NDLEA Arrests Two Europe-Based Nigerians with 200 Cocaine Wraps at Abuja Airport

By: Michael Mike

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two Europe-based Nigerian businessmen attempting to smuggle 3.46 kilogrammes of cocaine to Paris, France, after ingesting 200 wraps of the illicit drug, while also intercepting a woman with 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

The two suspects, identified as Aliocus Odife and Sam Blackborn, were arrested last Wednesday, during the outward clearance of an Air France flight AF 832 from Abuja to Paris at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

The NDLEA said the suspects, who had travelled to Nigeria for holidays, were subjected to body scans which confirmed that they had ingested foreign objects suspected to be cocaine.

Odife, who claimed to live in France and work in a factory, reportedly arrived in Nigeria on October 21 for a short holiday. He subsequently admitted to ingesting 110 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.901 kilogrammes, which he excreted under observation.

His co-traveller, Blackborn, also tested positive during a body scan and admitted to swallowing 90 wraps weighing 1.559 kilogrammes. He equally excreted all the wraps under observation.

The spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday,said both consignors tested positive for cocaine, bringing the total recovered from the suspects to 200 wraps weighing 3.460 kilogrammes.

In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway arrested Aisha Isah at a tollgate with 266 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition.

The agency also arrested a 68-year-old man, Ifeanyi Egwolonwu, along the Zaria-Kano Expressway at Gwargwaje, Zaria, with 2,770 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 100 ampoules of diazepam injection, 11,000 tablets of diazepam and 4,500 tablets of Exol-5.

In Kaduna State, officers raiding Tashan Banke also arrested seven suspects, including Faisal Adamu, and recovered 178.85 kilogrammes of cannabis alongside quantities of diazepam, tramadol, Exol-5 and pregabalin.

Across other states, the agency recorded further seizures of illicit drugs in a series of operations targeting trafficking networks and drug distribution points.

In Lagos, operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a Volkswagen LT 28 bus along Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja on October 25, recovering 537 kilogrammes of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis.

Another team intercepted a brown J5 bus along the Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway the same day, seizing an additional 439 kilogrammes of the substance.

In Oyo State, two suspects, Oguntona Nasiru, 46, and Soji Balogun, 47, were arrested last Thursday, while loading 554 kilogrammes of skunk into a Volvo truck along Idere Road, Igboora.

The operation was a follow-up to an earlier raid targeting a notorious drug dealer identified as Omo Oba, who escaped arrest on October 25 when NDLEA operatives seized 309.5 kilogrammes of cannabis popularly known as Ghanaian Loud, allegedly linked to him.

In Kano State, operatives raided a location in the Tsamiya area of Gezawa last Monday, recovering 247,500 tablets of diazepam weighing 57.7 kilogrammes and 100,000 tablets of Exol-5 weighing 38.7 kilogrammes.

Two days later, officers stormed Dorayi area, where they arrested Ziya’ulhaq Abdullahi, 35, and Garba Muhammed, 52, with 19,250 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 13.6 kilogrammes.

In Ondo State, four suspects, including Bassey Okon, 24; Abraham Edet, 20; and Oto Udo, 24, were arrested during a raid on cannabis farms in Ijare forest on October 25.

The operation led to the recovery of 16 bags of processed cannabis weighing 180 kilogrammes.

Similarly, NDLEA operatives, supported by soldiers, destroyed a 1.646-hectare cannabis plantation at Eko Camp, Ilushi, Esan South-East Local Government Area of Edo State, last Wednesday.

The plantation was estimated to have a yield of 4,115.53 kilogrammes of cannabis.

A 50-year-old woman, Christiana Uboi, was arrested at the camp with 301 kilogrammes of processed cannabis, while another 176 kilogrammes was recovered during the operation.

In Sokoto State, operatives of the agency’s Zone 7 Command arrested a 68-year-old man, Ibrahim Ayuba, on Saturday with 236.6 kilogrammes of skunk.

The agency said its commands conducted sensitisation activities during the week in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities, including Obawole Grammar School II, Ojodu, Lagos; Nsukka High School, Enugu; Government Technical College, Dorayi Babba, Kano; and Ajagbe Comprehensive High School, Iperu, Ogun State.

Commenting on the arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), commended officers of the Abuja airport, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Ondo, Oyo and Edo commands for their operations.

Marwa described the arrest of the two cocaine couriers at the Abuja airport as a warning to Nigerians living abroad who might believe their foreign residence could provide cover for drug trafficking.

He said officers at the country’s entry and exit points remained alert, warning that there was no hiding place for anyone willing to risk their lives and liberty by ingesting illicit drugs for financial rewards.

The NDLEA chairman also directed officers across the country to sustain the pressure on drug cartels while intensifying drug demand reduction campaigns through its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation programme.

NDLEA Arrests Two Europe-Based Nigerians with 200 Cocaine Wraps at Abuja Airport

MMPN Celebrates Sultan’s 20 Years on Throne, Hails Contributions to Peace, Unity

By: Michael Mike

The Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) has congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on his 20th coronation anniversary, commending his contributions to peace, religious tolerance and national unity.

The organisation, in a congratulatory statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Sunday, described the two decades of the Sultan’s reign as years of dedicated service to Islam, the Muslim Ummah and Nigeria.

Abubakar, who is also the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), ascended the throne in 2006.

MMPN, which identified the Sultan as its Grand Patron, expressed appreciation for his consistent support for Muslim media practitioners and his recognition of the media’s role in promoting responsible citizenship, understanding and peaceful coexistence.

The organisation said the Sultan had, over the years, used his position to promote dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect among Nigerians of different religious and cultural backgrounds.

It noted that his messages of peace and unity had provided reassurance during difficult periods in the country and reinforced the importance of national cohesion.

