NDLEA Strengthens Maritime Operations with Training of Officers in UK

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has strengthened its maritime surveillance and interdiction capabilities following the successful completion of a week working visit to the United Kingdom by officers from the agency’s Directorate of Seaport Operations.

The six-man team led by Deputy Commander Narcotics (DCN) Aminu Jega, undertook the strategic engagement between 19th and 25th October 2025 under the guidance of Mr. Errol Macdonald of the UK Home Office International Operations, during which they visited key British maritime and border enforcement facilities, where they were exposed to valuable international best practices in maritime intelligence, port security and inter-agency coordination.

The second part of the training on Advanced Container Targeting was conducted for additional 19 NDLEA officers in Lagos between Monday 10th and Thursday 13th November 2025 by HOIO Intelligence team. Both the UK training tour and the Lagos residential five-day training were sponsored by the UK Home Office International Operations.

According to a statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA delegation held extensive discussions with officials of the UK Border Force, the National Crime Agency (NCA), Home Office Intelligence, the National Maritime Security Centre, and the Joint Maritime Security Centre in Portsmouth, among others.

He disclosed that during the engagements, the team received comprehensive presentations by the UK National Deep Rummaging Team, which showcased modern techniques and procedures for vessel rummage operations aimed at detecting and preventing illicit drug trafficking through sea routes.

He added that the officers also witnessed live demonstration sessions at Tilbury and Felixstowe Ports, where inward-bound containers from Nigeria were subjected to layered inspection and risk-based screening procedures.

Babafemi said another key highlight of the visit was the introduction and demonstration of the Advanced Sea Searcher System, a state-of-the-art underwater detection technology used for locating concealed contraband and drug consignments beneath ships and port structures. The system’s capacity for high-precision underwater searches was identified as a game-changer in maritime interdiction, offering significant potential for NDLEA’s future operations along Nigeria’s coastal and port environments.

In his post-training presentation to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), the leader of the delegation Jega noted that the international exposure had deepened his team’s understanding of intelligence-led maritime enforcement, stressing that lessons learnt from the visit would enhance NDLEA’s operational synergy with other maritime and security agencies in Nigeria.

He said: “We were exposed to advanced tools, data-sharing models, and inter-agency coordination frameworks that will significantly improve our maritime intelligence gathering and port surveillance operations. The practical demonstrations we witnessed, particularly in vessel rummage and underwater detection, are invaluable to NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to counter transnational drug trafficking through our seaports.”

In his response, Marwa commended the officers for representing Nigeria well during the training tour. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to continuous capacity building and adoption of cutting-edge technologies in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

“Maritime routes remain critical in global drug trafficking networks. Strengthening our officers’ technical capacity and intelligence integration with our international partners is essential to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders. The lessons from this UK engagement will be vital in enhancing NDLEA’s effectiveness in intercepting drug consignments at sea and ensuring safer maritime operations,” Marwa stated.

The NDLEA boss said the agency would continue to deepen collaboration with the UK Home Office International Operations and other global law enforcement partners as part of ongoing efforts to combat transnational organized crime linked to illicit drugs.

NDLEA Strengthens Maritime Operations with Training of Officers in UK

Troops eliminate ISWAP, recover weapons in Borno ambush operation

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have successfully disrupted the movement of ISWAP terrorists in an ambush along the Banki axis of Borno State, recovering weapons and neutralising one terrorist.

Zagazola Makama learnt reliably that the operation was conducted between Nov. 13 and the early hours of Nov. 14.

Sources said the ambush team made contact with terrorists mounted on motorcycles and carrying assorted weapons as they moved from Bula-Daloye towards the Mandara Mountains.

The sources said the troops engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to flee in disarray.

“During exploitation of the general area, troops recovered one terrorist corpse, one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines, and two motorcycles,” he said.

The sources added that an unconfirmed number of fleeing terrorists were suspected to have escaped with gunshot wounds.

The sources confirmed that no casualty was recorded on the part of the troops, and no equipment was lost in the operation.

The operation is part of ongoing efforts by the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai to deny terrorists freedom of movement and degrade their capability across the theatre.

Troops eliminate ISWAP, recover weapons in Borno ambush operation

Fili, Prominent Adamawa Politician Denies Ex-Wife Access to Four Daughters for Twelve Years

By: Michael Mike

A prominent political in Adamawa State, Prof. Caleb Fili has continued to use his political influence to deny his former wife, Ms. Zhihwi Mercy Tizhe access to their four daughters for twelve years.

Fili, who was a prominent member of the Labour Party in the state during the 2023 General Election broke up with his ex-wife twelve years ago and had kept the children from Tizhe, which compelled her to take to the court.

The former husband was alleged to have used his position to get the case protracted and kept the ex-women from having access to their four daughters.

The ex-wife thought her ordeal was over when she thought she has had a reprieve from hen granted custody of her third and fourth daughters by the Upper Area Court Yola, under His Justice Buba Abubakar, on January 15, 2024.

However, her former husband thwarted her victory as he continued to refuse to comply with the judgment.

The case entered a new twist on Wednesday when the ministry of justice in Adamawa was alleged to have tried to force Tizhe to sign a paper forfeiting her right to custody of her two younger daughters who are still minors.

Addressing a news conference at the NUJ House in Yola on Thursday, She held a press conference Thursday at NUJ, in Yola, Tizhe, a staff of the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) project, alleged that Professor Caleb Fili, has refused to comply with the judgment, using his influence and connections to frustrate the process.

She decried that she has been denied access to her daughters, who are currently under the care of their paternal aunt.

The said her protestations to the Chief Judge of Adamawa State, the Governor, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, had yielded no positive result.

She equally alleged that the Ministry of Justice in Adamawa State had attempted to compel her to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would nullify the existing court judgment, which she resisted by insisting that no MoU can override a valid court judgment.

Tizhe’s case has sparked concern about the plight of women and children in similar situations. Her story highlights the need for a more efficient and effective judicial system that prioritizes the rights and welfare of vulnerable individuals.

Despite her best efforts, Tizhe has been unable to access her children, who are reportedly being denied parental affection. She appealed at the press conference for intervention from the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, and civil society organizations.

She said the Adamawa State government has a responsibility to ensure that justice is served and the rights of citizens are protected, insisting that this case is a test of the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting the vulnerable.

She lamented that her ordeal since the case started 12 years ago has taken a toll on her health, family, and professional responsibilities.

She said: “I lead a national inclusion programme but has been stranded in Yola for weeks, missing an international conference in Abuja, just waiting for justice that keeps slipping away.”

She added that: “The failure to enforce judgments undermines public confidence in the judiciary. It is imperative that the authorities take immediate action to address my grievances and ensure that justice is done.”

Fili, Prominent Adamawa Politician Denies Ex-Wife Access to Four Daughters for Twelve Years