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Fleeing bandits’ drug supplier ‘Gamboli’ arrested in Niger

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By Ebinum Samuel

 

 

As NDLEA intercepts US, Canada, Sweden-bound opioids in black soup containers, designer wears; uncovers clandestine codeine syrup factory in Abia; arrests woman, son over 1,187kg skunk seizure in Ondo

 

Three weeks after escaping arrest at his home in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, Shiroro local government area of Niger state, a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in the area, 33-year-old Mohammed Sani (alias Gamboli) has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at his hideout.

Following credible intelligence about the illicit drug activities of Gamboli, NDLEA operatives had on 20th November 2025 raided his house at Anguwan Makera, Kuta, where they recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis. Though he escaped arrest during the raid and has since been in hiding, the manhunt for him eventually paid off on Thursday 11th December when NDLEA officers acting on processed intelligence traced and arrested him at one of his drug joints in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta. Intelligence reports had indicated that Gamboli is a major supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro local government area.

Meanwhile, NDLEA officers in Abia on Thursday 11th December raided a clandestine codeine syrup-manufacturing factory at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, in Osisioma local government area of the state. During the operation, operatives recovered a total of 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 1,152.2kg.

In Enugu state, operatives on Thursday 11th December arrested Ossai Emeka, 45, along Onitsha – Enugu Ezike road with 7.2kg skunk, while Enoje Agada, 40, was nabbed along Enugu-Ezike -Ette road with 94.6kg of same psychoactive substance.

 

 

A raid carried out by NDLEA operatives at a notorious drug joint known as “Beere the California” at Ido in Oyo state on Thursday 11th December led to the seizure of 3.4kg skunk, 1.6kg Colorado, a synthetic cannabis and 400grams of methamphetamine. The owner of the drug joint identified as “Idowu the killer” is currently at large while a suspect Ajibade Faruk was nabbed at the joint. Another operation at Idi Oro, Elekuro, Ibadan on Friday 12th December led to the arrest of Olusanya Abosede, 35, and the seizure of 238.4kg skunk.

While the duo of Bashiru Babalola, 43, and Ugunwale Ranti, 50, were arrested on Wednesday 10th December at Gbaji checkpoint, Seme road Badagry, Lagos with 50,000 pills of tramadol 250mg, NDLEA operatives in Ogun state arrested two suspects: Akinwale Makanjuola and Joseph Owolabi with 73kg skunk at Iperu just as another suspect Wasiu Lateef was nabbed with 25kg of same substance at Oke Agbede, Imeko area of the state on Tuesday 9th December.

In Ondo state, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence on Monday 10th December raided a compound in Ogbese, Akure North local government area, where they arrested a 55-year-old woman Veronica Obi and her 29-year-old son Bright Obi, and recovered 1,187 kilograms of skunk and its seeds from them.

A suspect Ohiomah Igbafe, 44, was arrested during a raid operation at Uroe community, Owan East local government area of Edo state, where 461kg skunk and its seeds were recovered on Tuesday 9th December.

In Gombe state, a suspect Muhammed Sani (alias Sha-Mu-Sha), 50, was arrested with 40,000 capsules of tramadol at Tunfure area, Gombe, while two other suspects: Muhammad Abdullahi (a.k.a Sakalala), 52, and Muhammed Hamza (a.k.a Mamman), 32, were nabbed at Ashaka Jalingo, with 56kg skunk on Monday 8th December.

No fewer than 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam concealed in containers of local black soap, and designer wears, in six different consignments going to the US, Canada and Sweden were intercepted and seized by NDLEA operatives at two major courier companies in Lagos between Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th December 2025.

At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers on Saturday 13th December intercepted a consignment of 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579kg during a joint examination of a container with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

In like manner, 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. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Community Senior Secondary School, Sheme, Katsina; Government College, Tudun Wada Dankade, Kano; and Methodist High School, Makurdi, Benue, while the Enugu state command of the Agency paid a WADA advocacy visit to HRM Igwe Ikechukwu Samuel Asadu, Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Niger, Abia, Oyo, Enugu, Seme, Ogun, Ondo, Gombe, Apapa and Edo Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

Alaafin meets Marwa, assures NDLEA of support, collaboration in fight against illicit drugs

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By Ebinum Samuel

 

