Troops sustain security operations in Taraba amid rising tension, population returns

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army has intensified security operations across parts of Taraba State under Operation LAFIYA JAMAA to restore civil authority and ensure the return of displaced persons to conflict-affected communities.

Zagazola Makama report that the troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), and the police troops have carried out multiple patrols, escort missions, and security operations between May 24 and 25, covering sensitive areas in Karim Lamido, Zing, and Jalingo LGAs.

Troops on escort duty provided security cover for a humanitarian team from the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA), led by Mrs Echuseh, as they delivered cash and relief materials to displaced residents in Bandawa, Karim, and Bambuka communities, severely affected by recent communal conflict.

The successful escort mission ensured that vulnerable populations in the area accessed critical relief support without incident, reinforcing military-civilian cooperation and the Army’s stabilisation efforts.

In a separate confidence-building effort, troops deployed to Munga Lelau, Bunkachi, and Gwamu villages observed that locals who had earlier fled due to insecurity had started returning to their homes. The presence of security forces has helped restore a sense of safety and rekindle hope among the traumatized residents.

Similarly, troops in Kambari village, Karim Lamido LGA, embarked on a patrol of the outskirts of the town to deny criminal elements freedom of action. No hostile contact was made, and the patrol concluded without incident.

In Zing LGA, another unit from the Battalion conducted an aggressive foot patrol at Monkin village to dislodge potential threats and deter further escalation of violence in the area. The troops returned safely after completing the assignment.

Joint night patrols were also conducted by troops around the Munga Lelau–Bambuka axis and within Kambari town to maintain round-the-clock vigilance and prevent the regrouping of armed groups.

In Jalingo, troops mounted a checkpoint at Kpantinapo community where they conducted a “Stop and Search” operation aimed at intercepting illicit arms, ammunition, and wanted persons. The operation was described as successful and hitch-free.

Meanwhile, in Jeb Jeb village of Karim Lamido LGA, troops initiated a “Block Force” operation along the Amper–Bachubi road to locate and engage suspected hostile elements. While no contact was made during this mission, it point to the security forces aggressive push to deny bandits and militia groups any operational space.

The sources said although, the general security situation within the area remains calm, the sources described the current situation as unpredictable, requiring sustained vigilance.

Troops sustain security operations in Taraba amid rising tension, population returns

N6.5 billion Opioids Intercepted by NDLEA at Lagos, Rivers Ports

By: Michael Mike

Opioids worth over N6.5 billion have been intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers and the Apapa seaport, Lagos in the course of last week.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the opioids with quantities no fewer than six million pills of opioids include tamol 225mg, tapentadol 225mg and carisoprodol 225mg as well as 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup with street value put at exactly N6,524,000,000.00.

Babafemi revealed that the seizures at the Apapa and Onne ports followed intelligence and tracking of new trafficking routes to ship illicit substances into Nigeria by drug cartels, which necessitated the watch-listing of the containers for 100 percent examination.

He said intercepted consignments at the Port Harcourt ports are six million pills of opioids and 162,000 bottles of codeine syrup uncovered in two containers last Monday and Tuesday during a joint examination of the shipments by NDLEA officers with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies.

At the Apapa port in Lagos, a total of 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered in a watch-listed container by NDLEA operatives during a similar joint examination exercise last Thursday.

He said two British nationals: Mhizha Tatendra and Ayedipe Adejuwon as well as two Nigerians: Shonowo Imole and Ofuoma Ayobami have been arrested by NDLEA operatives for attempting to smuggle into Nigeria 92 bags of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 51.1 kilogrammes through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

He said Alexander was intercepted with the consignment upon his arrival at the MMIA on a Qatar Airline flight from Doha based on processed intelligence on Thursday 15th May. He was allowed to pass through the security control unhindered and closely monitored by NDLEA operatives to the car park, where the owner of the cargo, Adejuwon, who is a Nigerian British, was waiting in an SUV along with his relation Shonowo Imole and the driver of the vehicle, Ofuoma Ayobami, to receive the courier.

Babafemi said the NDLEA operatives tracking them swooped on them as they attempted to drive out of the airport car park, arresting them with the drug exhibits in the vehicle.

