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Seizure of 51.90kg Heroin: NDLEA nets 3 wanted kingpins, intercepts Oman-bound drug consignment
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
Troops repel kidnapping attempt on Makurdi–Kura road, driver killed in crossfire
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops have repelled an attempted kidnapping along the Makurdi–Kura road in Benue State, but a driver was killed during a crossfire between soldiers and suspected bandits on Wednesday evening.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. when a group of engineers travelling from Kura to Makurdi encountered armed men who had blocked the road, intending to abduct passengers in a bus ahead of them.
According to a local source, soldiers on routine patrol were behind the engineers’ vehicle and immediately engaged the attackers in a gun duel, forcing the assailants to flee into the bush.
During the exchange of fire, Ochoche Otokolo Ekwu, the driver of the engineers’ vehicle, was hit by a stray bullet and died on the spot.
The source said the Divisional Police Officer of ‘D’ Division mobilised a patrol team alongside tactical units to the scene, where the corpse was evacuated and deposited at a mortuary in Makurdi.
The source added that security operatives are currently combing nearby bushes to track the fleeing suspects and prevent further attacks along the route.
Troops repel kidnapping attempt on Makurdi–Kura road, driver killed in crossfire
Police Officer goes missing after signing out rifle in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
A police officer has been declared missing in Katsina State after signing out a service rifle for duty and disappearing without a trace.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Nov. 23 when PC Ahmed Tukur attached to the Danmusa Division, reported for duty at about 6 p.m. and signed out an AK-47 rifle with breech number 13492 for standby duty.
Shortly after collecting the weapon, the officer left the station for an unknown location and has not been seen since.
A source told Zagazola that all efforts to contact him, including visits to his residence and reaching out to relatives, have yielded no clues about his whereabouts.
The source said the command has launched sustained efforts to trace the officer and recover the missing rifle, describing the situation as “a serious operational and security concern.”
Police Officer goes missing after signing out rifle in Katsina
News
Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini
Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State Governor Hon. Dr. Mai Mala Buni CON has said that the security challenges in the nation need to involve community leaders and individuals for intelligence gathering so as to cut off sources of illegal arms supply in the country.
He said by involving the community leaders and individuals for intelligence gathering, it will arrest the sponsors in order to restore peace and stability to Nigerians.
Governor Buni disclosed this today when he received members of the forest guards training and evaluation committee at the Government House, Damaturu.
Ably represented by his Deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana (Wazirin Fune). He urged Nigerians to emulate the sacrifices made by our forefathers to end security challenges and build a better Nigeria.
The governor assured that recently the service chiefs have given assurance that they will do everything possible within their reach to bring to an end the current insecurity, especially in Northern Nigeria.
He informed the delegation that the Yobe state government has been working tirelessly to improve the security situation in the state.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Major General H. I. Mabeokwu, told the governor that they were in Yobe State to brief the governor on the ongoing training of 865 forest guards in the state.
According to Major General Mabeokwu, the committee had earlier visited the Yobe state camp to monitor the ongoing training and inquired about the needs of the trainees and the standards set for the training.
“Your Excellency, we have made significant strides in not only training those forest guards but also raising their awareness about the importance of forest conservation.” Major General Mabeokwu said.
He commended the governor for his generosity in terms of welfare for the instructors and trainees as well as relocation and renovation of the training camp and facilities used to enhance the training.
The committee members comprise the Nigerian Army, Navy, DSS, NNSBS, and NPS across the security agencies.
Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini
Troops repel kidnapping attempt on Makurdi–Kura road, driver killed in crossfire
Police Officer goes missing after signing out rifle in Katsina
Community leaders’ engagement and intelligence gathering are key to the security situation. – Governor Bini
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