Why we need traditional rulers to join the crusade against substance abuse -Marwa

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade has assured the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) of support and collaboration in his renewed mandate to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
The revered traditional ruler gave the assurance when he led two other royal fathers: Oloro of Oro, Oba Joel Olaniyan Olatoye and Olusin of Ijara Isin, Oba Ademola Julius Ajibola, on a courtesy visit to Marwa at the Agency’s national headquarters in Abuja on Friday 12th December 2025. He said he is proud of Marwa’s trajectory as Atunluse of Yoruba land.
According to him, “to be kind with you, we are proud of you. Your being in this position at the moment is not just by chance, it’s because of your devotion, your commitment. You have this amiable character. That’s why you are able to govern Borno and Lagos State, and you have always been a performer. Another thing which I can’t forget about you is the legacy of Keke Marwa that you brought to Nigeria.”

 

Responding directly to the charge by the NDLEA boss for traditional rulers to support ongoing efforts against drug abuse in the country, the Alaafin assured of his readiness to mobilise his colleagues to work with the Agency.
“I’ve heard your message and the same thing with some of my colleagues here and some of my other traditional rulers, we are ready to collaborate with you. I have to tell you, we are at the grassroots, we are close to the community people. We know a lot about what’s going on. So, I’m using this opportunity to tell you that we are ready. We are more than ready to work with you and to give you all the necessary support to make sure that you are successful in this job. We can tell you that anytime you are in need of us, we will always be there for you”, Oba Owoade stated.
In his welcome remark, Marwa congratulated the Alaafin for ascending the throne of his forefathers. He charged him and other traditional rulers across the country to leverage on their influence at the local level to work with NDLEA to stamp out substance abuse in communities.

 

In his words, “The drug scourge in Nigeria is at an unacceptable limit and from the drug use survey report of 2018, we find that close to 15 million Nigerians aged 15 to 64 use drugs. It’s a big problem and we have been mandated by President Tinubu, to stand up, fight the drug scourge, arrest those responsible, prosecute them and seize their assets, the traffickers. And on this assignment, we would like to call on the traditional institutions because it’s a very, very important institution.

 

 

“Nigerians respect the traditional institutions. Whoever you are in Nigeria, you still come from somewhere. And when you go back to that place, you pay homage to whoever is the leader of the community. And so when the traditional leader speaks, it carries weight. And equally we plead for traditional leaders to also engage the religious leaders in charge of churches and mosques in their domains, they should do serious advocacy against the use of drugs. The NDLEA is always prepared to work with the traditional institution.”
He said the Agency will also appreciate getting information about drug dealers in local communities from traditional rulers because of the risk they pose to many youths and their families. “We really appreciate this collaboration and I know for a fact that if we are able to control drug use, even the criminalities will come down because all the people that are kidnappers and the insurgents, terrorists, bandits everywhere, they use drugs first to charge themselves up, to make them high.”
He expressed appreciation to Alaafin for the visit and wished him long successful reign in
good health, peace, development and prosperity in the entire Oyo Kingdom.

No Christian genocide in Nigeria – Yakassai faults foreign media, Trump

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Elder statesman and founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Abubakar Tanko Yakasai, has dismissed claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, insisting that Christians and Muslims have coexisted peacefully for generations.

 

Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, the veteran politician accused foreign media of inflaming religious tensions and criticised U.S. President Donald Trump for comments suggesting targeted killings of Christians in the country.

Yakasai, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s radical political movement of the 1950s and 1960s and a former commissioner in Kano and special assistant on National Assembly liaison to President Shehu Shagari, said narratives of religious persecution were being exaggerated for political gain.

According to him, “I don’t agree there is Christian genocide. Some Christians close to the United States of America took advantage of their closeness to Donald Trump.

 

“Christians and Muslims have been living in peace with one another; we are brothers and sisters. Few individuals went to America to talk to Trump. Christians and Muslims are not living in separation.

 

“The majority of the people in the West, East and South are Christians, but in the North and the Middle Belt, there are a substantial number of Muslims. My parents were from the Middle Belt. For ages, long before the British came, we lived together in peace.

“Those who converted to Christianity were what we called pagans. The Muslims did not convert to Christianity, and that is why Christianity is much stronger in the Middle Belt region. Interestingly, my parents were from the Middle Belt.

