Cocaine, Tramadol Consignments in Vehicle Side Mirrors Intercepted at Lagos Airport

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol 225mg concealed in 71 vehicle side mirrors being sent to Libreville, Gabon through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with not less than three suspects linked to the cargo already arrested in follow-up operations.

The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said the first batch of the consignment consisting 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.6 kilogrammes were intercepted in a cargo going to Gabon on Air Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday 19th July 2025, disclosing that a popular cargo agent Ihekweme Osinachi handling the shipment was immediately arrested, after which further investigation led to the arrest of another suspect Uzochukwu Chukwurah on Sunday 20th July.

Babafemi said 11 parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 1 kilogramme were later recovered from four additional side mirrors being prepared for export found in the home of Uzochukwu on Monday 21st July, bringing the total number of parcels of cocaine to 68 weighing 2.6 kilogrammes.

In a related development, NDLEA operatives last Friday arrested a businesswoman Mrs. Nwafor Nneka at her shop within the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos following the interception of 100 grammes of cocaine and 300 grammes of phenacetine, a cutting agent, concealed in ladies’ lipsticks going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, through the export shed of the Lagos airport on 10th July 2025.

Babafemi said two cargo agents linked to the shipment were earlier arrested before the eventual arrest of Nneka who runs the criminal trade as a family business with her husband Remigus Nwafor, currently on the run.

Nwafor, was said to have in her statement, admitted she bought the lipsticks used to conceal the illicit drugs while her husband handled the actual concealment.

In Abuja, the nation’s capital, NDLEA operatives conducting intelligence-led stop and search operations in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas of the city last Wednesday arrested three dispatch riders: Sabo Sule, 24; Samuel Nnamdi, 28; and Idris Jibrin, 28, for distributing illicit substances around the city. A total of 149.8 grammes of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis were recovered from them, while two other suspects: Aliyu Abubakar, 25; and Adekunle Agbabiaka, 30, were arrested along Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1 kilogrammes skunk, a strain of cannabis, on Saturday.

In Lagos, NDLEA officers acting on intelligence on Saturday arrested Joseph Michael with 3.3 kilogrammes of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis in Mushin
while Ibrahim Sulaiman was nabbed in Iwaya area of Yaba with 16.5 litres of
skuchies on Friday.

No fewer than 100,000 pills of tramadol capsules were seized from a suspect, Hussein Yusuf, 37, at an NDLEA checkpoint along Vandeikya-Ogoja road in Benue state on Friday, while operatives in Edo state same day raided a warehouse in Ekpoma where a suspect William Alabi, 44, was arrested and 233.5 kilogrammes skunk recovered.

In Borno state, NDLEA operatives at the arrival hall of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Maiduguri on Friday intercepted a consignment of 160 pills of tramadol concealed in footwears by a 38-year-old passenger, Umar Aminu who was promptly arrested.

While NDLEA operatives in Ogun state on Friday raided the Oja Odan area and arrested a female suspect, Yahaya Aminat, with 7, 218 pills of opioids mainly tramadol, their counterparts in Oyo state nabbed Oladeji Saka, 54, with 77.5 kilogrammes of skunk at Asanike, Ibadan, just as another suspect Benson Izah, 40, was arrested in Abraka, Delta state with 12.5 kilogrammes skunk, 1 kilogramme tramadol and 14.4 litres of codeine.

In Bayelsa state, NDLEA officers on Friday arrested 52-year-old Chief Emeka Opara and Onuoha Chidinma, 25, along Tantua road, Amassoma where a total of 41,705 tramadol capsules, among other assorted opioids were recovered from their shop and residence, while a suspect Bashir Gambo, 30, was nabbed at Yar Yasa town, Tudun Wada local government area, Kano state, with 61 kilogrammes skunk.

Two suspects: Kabiru Ayinde, 40; and Roqeeb Adekanmbi, 25, were last Monday arrested at Ile-Ogbo area of Iwo town, Osun state, where 90 kilogrammes skunk, 36.3 grammes of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus marked SMK 755 YF and ₦228,200.00 cash exhibit were recovered from them.

In like manner, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, MBIAM, FCT, Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Delta, Bayelsa, Benue, Kano and Osun commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity, enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

Cocaine, Tramadol Consignments in Vehicle Side Mirrors Intercepted at Lagos Airport

DRC Criticizes Global Lukewarm Attitude to
Genocide in Congo

By: Michael Mike

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has criticized the seemingly lukewarm attitude of civilized world to the genocide
perpetuated on its soil by neighbouring countries pillaging Congolese natural resources.

Speaking during the Commemoration of GENOCOST at the Triumphant Church, Gishiri, Abuja, the DRC Ambassador to Nigeria, Pascaline Gerengbo Yakivu explained that: “The Congolese Government, referring to Law Number 22/065 of December 26, 2022, establishing the fundamental principles relating to the protection and reparation of victims of conflict-related to sexual violence and other crimes against peace and security, crimes against humanity, has established a National Day of Tribute to the aforementioned Victims and to the people who provided them with relief and assistance. This day, celebrated on August 2 of each year, is called GENOCOST, which means Genocide for Economic Purposes.”

She noted that August 2 was chosen for the commemoration because August 2, 1998, marked the beginning of the long, arduous march with multiple forms of suffering for the Congolese people, culminating in the clashes between the Ugandan and Rwandan armies on Congolese soil in Kisangani.

The Ambassador while lamenting that every day, peaceful citizens are forced to flee their homes to take refuge in the bush, far from their natural environments, lacking everything, dying of hunger and diseases caused by their wandering situation, said that international community needs to take urgent action to stop the crisis.