He said in his statement, Alexander confessed he was recruited during his vacation weeks ago while he was promised 1,300 British Pounds after a successful delivery of the consignment in Lagos. The arrowhead of the syndicate, Ayedipe Adejuwon, confessed that he arrived in Nigeria a day earlier from South Africa through Ghana.

The spokesman said a follow-up operation at their apartment in Lekki led to more discoveries. At the point of his arrest, N93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand were recovered from him while a search of his Lekki apartment, led to the seizure of N3,810,500 cash, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max and four laughing gas (Nitro Oxide) canisters.

In other clampdowns, a total of 75,000 kilogrammes of skunk were destroyed on 30 hectares of cannabis farms by NDLEA operatives at Esuk-Odot village in Odukpani local government area of Cross River state where 200 kilogrammes of same substance was recovered last Wednesday, while 1,957.5 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive plant was destroyed at Ohosu forest, Ovia South West local area and Okhuse community forest, Owan West local government area, Edo State last Friday.

In Nasarawa state, two suspects: Sunday Daniel, 51, and Abu Peter, 30, were arrested at Keffi by NDLEA operatives on Saturday when 4,000 kilogrammes of skunk were discovered concealed under unprocessed wood in their lorry, while another suspect, Godwin Obi, 39, was nabbed at Karu with 154.5 kilogrammes of same substance last Wednesday.

In Kaduna state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kaduna – Zaria expressway at Gwargwaje last Wednesday intercepted 22-year-old Muhammad Hamza with 57,750 pills of tramadol and diazepam, while same day their counterparts in Bauchi arrested Usman Muhammad, 45, along Bauchi-Misau road with 80 blocks of skunk weighing 45 kilogrammes.

Similarly, operatives on stop-and-search operations along Potiskum–Damaturu road, Yobe state intercepted 55 parcels of Colorado, weighing 2 kilogrammes, which a suspect Adum Muhammed, 29, was attempting to smuggle into the Republic of Chad through Gamboru-Ngala border town in Borno State.

In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road last Thursday intercepted a Mercedes Benz car marked FST 938 FU loaded with 235 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 97 kilogrammes and arrested a suspect, Adams Ayibakro.

Operatives in Lagos raided the Osapa London area of Lekki where they arrested a suspect Jonathan Isa with different quantities of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Molly, Rohypnol, Codeine, Cannabis and Nitrous Oxide while another raid at Idasun, Eleko, Ibeju Lekki last Saturday led to the arrest of Olamilekan Idowu and seizure of 48kg skunk.

Meanwhile, the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, social advocacy activities by NDLEA commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) while commending the officers and men of PHPC, MMIA, Apapa, Nasarawa, Cross River, Edo, Lagos, Niger, Kaduna, Yobe and Bauchi commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

N6.5 billion Opioids Intercepted by NDLEA at Lagos, Rivers Ports

Police operatives arrest village head, 13 others for aiding banditry in Niger State

By: Zagazola Makama

Security operatives in Niger State have arrested the village head of Guiwa and 13 other individuals for allegedly aiding and abetting armed bandits in Mashegu Local Government Area.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the arrests were made on May 23, 2025, during an ongoing clearance operation by a joint team of police officers, hunters, and local vigilantes targeting bandits’ camps and hideouts in Guiwa and Telle villages.

The village head, Mai Anguwa Garba Mohammed, was apprehended on reasonable suspicion of providing shelter and logistical support to the bandits. The others arrested are residents from various nearby communities suspected of collaboration with the criminals.

Those arrested include Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu of Wawa village, Borgu LGA; Umar Abubakar of Gwajibo; Musa Mohammed of Telle village; Mohammed Abubakar of Dukku, Rijau LGA; Molema Aliyu of Pallagi; Oro Abubakar of Arera; Shehu Alhaji Ardo of Adogon Mallam; Umar Abdullahi, Ibrahim Abubakar, Saidu Mohammed, and Babuga Abdullahi, all of Lumma; Mohamadu Bako of Gwajibo; and Babuga Saidu of Lumma.

During a search of the village head’s residence, security operatives recovered four motorcycles, one live cartridge, and ten cattle believed to have been stolen by the bandits. Three of the cattle, which were injured, were slaughtered to prevent further suffering.

Sources from the Niger State Police Command said investigations into the matter are ongoing and reiterated its commitment to rooting out all collaborators who facilitate banditry in the state.

Police operatives arrest village head, 13 others for aiding banditry in Niger State