 

“In every home, we have Christians and Muslims living together in peace.”

 

He argued that Trump’s claims were influenced by a few individuals with ties to the U.S., describing him as “an opportunist” seeking relevance. Yakasai stressed that religious diversity long predates colonial rule, particularly in the Middle Belt, where mixed-faith families remain common.

On insecurity in the country, the elder statesman said the problem is national but more pronounced in the North. He advocated for the establishment of zonal police commands, noting that previous proposals for regional policing should be revisited due to the overstretched capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.

However, he rejected the idea of state police, warning that it could be easily manipulated by politicians.

His words, “There was a move at one time that there should be the establishment of a zonal police. This problem is not limited to one side of the country; it is a national problem. There was a move at one time that there should be six police establishments. I think the issue should be revisited because it is a good idea because the number of the police force is not enough to cover the whole country. There will be a zonal setup, and people will know their area and locality. They will be in a better position to handle the problems more effectively.

“State police”, he said, “are subject to manipulation by individuals and political interests. At one time, there was a move for a zonal police. If anybody was in favour of a zonal police, I would support it.”

 

Addressing perceptions of a rift between the North and South, Yakasai said no such suspicion exists. He added that President Bola Tinubu is likely to seek and possibly win a second term in 2027, given the political and financial structures at his disposal.

He said, “Personally, I believe that in Nigeria’s politics today, as has been the practice, President Tinubu will seek a second term and is most likely to win because he has the resources to back his ambition. We are practising democracy, and as such, democratic norms and conventions, as well as our constitution, should be our guiding principle. 2027 is still about two years away.”

Reflecting on Nigeria’s challenges, Yakasai said every nation faces its own problems and that no single group or individual can be solely blamed.

 

“Any country has its problems. You cannot single out an individual or a group of people to make peace. The creation of God, built in America, Russia, and China – all of them have problems. Wherever you have people, human beings, you have problems. And it is the human beings who will seek the help of God to overcome their problems,” he added.

Edo State Police Command Gets First Female Police Public Relations Officer

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By Ebinum Samuel

 

A new Police Public Relations Officer and the first female has assumed duty following the approval of her posting by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun .

According to a press statement signed by the outgoing spokesman, CSP Joel Moses Yamu, the newly appointed officer is ASP Eno Nkereuwem Ikoedem, an idigene of Akwa Ibom State.

 

 

She was Commissioned as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in 2022 after completing a rigorous five-year training program at the prestigious Nigeria Police Academy, where she bagged a Bachelor’s degree in English Language (BA English). She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in English at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), further enriching her academic and professional depth.

 

 

During her training, ASP Eno went through several specialized courses, including the Combat Operation and Counter-Terrorism Course at Police Mobile Force Training School- Ende Hills, Nasarawa State; the Citizenship & Leadership Training Course, Shere Hills, Jos; the Forensic Analysis Course on Basic Crime Scene Management, Wudil, Kano; and the Basic Detective Course, also at Wudil, Kano.

 

 

She served in various positions, demonstrating versatility, discipline, and exceptional professionalism. postings include:
* Divisional Traffic Officer – Adesuwa Division
* Administrative Officer – Evbuotubu Division
* Officer-in-Charge, Crack Squad – Evbuotubu Division
* Officer-in-Charge, Confidential – Department of Operations, Edo State Command
Until her deployment as the Police Public Relations Officer Edo State, she was the Deputy Public Relations Officer in Edo State Command to two consecutive PPROs.
She can be reached on 09050735637.

Social Media Handles
FB: Eno Ikoedem
IG: @eno_Ikoedem_
X: @EnoIkoedem

Edo Police Command Clampdown On Criminals, Rescue Kidnapped Chinese, Recovers Assorted Arms, Arrest 15 Suspects

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By Ebinum Samuel

 

In its avowal to crackdown on criminals operating in Edo state, the Command through a press release signed by the outgoing spokesman, CSP Joel Moses Yamu, confirmed the rescue of a Chinese, arrests of suspected criminals and recovery of various arms and ammunition in a crackdown on criminals and hoodlums .