She decried that: “They have not harmed anyone; they suffer all these horrors of war just because they are Congolese. All this, in the total indifference of other countries and the international community, even though they are praised as civilized nations.

“The armies of these neighbouring countries that continue to cause death and desolation to all these innocent and peaceful citizens are, however, known, and for nearly three decades, these foreign armies, particularly that of Rwanda, have been supporting the M23/AFC terrorist groups that are conducting operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, occupying large territories for false reasons, raping, killing, and plundering our natural resources from the Eastern part of the country. If nothing is done, the populations of this part of our territory are going to be exterminated or flee far from their native lands because it is a situation that best suits these predatory states.”

She further decried that: “Today, while we commemorate this genocide of the Congolese, a large part of our territory is occupied, causing more than 7 million internally displaced people.”

The envoy said: “All the research carried out by our state institutions and by credible foreign organisations on the numerous deaths caused by incursions and occupations by foreign armies, attest that more than 10 million deaths have been caused by this situation, and more recently, in Komada in Ituri Province, during a Catholic church service, congregants were murdered by RDF armed groups. How long will these massacres of Congolese people continue?”

She said: “Imagine what 10 million deaths represent? We have countries both here in Africa and in other continents whose entire populations do not exceed 10 million inhabitants.”

The envoy said: “The awareness of the sons and daughters of the DRC has awakened them to demand reparations for the damages suffered and to denounce the hypocrisy of the international community.

“The DRC seized this opportuned moment, with the publication of the various documented UN reports, to ensure that sanctions against the perpetrators of this genocide could be taken by the appropriate international bodies in order to restore peace in the region, with a view to alleviating the suffering of our victim populations.

“It is time for the international community to gather the courage it takes to recognize this genocide which is at the same level of other known ones around the world.

“This is how the collective memory of the Congolese victims will be honoured and recognised by the International Community.”

DRC Criticizes Global Lukewarm Attitude to
Genocide in Congo

Japanese Ambassador Advises Nigerian Youth to Seek Self Development
..Insists Nigeria’s Future Lies in Its Youth

By: Michael Mike

Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo has encouraged Nigerian youth to seek self development, insisting that: “The future of Nigeria lies in its youth, and their ability to engage with the world is crucial.”

Speaking at the weekend during the handover of books donated by the Tokyo Foundation with the generous support of the Nippon Foundation to University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Abuja, the envoy told the delegation from the university that: “We believe that books are powerful tools for learning and discovery, and we are honoured to contribute to the excellent academic resources at your university.

The Ambassador while stating that the significant collection of 183 books, made possible through the visionary ‘Read Japan Project,’ an initiative of the Tokyo Foundation with the generous support of the Nippon Foundation, was in recognition of “our deep and growing partnership with the University of Maiduguri.”

He said: “Our greatest hope is that this diverse collection will spark even deeper interest in Japan among your bright and inquisitive students. The future of Nigeria lies in its youth, and their ability to engage with the world is crucial. Japan has a rich history of overcoming challenges to achieve progress, and we hope the insights within these pages can be a valuable resource.

“We look forward to our continued collaboration with the University of Maiduguri and look forward to witnessing the great things your students will achieve.”

On his part, the Honorary Chair, The Nippon Foundation, Yohei Sasakawa, said: “We are pleased to donate books that will help promote understanding about Japan to University of Maiduguri. We would also like to thank all of you who cooperated with us in making this donation possible.”

Sasakawa, whose speech was read by Ms. Shimada Mami said: “At the University of Maiduguri, we understand that the promotion of Japanese culture has been steadily advancing, notably through the establishment of the Japanese cultural club “NARUTO” on campus in 2024, under the leadership of Prof. Mohammed Dauda. We deeply respect the university’s efforts to foster greater understanding and interest in Japan among students and faculty, and we are truly pleased that such initiatives are helping to further strengthen mutual understanding and friendly relations between our two countries.”

He explained that: “The Nippon Foundation is promoting the Read Japan Project in the hope of providing quality information about Japan to those who are interested in Japan. To date, we have donated around 98,000 books to more than 1,400 libraries and research institutions in 150 countries all over the world. We are pleased to have University of Maiduguri join this group of recipients today.”

He promised that: “The Nippon Foundation will further expand the selection of books we donate so that we can satisfy the intellectual curiosity of those interested in Japan,” adding that: “It will please us very much if young and aspiring individuals in Nigeria will make the best use of these books not only to deepen their interest in and understanding of Japan, but also to serve as a bridge between our two countries.”

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Mohammed Mele, while taking custody of the books, expressed appreciation to the Nippon Foundation for its extraordinary generosity and to the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria

He said: “This collection of books on Japanese culture, history, and innovation will open new doors of understanding and discovery for our students, and will inspire them to engage with the world in new and meaningful ways.

“This donation signifies the deepening partnership between the University of Maiduguri and Japan. We are committed to building on this to further our collaboration. To that end, I am pleased to announce that we will soon create a dedicated Japanese Corner in the Ramat Library.”

He noted that with the establishment of the Japanese Culture Club (NJCC) in the university, the vibrant interest of the students in the Japanese language, culture, and traditions, which is a powerful sign of the bridges being built between our cultures, has grown. He said: “This donation will undoubtedly fuel their passion and curiosity for years to come.”

He assured that the institution is committed to making the most of these resources and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.

Japanese Ambassador Advises Nigerian Youth to Seek Self Development