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NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicates, recovers multi-billion-naira drugs in nationwide raids

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NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicates, recovers multi-billion-naira drugs in nationwide raids

By: Michael Mike

Multi-billion-naira worth of cocaine concealed in heavy duty automobile pivot shafts, and Ghanaian fabric, Kente, among others have been recovered in a nationwide operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday while revealing that the operation was intelligence-led, noted that 2.32 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in Ghanaian traditional kente materials going to the United Kingdom were intercepted at a courier firm in Lagos last Monday, and 10.494 kilogrammes of same class A drug buried in heavy duty pivot shafts heading to the United States were recovered at the same logistics company after the NDLEA sniffer dogs fished out the automobile spare parts containing the illicit drug, bringing the total weight of cocaine seized in the two shipments to 12.814 kilogrammes.

Babafemi added that five other consignments going to the United States, United Kingdom and Canada were also intercepted at the courier firm in Lagos last on Friday. The intercepted consignments include 517 grammes of cocaine in clothing materials; different quantities of pentazocine injection, promethazine injection and cocodamol pills, all heading to the UK as well as 297 pills of tramadol 225mg going to Canada.

He said in a different logistics company in Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 21 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 10 kilogrammes coming from the US and meant for delivery in Abuja.

Babafemi said in another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives last Wednesday arrested a member of a cocaine trafficking network, Obiora Agudosi, at Alafia Orile, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos while attempting to move 9 kilogrammes of cocaine to Onitsha, Anambra state.

He also said two members of another cocaine syndicate based in Nnewi and Oba town, Anambra state were arrested last Thursday in a follow up operation following the seizure of their consignments in a GUO transport company bus at Benin, Edo state same day.

He noted that while the bus driver, Harrison Mbachu, 44, was arrested at Benin tollgate with a total of 2.865 kilogrammes cocaine, Izuchkwu Arinze, 40, was picked at Nnewi town while attempting to collect his own consignment of 1.748 kilogrammes cocaine and 514 grammes sodium bicarbonate, with Ameachi Okoro, 39, arrested while trying to pick his own 1.117 kilogrammes cocaine at Oba town.

Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA operatives at Tincan seaport Lagos last Wednesday
intercepted 532 parcels of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 265.25 kilogrammes in a black Toyota Sienna bus, which is one of the three vehicles in a container marked MSMU 6029570 coming from Montreal, Canada.

He said the seizure was made during 100% joint examination with men of Customs Service and other stakeholders, and that the following day, Thursday, the operatives recorded yet another seizure of 75 parcels of same substance weighing 37.5 kilogrammes in a container marked FSCU-9274613, that came from Canada.

In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives last Thursday with the support of men of operation Farauta Sector 3, Mayo Belwa arrested 49-year-old Joseph Peter with 425 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 291.2 kilogrammes in his Toyota Camry car marked Lagos KSF 381 HM. He claimed he was bringing the consignment from Edo state to deliver in Yola, Adamawa State.

While two suspects: Adekunle Sunday Adebayo, 50, and Yahaya Mamuda, 35, were arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area of Kano last Tuesday with 29.5kg cannabis, NDLEA operatives in Lagos recovered 1,169 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance from a bus along Orchid road, Ajah last Sunday.

No less than 1,230 kilogrammes cannabis was destroyed on three hectares of farmland at Ikeje forest, Edimogo village, Igalamela/ Odolu LGA, Kogi state last Friday by NDLEA officers supported by men of the Nigerian Army while the owner, Danjuma Maji, 40, was arrested.

He 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, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) has urged them and their compatriots across the country to continue with their current balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

NDLEA smashes cocaine syndicates, recovers multi-billion-naira drugs in nationwide raids

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Troops intercept truck with over 164,000 cartridges in Anambra, arrest suspected IPOB/ESN arms suppliers

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Troops intercept truck with over 164,000 cartridges in Anambra, arrest suspected IPOB/ESN arms suppliers

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA, in a joint operation with operatives of the 63 Brigade and the Department of State Services (DSS), have intercepted a truck loaded with over 164,000 live cartridges allegedly being supplied to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation followed credible intelligence which led to the arrest of a suspected arms courier, Mr Emeka Omenife, along the Asaba–Onitsha expressway on 29 May 2025.