According to the statement: “On 2/12/2025 at about 2200hrs, operatives of Loveworld Division, acting on actionable intelligence, arrested two suspects — Victor Nworie (18) and Abraham Nwokipoeo (21) — at First Obe, off Benin-Sapele Road.
The duo specialise in luring unsuspecting commercial motorcycle riders with attractive fares to isolated locations where they attack and dispossess them of their motorcycles. The suspects are in custody and investigations are ongoing.
In addition, One Johnson Ode ( aka Polite)30yrs and Imrana Sanni ‘m’ 28yrs were arrested during the course of investigation.
On 2/12/2025 at about 2330hrs, the Chinese expatriate kidnapped during the recent incident involving the ambush on NSCDC personnel regained his freedom.
He was released at a location in Kabba, Kogi State following sustained technical and tactical operations jointly executed by the Edo and Kogi State Police Commands, with support from vigilante groups and local hunters. The Command commends all partners involved in this successful rescue effort.

On 2/11/2025 at about 1800hrs, operatives of Okuaihe Division in collaboration with vigilante personnel, while on routine stop-and-search duty along the Benin-Agbor Road, intercepted seven young men who had alighted from a truck. They are;
-Usman Ibrahim
-Bello Garba
-Dahiru Muhammad
-Sarki Murtala
-Suleman Ibrahim
-Umar Yahaya
-Abdulahi Hassan
Aged between 22 to 30 yrs.

A search revealed several pictures of the suspects posing with assault rifles. They claimed to be coming from Adamawa State but could not provide any satisfactory explanation regarding their mission. They have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
Similarly, on 4/12/2025 at about 1840hrs, the same patrol team intercepted one Isah Musa Maidawa, who also alighted from a truck.
A search on his person and luggages led to the recovery of:
– One dane gun
– A pack of cartridges
– Charms
– Food items
– A cutlass and knife
– Solar panel
– Three flashlights
– A mobile phone
– A pack of matches

The suspect has been transferred to the SCID for further investigation and will be arraigned before the court upon conclusion.

 

On 6/12/2025 at about 0830hrs, operatives of Ekiadolor Division, alongside Edo State Security Corps personnel, intercepted Ibrahim Mohammed (28yrs) along the Oluku-Ahor Bypass in possession of a locally fabricated single-barreled revolver shotgun, a flashlight, and a vigilante T-shirt.
He could not give any satisfactory explanation of himself or his mission and has been handed over to the SCID for discreet investigation.

On 6/12/2025 at about 1200hrs, operatives of 82 PMF Squadron, Uromi, on nipping operations along the Auchi-Agbede road, intercepted David James Odaukwo with an empty LAR rifle magazine concealed in a sack.
The suspect, who claimed to be coming from Okene, failed to give a credible explanation of his possession of the item. He has been transferred to the SCID for further investigations.

“On 6/12/2025 at about 1545hrs, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of Agbede Division, led by the DPO, raided a hotel in Agbede and arrested three suspected armed robbers:
– Suleiman Aliyu (25yrs)
– Abdulrazak Ogbesor (36yrs)
– Inusemiu Abdulrouf (36yrs)

A search conducted led to the recovery of:
– Two automatic pump-action guns
– One locally made single-barreled shotgun
– Two live cartridges
– One expended cartridge
– A Lexus SUV (Reg. No. ABUJA RSH-721-BF)
– A Toyota Tacoma pickup (Reg. No. LAGOS KJA-840-JQ)
– Charms and other items

The suspects have been transferred to the SCID for further investigation.”

 

The Commissioner of Police assures the good people of Edo State that the Command remains fully committed to neutralising criminal networks, enhancing public safety, and ensuring that offenders face the full wrath of the law.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and continue to provide credible information to the Police for prompt action

7-year-old child accused of stealing gets hot water bath by guardian

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A 7-year-old child has been administered hot water bath and hot candle wax at different times by her guardian, Mrs Juliet Igwe who accused her of stealing in Imo State, South East.

Suspect with police spokesman in Imo State Command.

The inhuman treatment melted on the fatherless child identified as Onyeachi, occurred in Idiator Loca Government Area of the State.

The brutal assault which began in 2024, caught the Nigeria Police Command operatives, who rescued the victim and arrested the 38-year-old suspect.

In a viral video he shared on social media, the Command’s spokesman, Henry Okoye who confirmed Juliet arrest and condemned the act.

