Crime
NDLEA seizes illicit drug consignment at MMIA, intercepts 5 pregnant teenage girls exploited for child trafficking
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
Troops raid criminal hideout, rescue kidnapped victim in Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, have raided a criminal hideout in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, neutralising several criminals, rescuing a kidnapped victim and recovering arms, ammunition and motorcycles.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was carried out on Tuesday following credible intelligence on the activities of criminal elements operating within the area.
During the raid, the troops reportedly engaged the criminals in a gun duel, resulting in the neutralisation of four suspects, while others fled the scene with possible injuries.
Items recovered from the hideout included one fabricated rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and two motorcycles.
Preliminary findings indicated that the neutralised suspects were members of a criminal syndicate responsible for attacks along the Ganawuri–Manchok corridor.
In a related development, the troops were said to have responded swiftly to information on the abduction of a young woman, Miss Immaculate Samuel, who was kidnapped on the night of Jan. 13 at Kajim Village, also in Kaura LGA.
The troops mobilised and pursued the kidnappers, leading to another exchange of gunfire during which three of the suspects were neutralised, while the victim was rescued unharmed.
The rescued victim was subsequently debriefed and reunited with her family.
Security forces said troops had continued to dominate the general area in order to track down and apprehend other members of the criminal group and restore normalcy to affected communities.
Troops raid criminal hideout, rescue kidnapped victim in Kaduna
Bandits abduct police officer, three others on Gusau–Sokoto highway
By: Zagazola Makama
A police officer and three other persons have been abducted by suspected bandits along the Gusau–Sokoto highway in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The incident occurred on Friday at about 1:10 p.m. when a group of armed men blocked the highway around Gidan Kano village and forcibly took four people away.
One of the victims has been identified as PC Gaddafi Faruku, while the identities of the three others have not been disclosed. The abducted persons were reportedly taken to an unknown location by the assailants.
Efforts are ongoing to track down the abductors and secure the safe release of the victims. Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and provide any information that could help in locating those taken.
Bandits abduct police officer, three others on Gusau–Sokoto highway
Bandits kill one, abduct 10, rustle cattle in Zamfara community
By: Zagazola Makama
A deadly bandit attack has left one person dead, 10 others abducted, and several cattle rustled in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The attack occurred at about 12:40 a.m. on Monday when a large number of armed men, shooting sporadically, stormed Gidan Yawa and Lamuntani villages via Gulubba District.
During the raid, a 32-year-old man, Abdullahi Sani, was shot dead. The assailants then abducted 10 residents and rustled eight cows before fleeing to an unknown location.
Efforts are ongoing to track the fleeing suspects and secure the release of the abducted victims. Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any information that could assist in locating the attackers.
Bandits kill one, abduct 10, rustle cattle in Zamfara community
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