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Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment

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Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) have arrested three members of an organized criminal organisation which specializes in illicit drug trafficking across Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Europe and America over two months after they were declared wanted.

Their arrest followed the recent seizure of the single largest consignment of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said a total of 51.9 kilogrammes of heroin had been recovered from members of the drug cartel in an operation that began 10th February 2024 at the SAHCO Import Shed of the Lagos airport’s Cargo Terminal.

He recalled that the consignment was concealed in 15 cartons of 2300-watt metal cutting machines, with no less than 45 blocks of the illicit substance weighing 49.70 kilogrammes recovered from the equipment, while additional 2.2 kilogrammes was seized at the syndicate’s warehouse in Ayobo area of Lagos.

He said while the agency has secured interim forfeiture court order on hotel, mansions, vehicles and funds traced to members of the syndicate after arresting four of them, a manhunt was also launched for others who went underground.

He noted that the effort however paid off last Friday when two of the wanted kingpins: Onyinyechi Igbokwuputa and Frankline Uzochukwu were arrested in Lagos and Awka, Anambra state respectively, with another wanted member of the syndicate, Osita Obinna nabbed in Lagos.

Babafemi said an attempt by a suspect, Iheakara Ifeanyichukwu to export a drug consignment through the terminal 2 of the Lagos airport to Muscat, Oman via Ethiopian airline flight last Thursday was thwarted by NDLEA officers. When his luggage was searched, 20 big parcels of cannabis weighing 9.80 kilogrammes were discovered concealed in his bag.

Iheakara, who lives in Muscat, Oman and returned to Nigeria on 1st April, in his statement confessed he was hired to courier the drug with an agreement to get paid N1.2 million upon successful delivery in Oman.

Babafemi revealed that In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives last Saturday intercepted a Peugeot car driven by Dahiru Mohammed at Girei on his way to Mubi with 1,250,000 pills of opioids weighing 450 kilogrammes. The operatives had earlier intercepted along Ngurore -Yola road a J5 bus marked AAA790XV loaded with motor spare parts from Onitsha, Anambra State, with consignments of codeine syrup and tramadol concealed in-between the motor parts. A follow up operation led to the arrest of the recipient, Jairus Nwanchor at Jambutu motor park .

He said three suspects: Beriakuma Chinrdu, 40; Okpor Isaac, 68, and Daniel Onyeachom, 42, were last Saturday arrested at Amarata,Yenagoa, Bayelsa state in connection with the seizure of 69 compressed blocks of cannabis weighing 36 kilogrammes and concealed in a false compartment of a Toyota Picnic car marked MUS 711 DH they were travelling in. This is even as NDLEA operatives in Imo state last Thursday arrested Kingsley Omeje, 41, at Amajeke, Owerri while he was taking delivery of 49 bottles of codeine syrup he ordered.

In Ondo state, NDLEA operatives raided the Oloro camp, Ogbese, Akure North local government area where they arrested Linus Odogwu, 50, and destroyed a total of 25,000 kilogrammes of cannabis on 10 hectares of farmland while they recovered 89.5 kilogrammes of same substance. Three other suspects: David Ekepenyoung, 22; Oluwaseun Folorunso, 23; and Rabiu Musa, 32, were nabbed in other parts of the state in connection to different seizures totaling 77 kilogrammes .

Babafemi said NDLEA commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy lectures.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Ondo and Imo commands of the agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating parity between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.

Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment

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Reverend Dachomo insist “I was a notorious criminal in this village, a drug cartel… but I found Jesus”

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Reverend Dachomo insist “I was a notorious criminal in this village, a drug cartel… but I found Jesus”

By: Zagazola Makama

Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has again recounted his past life of crime and subsequent spiritual transformation, attributing his change to his Christian faith.

Dachomo made the disclosure during a religious gathering, where he shared his personal testimony of repentance and renewal.

“I was a notorious criminal in this village, a drug cartel in this village, a wanderer in this village. That is my testimony,” he said.

The pastor also claimed involvement in criminal activities in his earlier years.

“When I say 1980, it is our gang that robbed a bank, and the person that led that operation is my best friend,” he said.

He explained that his life took a new direction after he embrace Jesus during the robbery.

“When I submitted myself to Jesus, who is my Saviour, I allowed Him to control my life, and Jesus forgave my sin. I am a new person in Christ Jesus,” he said.

However, Dachomo has come under relentless attacks with many asking the authorities to investigate his confession and prosecuting him for his past criminality.

They accused him of infighting fire in the already existing crises between farmers and herders in the state especially when he was openly heard asking the youths to go to WAR.

Reverend Dachomo insist “I was a notorious criminal in this village, a drug cartel… but I found Jesus”

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Troops foil cattle rustling, recover 84 livestock in Kaduna

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Troops foil cattle rustling, recover 84 livestock in Kaduna

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have foiled a cattle rustling attempt and recovered 84 livestock in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A military source said the operation was carried out by troops of 4 Division Demonstration Battalion deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Dumbi.

The source disclosed that the troops responded at about 5:30 a.m. on March 27 to credible intelligence on cattle rustling activities at Pan Daudu settlement.

“Following the information, troops swiftly mobilised and laid ambush at a suspected crossing point between Lamban Zango and Monday Market in Igabi Local Government Area,” the source said.

He added that the suspected rustlers, on approaching the ambush site, abandoned the livestock and fled the scene.

“The terrorists, upon sighting the troops’ position, fled in disarray, abandoning 84 rustled livestock,” he said.

According to him, the recovered animals were subsequently handed over to their rightful owners.

Troops foil cattle rustling, recover 84 livestock in Kaduna

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Troops arrest 14 suspects in cordon-and-search operation in Borno

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Troops arrest 14 suspects in cordon-and-search operation in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, have arrested 14 suspects during a cordon-and-search operation in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

Sources said the operation, conducted by troops of 21 Special Armoured Brigade, followed credible intelligence on the activities of a suspected terrorist and kidnapper identified as Baba Ali.

The sources disclosed that the operation took place at about 2:20 p.m. on March 25 at Ngurosoye village, where the suspect was being tracked through intercepted communications.

During the operation, troops apprehended 14 suspects at the location where the tracked calls were received.

Two bags of fertiliser, suspected to be for illicit use, were also recovered from the scene.

The suspects are currently in military custody for further investigation and necessary action.

Troops arrest 14 suspects in cordon-and-search operation in Borno

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