The police spokesman revealed that the victim was began to live with Juliet in 2024 when the father of the victim who is a brother-in-law to Juliet’s husband, died.

Okoye explained that the victim has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC in Imo State for urgent treatment of the high degree burn as a result of the assault.

According to him, “The Imo State Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old suspect, Juliet Igwe for involving herself in various forms of serious assault on a 7-year-old child, Onyeachi who has lost her father”.

“Since the death of her father, Juliet has been mistreating the minor”, Okoye, while recalling the incident said, “recently, she (Juliet) carried Onyeachi both hands and dipped them in a hot boiling water”.

He also said, “the victim suffered high degree burns. She also went further to use hot candle wax and inflicted injury on her body”.

“This injury extends to her private part. This is high level of man’s inhumanity to man”, according to Okoye.

In an interview, the criminal suspect, confessed to the alleged crime and admitted that the victim’s father is her husband’s late brother.

Commenting on the investigation, the police image maker said the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, has directed the State Criminal Investigative Department, SCID to commence a thorough investigation into the crime and ensure that the suspect involved is brought to book”.

Drug war: NCWS commends President Tinubu, Marwa, seeks collaboration with NDLEA

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By Ebinum Samuel     The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Nigeria has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the reappointment of Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) as Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for another term of five years, a decision the Council says will further strengthen and consolidate the ongoing effort against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking. National President of the NCWS, Princess Edna Azura who gave the commendation when she led other leaders of the Council on a courtesy visit to Marwa at the Agency’s national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday 3rd December 2025 called for more collaboration between the women’s group and NDLEA in the area of joint sensitization programmes in schools, markets, and communities as well as training of women leaders in drug use prevention, treatment and care.     “We want to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this wonderful opportunity that he has given you extra five years. We are very, very grateful. This renewal is a clear national endorsement of your monumental contributions to national security, public health, women and youth protection. We are confident that your continued leadership will further fortify the nation’s fight against drug trafficking and promote sustainable peace and stability”, she noted. She described Marwa’s leadership at NDLEA as transformative and inspiring. “Over the years, you have demonstrated what strong ethical and visionary public service truly means. Under your leadership, the Agency has recorded unprecedented achievements from dismantling sophisticated drug trafficking networks to intercepting record level quantities of illicit substances, improving intelligence driven operations, expanding community based preventive education and strengthening rehabilitation pathways for victims of substance abuse. We are very grateful for that. These achievements are not just institutional milestones, they represent hope for millions of families, especially women and children, who often suffer the silent painful consequences of drug related crime, domestic challenges and societal instability”, she stated. While seeking further partnership with NDLEA in the fight against the drug scourge, Princess Azura said “at NCWS, we have also been actively mobilising women, mothers, teachers and community groups to participate in the fight against substance abuse. Our ongoing school outreach programmes, advocacy forums and community sensitisation campaigns across the states have proven that when women are fully engaged, prevention becomes more effective.” She said the NCWS is eager to explore strategic areas of cooperation with NDLEA, including training of the Council’s national officers and state leaders as community anti-drug ambassadors; joint advocacy campaigns targeting mothers and caregivers; rehabilitation and reintegration especially for women and youths affected by substance abuse, among others. In his response, Marwa expressed appreciation to the NCWS leaders for the visit and their kind remarks about him and President Tinubu. He said as the umbrella body for all women societies across the country, it is imperative for NDLEA to partner with the NCWS. He said the Agency considers the drug menace as Nigeria’s number one problem today because it affects everyone and every community directly or indirectly, adding that with a population of about 15million drug users, there’s the need for a whole of society response. “So, this is a big challenge and government cannot handle it alone, we have to have the whole of society to work with us. So NCWS, we don’t have any bigger partners than you because you are the mothers handling families all over the country, and it is very, very critical that you stand up. You have to stand up and be part of this struggle to redeem the souls of our young boys and girls, including the women who are afflicted”, he stated. The NDLEA boss assured the women leaders that the NDLEA will not only partner with them but will equally organise Drug Use Prevention, Treatment and Care (DPTC) training to equip them for the task ahead in 2026. “We will hold a DPTC training for you, we usually to do that for governors’ spouses and I think we will tailor it to exactly what you will need, so that you can also take it down to the states, and down to the grassroots.” He urged them to also buy in and take ownership of the current push for drug integrity test for intending couples as part of efforts to discourage substance abuse and encourage early detection and treatment, especially among the youth.

