Delta state police spokesman , SP Edafe Bright, confirmed that sequel to series of cult related activities, Kidnapping and armed robbery in Sapele, Oghara and environs, the commissioner of Police Delta State, Olufemi Abaniwonda, directed the team on special assignment to work in collaboration with the DPOs Oghara and Sapele divisions in order to nip in the bud. the rampaging hoodlums.
The team, Edafe said was led by ASP Julius Robinson, on Friday last week, at about 0930hrs, in a covert intelligence-led, operation raided three different syndicates of cultis and suspected armed robbers at various locations in Oghara Town, Ethiope East LGA of Delta State , arrested five suspects namely, Ochuko Joel Ofoye “m” 35yrs of Jeddo Community in Okpe LGA , a member of Juris Confraternity and Michael Anwul “m” aged 29yrs of Alisimie Community Agbor, in Ika South LGA, of Juris confraternity and custodian of arms in whose possession two AK 47 Magazines and Twenty-Nine rounds of live ammunition were recovered. Other suspects include Great Ojareri ‘m’ 35 yrs of Oghareki Community in Ethiope West LGA Oghara , a member of Eiye Confraternity also a custodian of arms and Innocent Esefeta “m” aged 31 yrs of Efisere Community in Ughelli North LGA Delta State, resident at behind Ibori Road Oghara , investigation revealed that he is the owner of the recovered Beretta pistol, and lastly Ogaga Ebuke “m” 27yrs of Okpe Community in Orerokpe LGA, a resident of Western Delta Road in Oghara, a member of Juris Confraternity . Recovered from him is a locally made pistol with one live cartridge concealed in a shoe in his residence. The image maker disclosed that that the Suspects are in custody as investigation is ongoing.
“For any security related information, or distress, members of the public can reach the command either by reporting to the DPO in their area or call any of the following control rooms numbers
One legged man, Beninese top list of arrests as NDLEA intercepts Nasarawa-bound drug loads meant for illegal miners in FCT
By Ebinum Samuel
Frantic bids by drug syndicates to smuggle in and out of Nigeria consignments of Cocaine and Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis concealed in incense candles, game packs, dry hibiscus leaves and ladies’ native wears through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, and some courier firms in Lagos have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, following the seizure of the illicit shipments and arrests of suspects linked to them. A businessman, Abdulwahab Owolabi Alebiosu was on Thursday 18th July 2024 arrested at his Horizon Court, Lekki, Lagos residence after a consignment of 40 parcels of Loud weighing 20.30 kilograms hidden in packs of chessboards, scrabbles, checkers, and poker set, brought in from Canada on a British Airways flight was intercepted at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport during a joint examination of the cargo with men of Customs Service. A search of his home also led to the recovery of more exhibits including some drug paraphernalia, such as, weighing scale, and cannabis potency test kit, while four vaping machines were recovered from his business premises on Admiralty Way, Lekki. A Mikano black truck with registration number FST 657 HP was also recovered from his house. In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the NAHCO export shed of the MMIA on Friday 19th July intercepted two jumbo bags going to Pakistan. The bags contained dried hibiscus leaves, dried bitter leaves and other food items, which were used to conceal four parcels of cocaine and 14 parcels of Loud, both weighing 1.360kg. Further investigations led to the arrest of a businesswoman, Eze Queen Ogechi who claimed she was sending the illicit consignment to Pakistan on the instruction of her brother, Eze Nnamdi Promise based in the South Asia country. Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives attached to Terminal II, Departure Gate of the MMIA, on Thursday 18th July intercepted a male Beninese passenger, Orobi Adoubi Amen, travelling with a bag containing some female native dresses. The suspect was going to Dubai via Accra, Ghana on an Air Peace Airline flight and a connecting flight to Dubai, UAE on Emirates Airline. A thorough search of the bag revealed eight parcels of Loud weighing 2.10kg were concealed in the ladies’ native wears. The suspect claimed he was given the consignment for a fee of N600,000 on successful delivery in Dubai. Not less than 4.5kg of the same substance concealed inside the door panels and boot of an imported Toyota RAV 4 vehicle was on Sunday 14th July recovered from a container marked MSDU 5656394 from Canada during a 100% search of the container at Tincan port in Lagos. Two suspects: Dada Kole and Alaba Oladewusi have been arrested in connection with the seizure. Meanwhile, a 48-year-old one legged man, Amadu Garba was arrested by NDLEA operatives in his house at Yawuri town, Kebbi State with six bags of cannabis weighing 67kg on Tuesday 16th July. In Abuja, two suspects: 60-year-old Ademola Elusakin and 34-year-old Nuhu Friday Adamu were arrested by NDLEA operatives on Monday 15th July with 30.0kg of the same psychoactive substance along Kwali-Gwagwalada-Abuja expressway on their way from Lagos to Nasarawa state. Elusakin claimed he procured the consignment from Ghana via Lagos with Keffi, Nasarawa state as his final destination, where they were to supply illegal miners operating in the area. At least, 305 blocks of cannabis weighing 152.5kg were recovered from a suspect, Sale Bukar, 39, who was arrested at Geidam in Yobe state on Sunday 14th July while taking the illicit consignment to Diffa, in Niger Republic. While a suspect: Aham Regal Chinemeze, 43, was nabbed on Thursday 18th July with 60kg of same substance along Owerri – Onitsha expressway, Imo state, Adamu Abdullahi, 24, was arrested with 40.500kg on Wednesday 17th July along Obajana -Kabba expressway, Kogi state. The consignment was recovered from him in a commercial bus coming from Lagos enroute Kano. In Plateau state, a raid on the