NDLEA Arrests Ex-Lagos Councillor, Uncovers Drugs Hidden in Baby Diapers, Intercepts IED Components

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intensified their nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking, arresting a former Lagos councillor and uncovering a series of drug consignments concealed in unusual ways, including inside baby diapers, while also intercepting components suspected to be meant for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

In one of the most striking arrests, NDLEA officers apprehended Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, a former two-term councillor in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, following intelligence linking him to illicit drug activities.

Olalekan, 45, who represented the Orimedu community during his tenure and currently serves as a legislative aide, was arrested on March 2 at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki. A search of his home led to the discovery of 40 kilogrammes of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, hidden in one of the rooms.

According to the agency, the suspect admitted ownership of both the drugs and the property where they were recovered.

In a separate operation in Abuja, NDLEA operatives intercepted a businessman, Emeka Okwor, 32, travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory.

During a search of his luggage, officers discovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg concealed inside baby diapers. The suspect reportedly confessed that he was transporting the drugs to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he operates a provision store.

On the same day, NDLEA patrol officers along the Kabba–Obajana highway in Kogi State intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 1.55 kilogrammes, concealed inside a carton of a standing fan.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, the drugs were traced to a 36-year-old Cameroonian national, Mey Ali Muhamat, who was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon through Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri.

In another security-related development, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Mokwa–Jebba road in Niger State intercepted a commercial bus transporting 500 components suspected to be used for improvised explosive devices.

The items were concealed in a white sack and were reportedly meant to be delivered to a recipient in Pelegi community. Babafemi said a swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Mashegu Local Government Area.

The agency also recorded major drug seizures in other parts of the country. In Yola, Adamawa State, NDLEA officers uncovered 122,000 tramadol pills and 700 grammes of methamphetamine hidden in a false compartment of a truck carrying 2,000 cartons of local drinks.

In Kano State, a 20-year-old suspect, Muhammed Ali, was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa with 11,283 tramadol pills.

Similarly, operatives in Ogun State raided a drug hideout in Ogere, arresting Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa with 46 kilogrammes of skunk.

In Delta State, two suspects — Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22 — were apprehended in Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63 kilogrammes of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.

A major cannabis cultivation site was also dismantled in Edo State, where NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Eke London, 48, and Austin Isusi, 49, at Egbisi forest in Uhumwonde Local Government Area and destroyed 1,910.25 kilogrammes of skunk on two farms.

Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was arrested in Ikhin town, Owan East Local Government Area, with 176.5 kilogrammes of skunk.

Beyond enforcement operations, the agency said it continued to expand its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, religious centres and communities nationwide.

The outreach programmes included awareness lectures in several secondary schools across Oyo, Niger, Zamfara, Lagos, Sokoto, Ebonyi and Anambra states.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Maj. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.) commended officers across the Lagos, FCT, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Delta and Adamawa commands for the arrests and seizures.

He urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced strategy of aggressive enforcement alongside public education aimed at reducing drug abuse and trafficking across the country.

NDLEA Arrests Ex-Lagos Councillor, Uncovers Drugs Hidden in Baby Diapers, Intercepts IED Components

Passenger stabbed to death after minor accident in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

A minor road accident in Bayo Local Government Area of Borno on Saturday turned fatal after a passenger was allegedly stabbed to death during a dispute that followed the incident.

Sources said the incident occurred on March 7 at about 5:30 p.m. at Gamadadi involving a Golf vehicle and a motorcycle.

The Golf vehicle with registration number FUG 283 AE, Edo, driven by Danjuma Abdullahi of Kodom Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, was conveying five passengers from Biu to Gombe State when the accident occurred.

The motorcycle, a TVS model with registration number ABM 340 QA, Abuja, was ridden by Abdullahi Umar of Dadi Kowa and had two passengers identified as Abubakar Musa and Yahaya Ibrahim.

According to police, the motorcyclist attempted to overtake the vehicle from the passenger side but collided with it and fell.

As a result of the crash, the rider and one of the passengers, Abubakar Musa, sustained minor injuries.

However, in the aftermath of the accident, Yahaya Ibrahim, 30, allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the vehicle passengers, Ahmed Mohammed, 27, of Tudun Wada Fantami in Gombe State, on the leg.

Police said the suspect also smashed the front windshield of the vehicle with a heavy stone.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Bayo led a patrol team to the scene where the victim was found in a pool of blood.

He was rushed to the Cottage Hospital in Hinna but was confirmed dead on arrival by a medical doctor.

The suspect has been arrested and the weapon used in the attack recovered as an exhibit.

Police said the corpse was photographed and later released to the victim’s family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

Passenger stabbed to death after minor accident in Borno

Troops repel bandit attack in Zamfara community

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Fansan Yanma, in collaboration with police tactical teams, have repelled a bandit attack on Yankaba Village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara.

Security sources said the incident occurred on March 7 at about 6:00 p.m. when suspected armed bandits stormed the community, shooting sporadically and causing panic among residents.

The sources said troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA along with other security agencies were swiftly deployed to engaged the terrorists in a gun battle.

According to the sources, the bandits were forced to retreat after encountering superior firepower from the troops. The attackers subsequently abandoned their mission and fled the area.

Troops have since intensified patrols and surveillance in the community to forestall further attacks.

The sources added that monitoring and security operations were ongoing in the area to ensure the safety of residents.

Troops repel bandit attack in Zamfara community