NDLEA nabs couple, one other with 1,125 rounds of ammunition, uncovers illicit drugs packaged as Christmas cookies, arrests distributors in Lagos

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  By Ebinum Samuel     Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered and dismantled a social media network used to distribute illicit substances packaged as imported Christmas cookies and snacks with two masterminds arrested and taken into custody after a raid on their hideout in Lekki area of Lagos. The drug syndicate run by the duo of Deji Adesanya and Olubiyi Majekodunmi had imported consignments of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis and a variety of colourful designer sachets with pictures and labels of cookies and snacks printed on them, and used to package the psychoactive substance in retail quantities. Following credible intelligence about the activities of the syndicate which operates and distributes through a WhatsApp platform, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 22nd November 2025 raided their apartment at Ojulari street, Ikate area of Lekki where a large quantity of the designer sachets and 5kilograms of Loud were recovered from them at the point of their arrest. In another operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Thursday 27th November arrested a 38-year-old drug kingpin Philip Ucheka while taking delivery of 110 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 55.6kg at Ladipo area of Mushin. At the point of his arrest, three delivery vehicles were also seized from him. At a courier company in Lagos, 100grams of Loud concealed in teddy bear imported from Thailand were intercepted on Thursday 27th November while a consignment of 548 capsules of tramadol hidden in bottles of Vitamin C and Magnesium going to the United Kingdom were recovered at another logistics firm the following day, Friday 28th November. In Oyo state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Lagos -Ibadan expressway on Saturday 29th November nabbed a suspect Wasiu Kareem, 55, with 8,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 590 bottles of codeine syrup; 1,500 pills of Co-codamol and 9,900 capsules of tramadol. No fewer than seven suspects were arrested on Monday 24th November when NDLEA operatives raided the Ipe forest in Akoko South East area of Ondo State where they recovered 3,077 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis. Those arrested include: John Ede; Ede Ndubuisi; Ikenna Abe; Eze Chukwuma; Maduabuchi Odo; Nnaji Chudubem and Gorge Okowor.     While Anthony Sylvester, 49, was arrested along Okene/Lokoja highway Kogi state conveying 649kg skunk in a truck on Wednesday 26th November, NDLEA officers at the Seme Special Area Command on Friday 28th November raided a warehouse at Ashipa, Seme border area of Badagry, Lagos where they arrested a suspect Abubakar Shuaibu, 33, with 487 blocks of skunk weighing 243.5kg. In Kano, Tsalha Alasan, 47, was arrested along Zaria-Kano road with 137kg skunk on Monday 24th November, while three suspects: Godspower Appeal, 50; Ernest Upong, 55; and Godday Chukwudi, 38, were nabbed on Wednesday 26th November with 322 blocks of skunk weighing 209kilograms at Fanshanu village, Toro LGA, Bauchi state. A black Toyota Highlander jeep marked ABJ 533 EA used in conveying the consignment was also recovered from them. A suspect John Ekojo, 51, was arrested with 210.15kg skunk along Abuja/Jos highway on Saturday 29th November, while a couple: Abdullahi Abubakar, 45, and Jamila Abdullahi, 35, were nabbed along Abuja/Kaduna highway with 725 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition concealed in a sack of maize just as another suspect Awwal Sabiu, 20, was caught with 400 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition at Abuja/Kaduna tollgate on Friday 28th November. 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. These include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Government Junior Technical School, Kofar Kudu, Kano; Bright Eyes International School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi; dock workers and clearing agents at the Tincan Port, Lagos; Legacy International College, Nsukka, Enugu; and Seatos School, Ikorodu, Lagos, among others. While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano, Seme and Bauchi Commands for the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

NDLEA busts illicit drug warehouse, recovers N6.7 billion opioids, arrests baron, 5 others

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By Ebinum Samuel

This is a clear statement you’re no longer untouchable, we’ll smoke you out of your hiding, Marwa warns drug barons

