Crime
NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicate, arrests couple, recovers N2.1b drug in Lagos raid
NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicate, arrests couple, recovers N2.1b drug in Lagos raid
- Nabs Osun monarch, Chadian, youth corps member for drug trafficking
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have raided the Lagos base of alleged high-profile cocaine syndicate headed by a couple: Mmadu Agbakoba and Chinwe Agbakoba as well as their associate, Ifeoma Okoye, where large consignments of the class A drug meant for export and local distribution were recovered.
A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the raid carried out by a special operations unit of the agency followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance on the syndicate notorious for packaging, distributing and trafficking of cocaine within and outside Nigeria.
Babafemi said the 54-year-old male Agbakoba was arrested at Ago palace way, Okota while his wife, Chinwe, 39, and associate, Okoye Ifeoma , 31, who doubles as their stash keeper, were nabbed at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, all last Wednesday.
He said while seven parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 7.652 kilogrammes were recovered from Mmadu at Ago palace way, not less than one hundred and twenty-two (122) compressed pellets of the same drug weighing 2.42 kilogrammes were seized from the duo of Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate, bringing the total seizure to 10.1 kilogrammes valued at over N2.1 billion in street value.
In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Benue state last Thursday intercepted a consignment of 350 grammes of cocaine at a check point along Enugu road, Otukpo. The illicit drug was concealed in an MP3 speaker sent as a waybill parcel. A swift follow up operation at Flight motor park in Otukpo led to the arrest of the owner, 25-year-old Odeh Anthony.
Also, NDLEA officers on a stop and search operation along Ngurore – Yola road in Adamawa state last Wednesday arrested a Chadian, Yves Ahmat Gali in a commercial bus coming from Kano to Yola. The suspect was found with a loud speaker used to conceal 20 compressed blocks, and nine plastic containers of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 5.2 kilogrammes
In Kano, operatives last Wednesday arrested a youth corps member, Yusuf Abdulrahman, 25, at Corpers Lodge, Sumaila area of the city, with 1.25 kilogrammes of Loud, while in Osun state, the head of Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, 50, was last Friday July arrested with fresh cannabis plants that weighed 5 kilogrammes.
Babafemi said two suspects: Monday Ali, 49, and Jimoh Alewi, 37, were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided Ikota forest in Ifedore local government area, Ondo state where a total of 42,500 kilogrammes cannabis was destroyed on 17 hectares of farmland while 73.5 kilogrammes of same substance was recovered for the prosecution of the suspects during a five-day operation that ended last Monday.
In Abuja, the FCT, NDLEA operatives last Saturday arrested the duo of Sanusi Mamman, 28, and Usaini Ibrahim, 20, in a vehicle along Abaji- Gwagwalada with 1,132 bottles of codeine syrup; 13,540 pills of tramadol; 50,000 pills of diazepam and 59 pills of rophynol. The suspects claimed they were bringing the opioids from Onitsha, Anambra state.
Babafemi said with the same drive, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, Osun, Benue, Ondo, Kano, and FCT Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the tempo.
NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicate, arrests couple, recovers N2.1b drug in Lagos raid
Troops kill terrorist, recover arms in Maiduguri cordon-and-search operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed a suspected Boko Haram fighter and recovered arms during a cordon-and-search operation in parts of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), the military said on Thursday.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted under Operation Desert Sanity IV following intelligence reports of suspected terrorist activities and possible suicide bomber movements within the metropolis.
The source said troops were alerted to a gun battle between Boko Haram and ISWAP factions around the Malkube area of Tungushe General Area near Baga Road Market.
“On receipt of the report, a standby team comprising 36 soldiers and 10 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) was mobilised to the scene.
“On arrival, the troops exchanged gunfire with the terrorists. The general area was cordoned off and searched, leading to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, two AK-47 magazines, 15 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and a Samsung Fold 4 Android phone,” the source said.
He added that one terrorist was neutralised during the encounter, while no casualties were recorded on the side of the troops.
The source said the operation, which was hitch-free, ended at about 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, with troops still monitoring the area for more intelligence and clearing suspected hideouts of terrorists hibernating within the metropolis.
Troops kill terrorist, recover arms in Maiduguri cordon-and-search operation
Renewed ISWAP–Boko Haram faction clash leaves dozens dead in Abadam, Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Dozens of fighters were killed on both sides on Tuesday following a renewed violent encounter between the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and elements of the Bukura faction loyal to Abu Umaima along the Lake Chad Basin axis of Abadam Local Government Area of Borno.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the clash broke out between 6:00 a.m. and about 10:15 a.m. around Dogon Chiku Buhari village, a border settlement in Abadam LGA, barely one kilometre from the Nigeria–Niger frontier.
The sources said the Bukura faction fighters, believed to be operating from settlements around the Lake Chad Basin on the Niger Republic side, engaged ISWAP elements resident on the Nigerian side of the border.
“The fighting took place around Dogon Chiku Buhari, east of Tubum Mota and the Bosso–Diffa axis in Niger Republic. It lasted several hours and resulted in heavy casualties on both sides,” a source said.
Tubum Mota village, is located east of Malam Fatori, about 19 kilometres from the town, which has remained a flashpoint for rival extremist groups.
The renewed violence is rooted in longstanding rivalries within the jihadist ecosystem. ISWAP has sought to consolidate authority across the basin by absorbing or eliminating splinter groups, while the Bukura/Abu Umaima faction has resisted subordination, relying on cross-border mobility and local alliances.
The border’s porous nature allows fighters to shift bases quickly, complicating counterterrorism operations by Nigerian and MNJTF forces.
Renewed ISWAP–Boko Haram faction clash leaves dozens dead in Abadam, Borno
Police arrest four Liberians over alleged visa fraud in Lagos
By: Zagazola Makama
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four Liberian nationals over an alleged visa fraud case in Ikorodu area of the state.
According to security sources, police received information at about 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 that some Liberian nationals were engaged in a serious dispute at their base in the Mowonla area of Ikorodu.
“Based on the report, a team of police personnel was immediately mobilised to the scene. On arrival, four Liberian nationals were arrested and brought to the station for investigation,” the sources said.
The suspects were identified as Rebecca Mollie, 30; Joseph Brisbane, 45; Bility Famba, 35; and Reina Kartec, 24.
During interrogation, Mollie alleged that in August 2025, one Patrick Charman, a 47-year-old Liberian national, lured her from Liberia to Nigeria on the pretext that he was based in Australia and could facilitate her travel from Nigeria to Australia.
She said Charman demanded and collected 1,500 dollars from her for visa arrangements.
Mollie further alleged that upon arrival in Nigeria, she was received by another Liberian national, Naomi Koso, 36, who collected an additional 1,290 dollars from her for continued visa processing.
“The complainant stated that she later realised she had been defrauded and demanded a refund of her money to enable her return to Liberia,” the security sources added.
The police said the four suspects are currently being detained, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend Patrick Charman and Naomi Koso.
Investigation into the case is in progress, the sources said.
Police arrest four Liberians over alleged visa fraud in Lagos
Troops kill terrorist, recover arms in Maiduguri cordon-and-search operation
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