MMPN also commended the Sultan for recognising the responsibility associated with media practice, saying his encouragement had strengthened its members’ commitment to fairness, professionalism and responsible journalism.

The organisation said it joined the Muslim Ummah, the Sultanate Council, the people of Sokoto and Nigerians across the country in celebrating the milestone and acknowledging his contributions to the Muslim community and the nation’s pursuit of peace.

It prayed Almighty Allah to grant the Sultan continued good health, wisdom and strength for more years of service to Islam, humanity and Nigeria.

The statement wished the Sultan a happy 20th coronation anniversary.

MMPN Celebrates Sultan’s 20 Years on Throne, Hails Contributions to Peace, Unity

Plateau Indigenous Youths Defend DSS, Demand Probe of Alleged Security Leaks

By: Michael Mike

Indigenous youth organisations in Plateau State have defended the Department of State Services (DSS), the Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow against allegations of bias and misconduct, urging the Federal Government to sustain joint security operations and investigate claims of compromise within the security architecture.

The coalition accused groups representing Fulani interests of using petitions and social media campaigns to discredit security agencies following operations against armed militants in the state.

Addressing a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, on Wednesday, the President of the Berom Youths Moulder-Association and Coordinator of Indigenous Youth Nationalities, Northern Zone, Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri, said the allegations risked undermining ongoing efforts to restore peace to violence-ravaged communities.

The coalition’s position followed a petition dated October 5, 2026, reportedly signed by Mujahid Abdullahi on behalf of the Plateau chapters of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), Fulbe Youth Development Association (FUYODA) and other organisations.

The petitioners allegedly accused the DSS of discriminatory operations against Fulani communities and blamed the agency for killings, abductions, cattle rustling and the poisoning and shooting of cattle.

A video circulated on Facebook and other social media platforms reportedly made similar allegations while portraying the Nigerian Army as the only security agency working in the interest of peace in Plateau.

But the indigenous youth coalition dismissed the claims as an attempt to distort the security situation and pressure authorities into undermining operations against armed groups.

Mwantiri said the campaigns appeared designed to intimidate the Plateau State Director of the DSS, Paul Damian; discredit the operations of the DSS, Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow; disrupt joint operations involving local security volunteers; discourage intelligence sharing; and portray the Army as the only effective security agency in the state.

The coalition maintained that the joint operations had exposed what it described as a pattern of armed militants attacking and occupying communities while cattle were allegedly grazed alongside them.

It claimed that at least 152 hamlets, villages and communities had suffered attacks, although it did not provide supporting documentation for the figure at the briefing.

The youth leaders also rejected allegations that Damian and the DSS were involved in killings and cattle rustling. They argued that cattle intercepted while grazing on farmlands were being held pending the identification of their owners and the alleged perpetrators.

To reinforce their argument, the coalition cited several attacks on security personnel and communities, which it attributed to Fulani militants.

It alleged that a newly deployed DSS base at Nding Sesut, Fan District, in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, was attacked on June 1, 2026.

The group also cited an August 23 attack on Tanjol and Tarai villages in Jol community, alleging that more than 400 militants assaulted the settlements, ambushed and killed two DSS officers, seized their rifles and retreated towards Rankum in the Mahanga area of Riyom Local Government Area.

It further alleged that Mobile Police Force personnel were killed in attacks on Dares and Kwi villages in Bokkos and Riyom local government areas about two weeks before the briefing.

The coalition also claimed that the Operations Officer of Operation Rainbow, DSP David Babale, was ambushed and killed near a military checkpoint around Rakok village, on the outskirts of Barkin Ladi, while similar incidents had occurred at Kantoma and Alohgom in Mangu Local Government Area.

The allegations were not independently verified at the briefing, and the petitioning organisations’ responses were not included in the coalition’s presentation.

In a further allegation, the youth leaders claimed that sponsors of the armed groups were raising N20 million to finance media campaigns, court cases and petitions aimed at frustrating the security crackdown.

They called on the Federal Government to investigate the alleged funding and any suspected attempts to compromise security operations, including allegations of unprofessional conduct and collusion involving some Army personnel.

The coalition, which comprises youth organisations representing Afizere, Anaguta, Atakar, Atten, Bache, Berom, Gamai, Irigwe, Kunlere, Mushere, Mwaghavul, Ron, Pan, Tarok and other ethnic groups, warned against withdrawing the DSS, Mobile Police Force and Operation Rainbow from Plateau State.

It argued that removing the agencies while attacks and displacement persisted could weaken ongoing operations and embolden armed groups.

The youth leaders appealed to President Bola Tinubu and other Federal Government authorities not to be swayed by allegations they considered politically motivated, while insisting that genuine complaints against security personnel should be investigated.

“We smell a rat,” the coalition said, describing the petition and video as “ploys and strategies of distraction”.

It urged authorities to encourage cooperation among security agencies rather than allow public disputes to undermine intelligence sharing and joint operations.

The statement was jointly signed by Amb. Ezekiel Peter Bini, President of the Irigwe Youths Movement and Chairman of the Coalition; Mwantiri; Amb. Miri Timnan Nyantau, President of the Tarok Progressive Youths Association and Coordinator, Southern Zone; and Jonathan Kyesmang Yusuf, President of the Mwaghavul Youth Movement and Coordinator, Central Zone.

The dispute underscores the competing allegations surrounding the security response to persistent violence in Plateau State, where attacks on communities and security personnel have intensified calls for accountability, effective intelligence coordination and a sustainable approach to civilian protection.

While the coalition maintained that the security agencies should be allowed to continue their operations, the allegations against both security personnel and the groups involved require independent investigation to establish the facts and ensure that accountability is not sacrificed in the pursuit of peace.

Plateau Indigenous Youths Defend DSS, Demand Probe of Alleged Security Leaks