Sheikh Qaribullah Nasiru Kabara, in Kano; WADA sensitisation lecture for men and officers of Nigerian Army, Sobi barracks, Ilorin; lecture for Muslim community in Kaduna; WADA sensitisation lecture at Enugu State College of Health and Technology, Oji- River; advocacy lecture for members of Ram Sellers Association, Osogbo as well as officers and men of the Nigerian Navy School of Music, Ota, Ogun state, among others.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Imo, Kaduna, Ogun, Kogi, FCT and Lagos Commands as well as those of DOGI for intensifying their drug control efforts, however applauded the commitment of all the commands across the country to work with other stakeholders to take the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to the communities, schools, worship centres, work places and traditional institutions. He equally charged them not to relent.

NDLEA seizes illicit drug consignment at MMIA, intercepts 5 pregnant teenage girls exploited for child trafficking

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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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