Gunmen kill 50-year-old man in Benue village as troops launch manhunt

By: Zagazola Makama

Gunmen have killed a 50-year-old man, Alhaji Sadauna, during an early morning attack on Gbajimba village in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the assailants stormed the community at about 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and attacked the victim before fleeing the area.

“Troops of Sector 1, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), stationed in Gbajimba, immediately mobilised to the scene after receiving the report,” the source said.

According to sources, the soldiers arrived to find that Alhaji Sadauna, aged 50, had already been killed by the attackers.

“The troops swiftly pursued the fleeing gunmen along their suspected escape routes, but no contact was made,” the source added.

The sources said the soldiers secured the area and later evacuated the body of the deceased before handing it over to personnel of the Nigeria Police at the Gbajimba Police Division.

The source said efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend those responsible for the killing.

Gunmen kill 50-year-old man in Benue village as troops launch manhunt

NDLEA Nabs Notorious Drug Kingpin ‘Kanmo-Kanmo’ After 12-Year Manhunt

By: Michael Mike

A notorious drug kingpin and mastermind of the killing of three anti-drug agents, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-Kanmo,” has been arrested by The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the drug kingpin was arrested at his hideout twelve years after he allegedly masterminded the killing of the officers in Ogun State.

Babafemi said Jimoh was apprehended last Friday, in his hideout at Owode town, Ogun State, following a well-coordinated intelligence-led operation by NDLEA tactical teams, adding that at the point of his arrest, operatives recovered 69 kilogrammes of cannabis (commonly known as skunk) from him.

He noted that the suspect had been on the agency’s most-wanted list since 15 June 2014, when he reportedly led an armed mob that attacked NDLEA officers who had gone to arrest him. The assault resulted in the death of three officers, including Rabiu Kazaure, stating that Jimoh escaped arrest at the time, prompting a prolonged manhunt.

Babafemi also noted that in August 2023, NDLEA operatives again raided Jimoh’s residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State, but he fled before they arrived. The agency however seized 1,922 kilogrammes of cannabis stored in 139 sacks at the property. The house was later forfeited to the Federal Government through court proceedings.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA carried out multiple operations across several states within the same period: In Edo State, operatives arrested 53-year-old Isihor Edika in Arokpa Forest, Uzebba, seizing 320 kilogrammes of cannabis and seeds.

In Abuja (FCT), a 44-year-old woman, Yinka Agboola, was arrested for selling drugs online. Officers recovered 2.2 kilogrammes of skunk and litres of cannabis oil from her home in Kaura District. Another suspect, Tordue Pius Richard, was arrested with cocaine and cannabis at Abacha Estate.

In Lagos, 118.1 kilogrammes of skunk were seized from two suspects in Mushin, while a large consignment of codeine syrup—157,519 bottles—was intercepted at Apapa Port in a joint operation with Customs and other security agencies.

In Enugu State, 116 kilogrammes of cannabis were recovered from a warehouse, and along the Onitsha–Asaba Expressway in Delta State, two suspects were arrested with over 410,800 tramadol pills, 84.2 litres of codeine syrup, 82,250 diazepam tablets, 900 swinol tablets, and 65 Molly pills.

In Oyo State, several arrests were made in Ibadan, with seizures totaling more than 330 litres of skuchies, 2.5 kilogrammes of Colorado cannabis, and nearly 10 kilogrammes of assorted cannabis strains. Over 52,000 tramadol and bromazepam pills were also recovered from a store whose owner is still at large.

In Kwara State, NDLEA raided a residence in Ilorin and seized 387.4 kilogrammes of cannabis stored in 42 bags; in Jigawa State, an ex-convict, Gaddafi Ammani, and his accomplice Ahmed Sani were arrested after Ammani attempted to escape by jumping across rooftops while armed with a machete, during which he injured an officer.

Babafemi said beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitisation programmes in schools, religious centres, and communities across Kano, Lagos, Benue, Katsina, and Niger states.

Commending the officers involved, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) described Kanmo-Kanmo’s arrest as a major victory for justice and a tribute to the fallen officers.

He stressed that the arrest would send a strong warning to drug barons that they cannot evade justice forever.

NDLEA Nabs Notorious Drug Kingpin ‘Kanmo-Kanmo’ After 12-Year Manhunt

Nigerian Industrialist Leemon Ikpea Granted Private Audience with Pope at Vatican

By: Michael Mike

A leading Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Leemon Ikpea, has met privately with the Pope at the Vatican in what close associates described as a deeply spiritual and inspiring moment.

Ikpea, the founding chairman and chief executive officer of the Lee Group of Companies, is a prominent figure in Nigeria’s indigenous oil and gas technology sector. The Edo State-born industrialist travelled to Rome as part of his annual spiritual devotion and to strengthen his commitment to the Catholic Church.

During the private audience, the Pontiff is said to have prayed for Ikpea and for Nigeria, urging peace, unity and development in the country. The Pope also reportedly commended the businessman for his philanthropic work and his contributions to human development initiatives both at home and abroad.

A close associate who accompanied Ikpea to the Vatican described the meeting as “humbling and uplifting.” According to him, the encounter reinforced Ikpea’s deep-rooted Catholic faith and his dedication to giving back to society despite his corporate success.

The associate further noted that the industrialist has remained connected to his modest beginnings in Ewatto, Edo State, even as he continues to expand his business interests and social investments.

Dr. Ikpea is widely known for supporting educational programmes, healthcare initiatives and community development projects across different parts of Nigeria.

The Vatican meeting is being seen by his supporters as both a spiritual milestone and a recognition of his humanitarian efforts.

Nigerian Industrialist Leemon Ikpea Granted Private Audience with Pope at Vatican