According to the sources, Omenife was immediately handed over to the DSS for interrogation. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to being part of a syndicate involved in transporting ammunition from Ghana to Nigeria for IPOB/ESN operatives.

Following his confession, troops arrested his accomplice, Mr Uchenna Obiora, at the Onitsha–Awka tollgate on 30 May 2025, while he was awaiting delivery of the ammunition.The arrest led to the interception of a truck which had the concealed ammunition.

“Upon interception, the vehicle was moved to Onitsha Cantonment, where a thorough search revealed a total of 164,650 live cartridges hidden in four constructed compartments within the cargo bed of the truck,” a source told Zagazola.

The cartridges, believed to have been purchased from Ghana, had Onitsha as their destination, the source added. Further investigations are ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate and their collaborators.

Zagazola also confirmed from security sources that Omenife had earlier been arrested by troops and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) tracking team on Jan. 22 at his residence in Onitsha Housing Estate.

During the January operation, he attempted to flee and was shot in the buttocks before being evacuated to the 302 Army Regiment Medical Services for treatment. He was later handed over to the Anambra State Police Criminal Investigation Department, Annex Akwuzu, for prosecution. His re-arrest in May suggests that he may have returned to the same criminal enterprise following his release in an unexplained circumstances.

Troops intercept truck with over 164,000 cartridges in Anambra, arrest suspected IPOB/ESN arms suppliers

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Police repel gunmen attack on government school in Benue, while students were writing WAEC

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Police repel gunmen attack on government school in Benue, while students were writing WAEC

BY: Zagazola Makama

The police in Benue have successfully repelled an attack by suspected herdsmen on Government Secondary School, Odugbo, while students were writing their West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.

Zagazola reliably informed that the attack occurred on 29th May 2025 at about 1:30 p.m., when gunmen opened sporadic fire at the school premises.

The 80-man Patrol Team of the Benue State Civilian Joint Task Force (PMF) Odugbo promptly responded and repelled the attackers, who fled into nearby bushes. No casualty was recorded during the incident.

Combing operations in the surrounding bushes are ongoing to track and apprehend the fleeing attackers.

In a separate incident on the same day at about 3:45 p.m., suspected armed robbers ambushed and shot dead a motorcyclist, Samuel Iordye, from Nkst Anyiin East at Tukwa Village along the Anyiin to Akwannaon Taraba State road.

The robbers also seized the victim’s motorcycle before fleeing the scene.

Military personnel, police the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Benue Civil Protection Guard, have launched a joint patrol and tactical operation to arrest the suspects.

The victim’s corpse was photographed and deposited at NKST Hospital Mortuary, Anyiin, for post-mortem examination.

Police repel gunmen attack on government school in Benue, while students were writing WAEC

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Hoodlums attack Ashaka Cement Company airstrip, one shot dead by security personnel

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Hoodlums attack Ashaka Cement Company airstrip, one shot dead by security personnel

By: Zagazola Makama

Unknown hoodlums attacked the airstrip of Ashaka Cement Company in Bajoga Local Government Area of Bauchi State on the night of May 29, 2025, leading to the death of one suspect during an attempted robbery.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that at about 11:43 p.m., three hoodlums armed with cutlasses and sticks trespassed into the company’s airstrip.

They pursued two civilian security guards attached to Pilgrims Security Company, who narrowly escaped. The attackers then began cutting down a signal tower used for aircraft control with the intent to steal it.

Security personnel from the company, including a patrol vehicle from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), responded promptly and dispersed the hoodlums.

However, the suspects returned and continued their destructive acts. During a second pursuit, security personnel shot one suspect in the shoulder. The injured suspect was rushed to General Hospital Bajoga for urgent medical attention but was later confirmed dead by the attending doctor. The corpse was deposited at the Public Mortuary.

The other suspects fled the scene and are currently being sought by security as investigations continue.

Hoodlums attack Ashaka Cement Company airstrip, one shot dead by security personnel

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