Crime
NDLEA Smashes Cross-Border Drug Syndicates, Arrest 6 Kingpins, Recovers Cocaine, Opioids

NDLEA Smashes Cross-Border Drug Syndicates, Arrest 6 Kingpins, Recovers Cocaine, Opioids
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have smashed two major cross-border drug trafficking syndicates, arresting six leaders of the cartels in different parts of the country and seizing cocaine and opioids worth billions of naira.
A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said the syndicates, which comprise Nigerians based in Mubi, Adamawa state; Onitsha, Anambra state, and Lagos state as well as Cameroonians came under NDLEA radar after they were suspected of being major suppliers of drugs to terror groups operating in Nigeria and Cameroon.

Babafemi disclosed that the leaders of the syndicates so far arrested include: Ibrahim Bawuro, Najib Ibrahim, Ibrahim Umar, Udechukwu Anayo, Ezeh Amaechi and Adejumo Ishola.
He said intelligence gathered revealed that some psychoactive substances including tramadol were often sourced by Ibrahim Bawuro and Ibrahim Najib from a notorious drug dealer in Onitsha: Udechukwu Anayo and thereafter packed and concealed in vehicles in the premises of Ezeh Amaechi, an associate of Udechukwu.
He added that the duo of Ibrahim Bawuro and Ibrahim Najib will thereafter transport the drugs from Onitsha to Yola and subsequently to other parts of the North and Cameroon in specially constructed false compartments of vehicles, which travel from the East to the North at night.
He said on 7th October 2024, Bawuro and Najib were trailed from Onitsha where they had gone to buy another consignment and eventually arrested in Taraba the following day 8th October while a total of 276,500 pills of tramadol were recovered from a Toyota Avensis saloon car marked DKA 57 TT, which they abandoned on the Jalingo-Yola expressway when they noticed NDLEA operatives were on their trail.
Babafemi revealed that follow up operations were subsequently carried out in Delta and Anambra states where Ezeh Amaechi and Udechukwu Anayo were arrested by operatives of the NDLEA Directorate of Intelligence, which coordinated the whole effort with their counterparts in Taraba, Adamawa, Delta and Anambra states.
He said another leader of a different syndicate, Adejumo Ishola, 37, was arrested by operatives of a special operation unit of the agency last Tuesday at Seme border in Lagos on his way from Ghana with 3.3 kilogrammes of cocaine and 600 grammes of synthetic cannabis. This followed months of intelligence and surveillance on his cross-border criminal activities.
NDLEA operatives at Apapa seaport, Lagos last Wednesday intercepted 31,750,000 pills of 240mg Voltron, a controlled opioid, packaged and concealed in a container imported from India, as diclofenac sodium 100mg tablets. The discovery was made during a joint examination of the container with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, import shed Lagos, NDLEA officers last Tuesday intercepted a 700 grammes consignment of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis. A software engineer, Olu Marshal who showed up to collect the package was promptly arrested and a follow up search of his home in Lekki led to the recovery of some drug paraphernalia, including a cannabis crusher.
Attempt by another suspect, Orji Nnaorji to send 32.5 kilogrammes bottles of codeine syrup and 5.7 kilogrammes cannabis to London, UK, concealed in tiger nuts cargo through the export shed of the Lagos airport was frustrated by NDLEA operatives last Friday. A follow up operation led to the arrest of Orji at his warehouse in Ajao estate, Lagos.
In Kwara state, not less than 162,800 pills of opioids were seized by NDLEA operatives from four suspects during interdiction operations in parts of the state. While 112,200 tablets of tramadol were recovered from Wahab Saliu, 18,900 tablets of same opioid were recovered from Dalha Musa both at Eiyenkorin area of Ilorin; 29,000 pills of tramadol, 200 ampoules of diazepam and 99 bottles of codeine syrup seized from Ahmed Isiaka, just as 2,500 tabs of tramadol were seized from Ahmed Garba, both at Bode Saadu in Moro local government area of the state last Friday.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives in the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday a truck along Abaji- Kwali road with 755.5 kilogrammes cannabis concealed under empty cartons of noodles. The truck driver, Lukman Rasheed, 41, claimed that bags of the psychoactive substance were loaded into the trailer in Ogbese, Ondo state after departing Lagos with only empty cartons of noodles.
A suspect, Yusuf Abubakar, 43, was arrested by operatives last Monday at Ibi, Taraba state while conveying to Kano 361 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 156.95 kilogrammes in a commercial bus marked WKR 772 XA. Not less than 245 blocks of same substance with a total weight of 121 kilogrammes were recovered by NDLEA officers on patrol along Wukari – Ibi road last Thursday.
Two suspects: Hamza Yakubu, 30, and Abdulra’uf Danjuma, 23, were last Wednesday arrested at Gidan Manjagab area of Jos, Plateau state with 113 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 141 kilogrammes, while a Chadian, Hassan Ali, 31, was nabbed last Tuesday at Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria-Kano road, Kano, with 3,000 pills of tramadol 225mg.
While a suspect Ibrahim Adamu was arrested at Jere area of Kaduna state with 35 sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 338.8 kilogrammes, NDLEA operatives in Edo state last Friday recovered 1,078 kilogrammes cannabis at Okhuokhuo – Isi forest and 228 kilogrammes of same substance at Sabo- Auchi.
In Ondo state, four suspects: Friday Daniel, Patrick Felix, Samuel Agada and Igwe Chukwuka were arrested at Emure Ile with 672 kilogrammes cannabis sativa, while 513 kilogrammes of same substance was seized at Gbodo camp, Ikun Akoko and a total of 4,908 kilogrammes cannabis recovered from a suspect Musibau Kosama at Alabi Yellow, Ijoka area of Akure last Wednesday.
The spokesman said across the country, NDLEA commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week.
Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of DI, SIU, Apapa, MMIA, FCT, Taraba, Kwara, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Edo, and Ondo commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.
NDLEA Smashes Cross-Border Drug Syndicates, Arrest 6 Kingpins, Recovers Cocaine, Opioids
Crime
Troops foil banditry attack in Katsina, recover rustled cattle

