Crime
NDLEA smashes 2 drug cartels, recovers multi-billion-naira cocaine, fentanyl consignments
NDLEA smashes 2 drug cartels, recovers multi-billion-naira cocaine, fentanyl consignments
By: Michael Mike
A married couple cocaine trafficking cartel has been smashed by the operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
A statement on Tuesday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said multi-billion-naira worth of illicit drug were recovered in two major operations following the arrest of Bolanle Dauda and Olayinka Dauda, the kingpin and the queen of the cartel.
He revealed that the intelligence led operations led to the smashing of the cartel which scope of operations spread across Lagos and Ogun States.
He disclosed that the duo were arrested last Saturday by operatives of a special operation unit in NDLEA with the support of Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States at Ibiye, along Lagos-Badagry expressway while attempting to cross the land border to deliver the consignment in Ghana.
He said at the point of their arrest, 42 blocks of the Class A drug weighing 47.5 kilogrammes were found on them, adding that a swift follow up operation in their residence at Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun state, led to the recovery of additional eight blocks of the same drug weighing 10 kilogrammes, bringing the total weight of the cocaine seized from the couple to 57.5 kilogrammes.
Babafemi said in another raid by the special operation unit, no fewer than 1,100 ampoules of lethal synthetic opioid, fentanyl, weighing 6.48 kilogrammes were recovered from a member of a drug trafficking syndicate, 34-year-old Ikeh Ifeanyi at the popular Idumota market in Lagos Island.
He said no less than 790 ampoules of the dangerous opioid weighing 5.273 kilogrammes were equally seized from another member of the fentanyl syndicate, 48-year-old Chieze Benjamin who was also arrested at Idumota market. He noted that fentanyl, a lethal synthetic opioid, which is 100 times more potent than heroin is currently responsible for over 70% overdose deaths as well as a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States.
Babafemi disclosed that two other persons: Olayiwola Kazeem, 37, and Ogunfowora Ajibola, 35, were arrested on Lagos Island in a different raid by NDLEA officers with 432 grammes of methamphetamine recovered from them.
He said at the Tincan port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives last Saturday intercepted 15 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 7.5 kilogrammes concealed in the doors and body crevices of a Toyota Highlander SUV in a container marked MSMU 7294325, which was declared as containing three units of used vehicles including the Toyota Highlander originated from Toronto and shipped to Nigeria via Montreal, Canada.
H noted that a swift follow up operation led to the arrest of two suspects: Sunday Sodade and Oriyomi Adesina, who were to receive the vehicle and the drug consignment, adding that a bribe of six million naira offered NDLEA officers by the sender of the container based in Canada through his agent has also been registered as exhibit for the prosecution of the case.
Reacting to the arrest of the drug kingpins and the seizure of the dangerous illicit drugs, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the special operation unit for their resilience in targeting and taking down drug cartels and barons. He equally praised the result-oriented collaboration between NDLEA and its local and international partners, urging all commands and formations of the agency to remain unrelenting in their offensive action against the drug underworld.
NDLEA smashes 2 drug cartels, recovers multi-billion-naira cocaine, fentanyl consignments
Crime
ISSP Establishes Cross-Border Corridor Linking Mali to Lake Chad Axis, Claims Lakurawa Group As its Operational Wing
ISSP Establishes Cross-Border Corridor Linking Mali to Lake Chad Axis, Claims Lakurawa Group As its Operational Wing
By: Zagazola Makama
The Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) has officially recognized the Lakurawa Group as its clandestine operational wing, formalizing a strategic corridor between its two major factions EIGS (Islamic State in the Greater Sahara) operating in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) active around Lake Chad.
The announcement, made in the wake of two deadly attacks on May 4 in Niger, marks a significant shift in the regional security landscape. On that day, armed militants attacked Dogonkiria in Dosso region, killing at least 30 security force personnel, and Danga in Tillabéri region, where six volunteer fighters for the defense of the homeland (VDPs) were slain.
Zagazola Makama believes the operational link now established between the Sarma Forest in Nigeria and Anderamboukane in Mali via central Niger will enable increased mobility for fighters, arms trafficking, intelligence sharing, and hostage transfers. This corridor, long suspected by observers, has now been confirmed as a key axis for extremist logistics.
Sources say the emergence of ISSP reflects a new phase in Islamic State operations in the region, marked by greater coordination, territorial fluidity, and strategic exploitation of Niger’s governance and airspace gaps particularly since the withdrawal or downsizing of key international security partners.
Zagazola reports that the central strip of Niger already marked by repeated attacks, pipeline sabotage, and mass civilian casualties is increasingly falling under the shadow of ISSP. Many of these incidents had previously gone unclaimed but are now attributed to the group’s covert campaign to secure this critical transit route.
Zagazola warn that if the current trend continues unchecked, the entire security architecture of West Africa may be destabilized, with spillover effects extending beyond the Sahel to Nigeria.
He called for renewed multilateral cooperation and intelligence-sharing, transcending political divisions and post-coup dynamics.
In recent months, Zagazola had raised alarm over the quiet expansion of Lakurawa, cautioning that the group was a proxy for EIGS. The confirmation by ISSP now validates those concerns, signaling an urgent need for proactive counterterrorism measures and regional solidarity.
ISSP Establishes Cross-Border Corridor Linking Mali to Lake Chad Axis, Claims Lakurawa Group As its Operational Wing
NDLEA officer arrested for attempted armed robbery, shooting bolt driver in Abuja
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a serving officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for attempted armed robbery and shooting a Bolt driver in Abuja.
Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred in the early hours of May 9 at about 12:10 a.m., when a distress call was received from City View Estate in the Galadimawa area reporting an armed robbery attempt.
The sources said that the suspect, identified as Felix Emmanuel, an Inspector with the NDLEA FCT Command, allegedly attempted to rob and hijack a Toyota Corolla with registration number KWL 736 SZ from a Bolt driver, Mr Israel Emeka, while the vehicle was in motion.
During the struggle, the suspect reportedly shot the driver with a locally fabricated pistol. The victim was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, where he is currently receiving treatment.
According to the police sources, its operatives from Galadimawa Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), swiftly responded to the distress call and arrested the suspect at the scene.
A locally made pistol and two live cartridges were recovered from him.
NDLEA officer arrested for attempted armed robbery, shooting bolt driver in Abuja
Troops neutralise five terrorist, rescue 38 family members in Borno clearance operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, Operation Hadin Kai in conjunction with Hybrid Forces and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have neutralised five terrorist and rescued 38 family members of fleeing insurgents during a clearance operation around Geizua, Borno State.
The operation, which is part of the ongoing Operation Desert Sanity IV under Operation Hadin Kai, targeted terrorist enclaves in the Shehutari and Churchur areas of Bama Local Government Area.
A reliable military source told Zagazola Makama on Saturday that the clearance mission began at about 8 a.m. on May 8, 2025.
The troops reportedly advanced from their harbour area, clearing camps around Shehutari and Churchur, which were found deserted.
As the troops continued the operation, they encountered fleeing terrorists where five insurgent was neutralised.
The troops also intercepted a group of terrorist family members, comprising 17 adult women and 21 children, who were taken into custody for profiling and further investigation.
Troops neutralise five terrorist, rescue 38 family members in Borno clearance operation
NGF SUPPORTS STATE POLICE TO CURB SECURITY CHALLENGE
ISSP Establishes Cross-Border Corridor Linking Mali to Lake Chad Axis, Claims Lakurawa Group As its Operational Wing
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