Crime
NDLEA Smashes Major Drug Cartel…Arrests Leader in Village Mansion in Imo
NDLEA Smashes Major Drug Cartel
…Arrests Leader in Village Mansion in Imo
By: Michael Mike
A major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called ‘mkpuru mmiri’ has been smashed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as the leader of the syndicate 42-year-old Chikaodi Mbonu is arrested with his associate in his mansion tucked in his Umuomi village, Uzogba-Ezenomi autonomous community, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Tuesday said the cartel with operational bases in Imo and Rivers state became a target of the NDLEA following intelligence indicating it is responsible for the distribution of substantial quantity of methamphetamine in South East, South South and other parts of the country.
Babafemi said after weeks of surveillance, officers of a special operations unit of the agency last Friday, tracked and traced the drug lord to his village mansion in Imo state where he was caught with a member of his cartel, Chibuike Ofoegbu, 34, with different quantities of methamphetamine, its precursor chemicals, a pump action gun and cartridges.
Babafemi while disclosing the exhibits recovered from the house to include: 419.99 grammes of methamphetamine; 750 grammes of iodine, a precursor chemical for meth; 500 grammes of sodium bicarbonate, a precursor chemical for meth; two electronic weighing scales and a pump action gun with four cartridges, noted that the operatives moved swiftly to another of Mbonu’s hideout located at 11 Redemption Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers state where they recovered additional exhibits: 750 grammes of processed sodium bicarbonate; 170 grammes of plain sodium bicarbonate and 75 grammes of meth.
The spokesman said another raid in the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Chinedu, currently at large, at Njaba local government area, Imo state, led to the recovery of another pump action gun with 25 cartridges, among other items.
He said: “While the kingpin cools his heels in custody, two of his mansions in Imo state have been marked for possible forfeiture to the federal government.”
Babafemi said Mbonu had escaped from South Africa where he lived for years and mastered the art of cooking methamphetamine after he came under investigation for drug dealings, adding that upon his return to Nigeria, he continued the criminal trade by setting up clandestine laboratories in remote villages to shield his nefarious activities.
Meanwhile, while reacting to the successful taking down of the meth syndicate, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men involved in the multi-pronged operation, stating that the manner the interdiction was carried out should send a strong signal to other cartels that there’s no hiding place for them in any part of the country.
NDLEA Smashes Major Drug Cartel
…Arrests Leader in Village Mansion in Imo
Troops intercept vehicles conveying suspected ISWAP logistics in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Sector 2 of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force intercepted two pickup vans conveying assorted items suspected to be logistics supplies for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the interception followed credible human intelligence indicating the movement of the items from Dapchi through the Magumeri general area.
According to the source, the troops intercepted the vehicles during the operation and took the drivers into custody for further interrogation.
Items recovered from the two vehicles included 31 spare tyres, 23 spare rims, two bicycles, 12 key starters, three alternators, two bags of flour, one mattress, five bags of charcoal, 34 tubers of yam, two blankets, nylon bags containing garri, adult and children clothing, one power bank, six mobile phones and a cash sum of N92,600.
The source added that the vehicles and recovered items were currently in custody, while investigations were ongoing to determine the extent of the suspects’ involvement and possible links to ISWAP logistics networks.
The troops, the source said, remained committed to disrupting the movement of supplies to terrorist groups and maintaining pressure on criminal elements across the area of responsibility.
Troops intercept vehicles conveying suspected ISWAP logistics in Yobe
Police repel Boko Haram attack on Gujba Division in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
The Yobe State Police Command says it has successfully repelled a coordinated attack by suspected Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) elements on the Gujba Police Division in Gujba Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred late Thursday night but was promptly resisted by officers on duty at the formation.
According to the source, there was no casualty recorded among police personnel during the attack, while no arms were lost and no damage was done to patrol vehicles.
“The hoodlums were repelled promptly. There was no casualty on our personnel, no arm was lost and no patrol vehicle was damaged,” the source said.
He added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Gujba Division was conducting a detailed assessment of the incident and would submit a comprehensive report to the command.
The source noted that Gujba and its environs remained one of the notorious flashpoints for insurgent activities in Yobe State.
As at the time of filing this report, the Yobe State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while security around the area had been reinforced to forestall further attacks.
Police repel Boko Haram attack on Gujba Division in Yobe
Troops repel terrorist infiltration attempt near Bitta, kill key fighter
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have decimated terrorists from the Mandara Mountains during an early-morning attempt to infiltrate Bitta community in Borno.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Thursday when troops, operating surveillance systems, detected the movement of the terrorists advancing toward the area.
According to the sources, the troops tactically allowed the insurgents to enter a designated killing range before unleashing coordinated defensive fire, neutralising several of the attackers, including a top terrorist fighter and his cameraman.
The sources added that follow-on precision strikes were subsequently conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, further decimating the fleeing insurgents.
Items recovered from the scene included a camcorder, AK-47 rifles, bandoliers, hand-held radios, PKT machine guns, several belts of PKT and GPMG-linked ammunition, as well as motorcycles and bicycles.
During exploitation of the area, troops reportedly traced several blood trails and discovered shallow graves, indicating additional casualties inflicted on the terrorists during the encounter.
Troops repel terrorist infiltration attempt near Bitta, kill key fighter
How killing of 12 Illegal miners in Barkin Ladi, linked to rustling of 171 livestock plateau
Relief as Navy supports Gombe community with school, water projects
Adeleke appeals to Army to prevent bandits’ infiltration into Osun from Kwara
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