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) continued their offensive action against drug syndicates in a nationwide crackdown with the dismantling of an opioids cartel in an intelligence-led operation during which a baron Onyekachi Pius Nwanagu and five members of his gang were arrested with illicit substances worth over N6.7 billion recovered from their secret warehouse in a residential estate in Lagos.
Following credible intelligence that the drug trafficking organisation (DTO) was about distributing over 7.2 million pills of tramadol 225mg and 526,200 bottles (52.6 million mls) of codeine syrup warehoused in a residential compound located at 23 Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor, Isheri area of Isolo, Lagos state, ahead of the Christmas festive season, officers of a Special Operations Unit of NDLEA led a well coordinated operation between Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th November 2025 to round up members of the syndicate and dismantle their criminal network.
Two members of the DTO: Egbo Innocent Udalor and Chukwe Emmanuel were trailed and arrested at Apple Junction, Festac area of Lagos on Wednesday 19th November while conveying 300 cartons of opioids in a truck. A follow up operation to the syndicate’s warehouse at Sunny Billa East Street, Bucknor the following day Thursday 20th November led to the arrest of Onyekachi Nwanagu and other members of his syndicate including: Nwoye Sunday Ali; Nnacho Ogochukwu; and Oraghalia Chukwuebuka Philip.

 

In all, a total of Seven Million Two Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand (7,272,000) pills of tramadol 225mg worth Three Billion Nine Hundred and Sixty Million Naira (N3,960,000,000) and 53 million mills of codeine syrup valued at over Two Billion Seven Hundred and Sixty Two Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N2,762,550,000), bringing the combined value of the seized drugs to Six Billion Seven Hundred and Twenty Two Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N6,722,550,000.00) only in street value were recovered and moved out of the estate in eleven trucks to NDLEA’s central exhibit complex in Lagos.
While commending the Commander and operatives of the Special Operations Unit as well as those of Strike Force Unit involved in the dismantling of the syndicate, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) praised the officers’ professionalism and dedication, describing the breakthrough as a major blow to the cartels preying on Nigeria’s youth.
“This is not just an arrest; it is a clear and unambiguous statement. The seizure of this colossal volume of illicit drugs, which could have fueled addiction, crime, and insecurity across our nation, represents a victory for the Nigerian people and a confirmation of our unwavering commitment to the mandate given to us by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, Marwa stated.
He emphasized that the Agency’s focus remains squarely on the kingpins and financiers of the illicit drug trade. “The days when drug barons thought they were untouchable are over. The arrest of this drug baron and his criminal cohorts, following an intensive intelligence operation, serves as a stark reminder that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with every merchant of death, no matter how high or deeply concealed they think they are.”

Fear grips Kogi community as bandits deploy chemical substances to sedate victims before abductions

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Residents of Egbe town in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State are living in fear following reports that bandits have adopted a disturbing new method in their operations spraying chemical substances in homes to sedate victims before abducting them.

Local security operatives confirmed that the community was hit by two separate attacks in the early hours of Monday, November 24, 2025. The incidents have triggered urgent warnings and increased calls for vigilance among residents.

According to security sources, the first attack led to the kidnapping of two residents. Another individual narrowly escaped after managing to send a distress message to local security volunteers. However, by the time responders arrived, the attackers had already fled into the surrounding bush with their captives.

Eyewitnesses said the bandits targeted the home of a staff member of ECWA Hospital in Odorum around 11 pm, jumping the perimeter fence and spending over 90 minutes inside the compound while spraying a chemical substance described as similar to “turari,” which caused sudden weakness in anyone who inhaled it.

The resident, who was not in his usual room, regained enough strength to alert security forces, allowing vigilantes to fire warning shots and force the intruders to flee, rescuing the victim.

Later in the day, another abduction attempt near Baba Labourer/Government Secondary School was thwarted by Egbe vigilante operatives, with no one taken.

The use of chemicals to incapacitate victims has heightened fear across the community, with residents warning that bandits are becoming increasingly sophisticated and dangerous.

Local residents commended Egbe’s vigilante groups for their resilience, bravery, and rapid response, noting that their courage remains critical in preventing further tragedies in Yagba West.

Authorities are still assessing the situation, but early indications suggest there were no casualties, and the local security outfit successfully defended the area.

Communities in Yagba East and Yagba West, particularly those bordering Kwara State, have experienced a disturbing rise in armed attacks, kidnappings, and other violent crimes in recent months, including the abduction of a timber supplier and one of his workers in Okoloke last Tuesday.