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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 kill three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Ambush

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Troops kill three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Ambush

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of the Nigerian Army Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI have killed three Boko Haram terrorists during an ambush in Borno State.

Zagazola gathered that the encounter occurred on Monday evening at Umbo Gen area, during Operation Desert Sanity IV.

According to the sources, troops in conjunction with Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters engaged the insurgents with heavy fire, forcing them to flee in disarray.

“Three terrorists were neutralised in the operation. Troops also recovered one AK-47 rifle and an Itel mobile phone,” the source said.

The sources added that no casualty was recorded on the side of the troops, and general security within the area remains calm but unpredictable.

Troops kill three Boko Haram terrorists in Borno Ambush

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Crime

Troops of operation HADIN KAI foil Boko Haram kidnap attempt in Adamawa

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Troops of operation HADIN KAI foil Boko Haram kidnap attempt in Adamawa

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, in collaboration with Police and local Joint Task Force operatives, have foiled an attempt by suspected Boko Haram terrorists to kidnap villagers in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Zagazola learnt that the incident occurred at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday when about 15 terrorists stormed Kombla in Krichinga District of Madagali.

The terrorists were said to have attempted to abduct some villagers, but were swiftly repelled after troops engaged them in a fierce gun duel.

“The swift response of the troops and supporting security elements forced the terrorists to retreat into surrounding bush paths,” the source said.

The sources added that pursuit operations were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing terrorists.

Normalcy has since returned to the area, while security presence has been strengthened to forestall further attacks.

Troops of operation HADIN KAI foil Boko Haram kidnap attempt in Adamawa

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Crime

Army troops intercept suspected drug dealers in Taraba

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Army troops intercept suspected drug dealers in Taraba

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army Troops at Mutum Biyu in Taraba State, in collaboration with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted a vehicle laden with drugs and military kits.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the operation followed credible intelligence from the NDLEA about a suspected Sienna vehicle, conveying three occupants.

On arrival at the checkpoint, the suspects attempted to evade interrogation as the driver zoomed off. Troops immediately opened fire on the vehicle’s tyres, forcing it to divert into the bush along Garba Shede road.

The occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled before troops arrived at the scene.

A search conducted on the abandoned vehicle led to the recovery of large quantities of codeine and other illicit substances. Also recovered were military kits, including two pairs of woodland camouflage uniforms, a pair of boots, an anklet, and two green berets.

The drugs and vehicle were handed over to the NDLEA, while the military kits remain in custody of the troops.

Military authorities said investigations were ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects

Army troops intercept suspected drug dealers in Taraba

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