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Thailand returnee arrested with N3.1billion heroin concealed in six bags at Lagos airport

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Thailand returnee arrested with N3.1billion heroin concealed in six bags at Lagos airport


. As NDLEA intercepts N22.7billion worth of opioids at Lekki, Apapa, Onne seaports

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos a Nigerian returnee from Thailand, Oguejiofor Nnaemeka for importing 13.3 kilogrammes of heroin worth about N3.2 billion.

The NDLEA also at three seaports intercepted large consignments of opioids with a combined monetary value of over N22.7 billion.

A statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi on Sunday said Oguejiofor was arrested last Monday while attempting to smuggle out of the airport the illicit drug concealed in six backpacks and then packed into two big suitcases.

He said the 29-year-old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra state, had left Thailand on 3rd October on Qatar Airways flight and stopped over in Doha where he spent two days before heading to Lagos while his luggage was routed to Accra, Ghana, his original destination.

He said after arriving Lagos on the 5th October, Oguejiofor contacted the airline to reroute his luggage to Nigeria so that he can pick them up as rush bags in a bit to beat security checks, but he was however intercepted by NDLEA officers at the point of exit; and during a search of his two suitcases, three empty backpacks in each box with a large parcel of heroin neatly sewn to all the six backpacks were discovered. The six parcels were subsequently recovered with a gross weight of 13.30kg.

Babafemi said Oguejiofor, in his statement,
claimed he was hired for a fee of $7,000 upon successful delivery of the parcels. He said he was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the other four parcels in Accra, Ghana.

In other clampdowns, Babafemi said a total of 32,607,900 pills of tramadol worth about N12.6 billion and 1,451,994 bottles of codeine-based syrup with a street value of about N10.2 billion have been intercepted at the Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa seaport in Lagos and Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state.

He noted that the combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to over N22.7 billion.

The NDLEA spokesman said the illicit consignments were seized from containers watch listed by the agency based on intelligence and processed for 100 percent joint examination with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between last Monday and Friday.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Anambra on Saturday arrested a suspect, Okelue Chidera, 29, with 50,000 tablets of tramadol 200mg at Upper Iweka, Onitsha.

Also, in Edo state, operatives raided a cannabis transit and loading point at Aviose, Owan West local government area where 70 bags of the psychoactive substance weighing 1,050 kilogrammes were recovered, while a suspect Monday Akele, 38, was arrested last Friday in another raid at Owan Village, Ovia North East local government area where 110 kilogrammes of same substance was seized.

Babafemi said with the same vigour, 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 among others in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending officers of the agency for a job well done, stated that their operational successes of officers across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

Thailand returnee arrested with N3.1billion heroin concealed in six bags at Lagos airport

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Troops neutralise two suspected terrorists in ambush along Aulari–Kawuri axis in Borno

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Troops neutralise two suspected terrorists in ambush along Aulari–Kawuri axis in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have neutralised two suspected terrorists during a night ambush along the Aulari–Kawuri road ahead of Forward Operating Base Aulari in Borno State.

A military source told the Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 2:15 a.m. on March 31 after surveillance cameras sighted two suspected terrorists moving along the route towards Yale forest axis.

The source said troops of 202 Battalion swiftly engaged the targets after confirmation of hostile intent, resulting in the neutralisation of both suspects.

According to him, the operation was part of ongoing efforts to deny terrorists freedom of movement along key routes within the theatre of operations.

He added that troops patrol operations continue to prevent further infiltration by terrorist elements.

Troops neutralise two suspected terrorists in ambush along Aulari–Kawuri axis in Borno

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Troops arrest suspected drug peddlers in Delta raid operation

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Troops arrest suspected drug peddlers in Delta raid operation

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of 3 Battalion (Rear), in collaboration with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested two suspected drug peddlers during a raid operation in Warri metropolis, Delta State.

A military source told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 3:00 p.m. on March 31 at suspected drug hideouts in Ugborode, Agbarho, Uti communities, Airport Road and Ekpan general area.

The source said the joint team acted on credible intelligence targeting illicit drug distribution points within the metropolis.

He added that two suspects were arrested during the operation, while assorted illicit drugs and substances suspected to be cannabis sativa and codeine syrup were recovered.

According to him, the suspects and recovered items were handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.

The source said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to curb drug abuse and related criminal activities in Delta State.

He reaffirmed the commitment of security agencies to sustain joint operations aimed at maintaining law and order across the Niger Delta region.

Troops arrest suspected drug peddlers in Delta raid operation

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3 civilians killed as troops contain escalation, restore calm in Jos after unrest spreads to flashpoints

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3 civilians killed as troops contain escalation, restore calm in Jos after unrest spreads to flashpoints

By: Zagazola Makama

Three civilians have been confirmed dead following a wave of unrest that spread across multiple communities in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau, before troops and other security agencies intervened to restore calm.

Security sources said the violence, which erupted on April 1, was a spillover from the March 29 attack on commuters and residents around Angwan Rukuba Junction along the Jos–Bauchi highway.

The initial incident had heightened tensions in the area, with fears of reprisals, which later manifested into coordinated disturbances in parts of Jos metropolis.

According to the sources, the unrest began at about 9:30 a.m. in Nasarawa area of Jos North and quickly escalated, spreading to other volatile locations including Katako Junction, Farin Gada, Gada Biu, Angwan Rogo, Rikos and adjoining communities.

“The situation deteriorated rapidly as hoodlums took advantage of the tension to cause mayhem, attacking properties and attempting to ignite further violence across the affected areas,” the source said.

Troops drawn from Headquarters 3 Division Nigerian Army, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), and other special forces, alongside personnel of sister security agencies, were immediately deployed to the flashpoints.

The swift and coordinated response, according to security officials, helped to contain the disturbances before they could degenerate into widespread communal clashes.

“The troops responded decisively and were able to stabilise the situation across the affected locations. Their presence prevented further escalation and restored relative calm in the metropolis,” the source added.

During the operations, security forces foiled several attempts by miscreants to set ablaze some places of worship, particularly in Katako Junction, Angwan Rogo and along Bauchi Road.

Despite the success in containing the unrest, three civilians lost their lives in the course of the disturbances. Their corpses were evacuated to medical facilities, while normalcy has gradually returned to the affected areas.

Following the restoration of calm, troops have maintained a strong presence across Jos metropolis, conducting aggressive patrols and surveillance operations to deter further breakdown of law and order.

The deployment has also been extended to neighbouring local government areas, including Jos South, Riyom and Bassa, where security presence has been reinforced.

Residents in the affected communities have expressed cautious relief as normal activities gradually resume, though tension remains in some quarters.

Security authorities assured that the situation is under close monitoring and urged residents to remain law-abiding, avoid spreading unverified information, and cooperate with security agencies.

In a related development, troops also recorded operational success in rural parts of the state.

At about 2:30 p.m. on April 1, security operatives responding to reports of cattle rustling in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area engaged suspected rustlers heading towards Farin Lamba in Riyom LGA.

The criminals, upon contact with troops, abandoned 30 rustled cows and fled into nearby bushes. The livestock were recovered and handed over to their rightful owner.

Security sources noted that routine patrols have been intensified across the Joint Operations Area to safeguard critical national infrastructure, schools, markets and places of worship.

They reiterated commitment to sustaining peace and preventing any resurgence of violence in Plateau and its environs.

3 civilians killed as troops contain escalation, restore calm in Jos after unrest spreads to flashpoints

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