Troops foil banditry attack in Katsina, recover rustled cattle
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives have foiled a banditry and cattle rustling operation in Lambun Kyauta village, Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State, recovering a large herd of stolen cattle.
Zagazola Makama learnt that the attack occurred late on July 29 at about 10:30 p.m. when suspected armed bandits stormed the residence of a local herder, Alhaji Rabi’u, and rustled his livestock.
A team of security operatives were immediately dispatched to the scene. The operatives intercepted the attackers, leading to a fierce gun battle that forced the bandits to abandon the stolen cattle and flee into the bush.
The team later encountered a group of hunters during a follow-up search, resulting in another exchange of gunfire. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded.
Security has since been reinforced in the area, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and prevent further incursions.
Troops foil banditry attack in Katsina, recover rustled cattle
Crime
Gunmen abduct pastor, two others on farm in Kajuru LGA

Gunmen abduct pastor, two others on farm in Kajuru LGA
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted three persons, including a clergyman, at Bauda Village in Maro Community, Kajuru Local Government Area.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the victims, Rev. Anthony Lamba, 50, of ECWA Church Bauda Village, Christiana Anthony, and Danlami Zana, were seized while working on their farm on Friday afternoon.
Security forces were immediately mobilised to the scene, but the kidnappers had already fled with the victims to an unknown destination.
Efforts had been intensified to rescue the victims unhurt, while investigation into the incident is ongoing.
End
Crime
Troops neutralise three terrorist kingpins in Sokoto ambush

Troops neutralise three terrorist kingpins in Sokoto ambush
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA (OPFY) have neutralised three notorious terrorist kingpins during a successful ambush operation in Sabon Birni Local Government Area (LGA) of Sokoto State.
Zagazola Makama report that the operation was conducted on July 25 between Mallamawa and Mazau villages in the Tsamaye/Mai Lalle District of the LGA.
During the operation, the troops neutralised the terrorists identified as Kachalla Nagomma, Gurmu and Ali Yar Daribiyar, and recovered three AK-47 rifles with magazines and a motorcycle.

Sources told Zagazola that the terrorists and their foot soldiers were in the area to collect ransom and illegal levies imposed on residents when they were ambushed by the troops.
The source said the operation has triggered widespread relief and jubilation among residents of Mai Lalle, Tsamaye, Rimaye and nearby communities across Sabon Birni and Goronyo LGAs.
“These terrorists have long tormented the communities with killings, kidnappings and extortion, so this success is a huge morale boost for the people,” the source added.
The troops have continued to intensify kinetic and non-kinetic efforts in synergy with other security agencies and local vigilante groups.
The military has urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to assist the troops in sustaining momentum against criminal elements.
Troops neutralise three terrorist kingpins in Sokoto ambush
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