storehouse of a notorious drug dealer, Choji Gyang (aka Pararam) who is currently at large, at Rukuba road, Jos led to the recovery of 34 bags of cannabis weighing 312kg while his manager, Kelvin Onwutalu, 43, was arrested. Two suspects: Ifabiyi Johnson, 27, and Adeleke Musiliu, 54, were on Friday 19th July arrested with different strains of cannabis sativa weighing 30.4kg during a raid in Osogbo, Osun state. In Jigawa state, the trio of Tukur Yahaya, 55; Idris Haruna, 28; and Tanimu Umar, 29, were nabbed with 90 blocks of cannabis weighing 116.8kg at Roni junction, Kazaure LGA, on Friday 19th July while on their way to supply the illicit drugs to their customers in Kazaure, Yankwashi and Katsina state. Similarly, the duo of Ibrahim Abdulkadir, 29, and Suleman Mohammed, 22, were arrested with 336 bottles of codeine syrup at Amingo, Kaduna, while Auwalu Hashimu, 35, was nabbed with 45 kilograms of cannabis along Zaria- Kano highway. Acting on credible intelligence, a team of NDLEA operatives backed by soldiers raided a mechanic workshop opposite Benin garage, Akure, Ondo state where they recovered a white Toyota Hilux Van with registration number EE 328 EKY loaded with 652 parcels of cannabis weighing 685kg. In Nasarawa state, 38kg of the same psychoactive substance and a locally made AK-47 rifle were recovered from the home of a suspect, Christopher Ombugadu, 32, in Akwanga during a raid on Sunday 14th July. 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 enlightenment lecture for students and teachers of Federal Science and Technical College, Dayi, Katsina state; Community High School (Senior), Owode, Ogun state; Urban Secondary School, Awgu, Enugu state and Goretti Secondary Commercial School,Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom state among others. While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Tincan, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Kaduna, Jigawa, Osun, Yobe, Plateau, Kogi, Imo and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country are well appreciated. He urged them not to rest on their oars but continue to intensify ongoing drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
A major drug cartel behind the production and distribution of deadly psychoactive substance, methamphetamine, popularly called ‘mkpuru mmiri’ has been taken down by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, following the arrest of the leader of the syndicate, 42-year-old Joachin Chikaodi Mbonu and his associate in his mansion tucked in his Umuomi village, Uzogba-Ezenomi autonomous community, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State. The cartel with operational bases in Imo and Rivers state became a target of the Agency following intelligence indicating it is responsible for the distribution of substantial quantity of methamphetamine in South East, South South and other parts of the country.
After weeks of surveillance, officers of a special operations unit of the Agency on Friday 5th July 2024, tracked and traced the drug lord to his village mansion in Imo state where he was caught with a member of his cartel, Kenneth Chibuike Ofoegbu, 34, with different quantities of methamphetamine, its precursor chemicals, a pump action gun and cartridges recovered. Exhibits recovered from the house include: 419.99 grams of methamphetamine; 750 grams of iodine, a precursor chemical for meth; 500 grams of sodium bicarbonate, a precursor chemical for meth; two electronic weighing scales and a pump action gun with four cartridges.
The operatives moved swiftly to another of Mbonu’s hideout located at 11 Redemption Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers state where they recovered additional exhibits: 750 grams of processed sodium bicarbonate; 170 grams of plain sodium bicarbonate and 75 grams of meth. Another raid in the home of one of Mbonu’s associates, Odoemenam Pedro Chinedu, currently at large, at Njaba LGA, Imo state, led to the recovery of another pump action gun with 25 cartridges, among other items. While the kingpin cools his heels in custody, two of his mansions in Imo state have been marked for possible forfeiture to the federal government. Mbonu had escaped from South Africa where he lived for years and mastered the art of cooking methamphetamine after he came under investigation for drug dealings. Upon his return to Nigeria, he continued the criminal trade by setting up clandestine laboratories in remote villages to shield his nefarious activities.
Reacting to the successful taking down of the meth syndicate, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the officers and men involved in the multi-pronged operation, while he stated that the manner the interdiction was carried out should send a strong signal to other cartels that there’s no hiding place for them in any part of the country.
Nabs Osun monarch, Chadian, youth corps member for drug trafficking
By Ebinum Samuel
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have raided the Lagos base of a high-profile cocaine syndicate headed by a couple: Agbakoba John Mmadu, and Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe as well as their associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, where large consignments of the class A drug meant for export and local distribution were recovered. The raid carried out by a special operations unit of the Agency followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance on the syndicate notorious for packaging, distributing and trafficking of cocaine within and outside Nigeria. The 54-year-old Agbakoba John Mmadu was arrested at Ago palace way, Okota while his wife, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, 39, and associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, 31, who doubles as their stash keeper, were nabbed at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos, all on Wednesday 3rd July 2024.While seven parcels of cocaine with a total weight of 7.652 kilograms were recovered from Mmadu at Ago palace way, not less than one hundred and twenty-two (122) compressed pellets of the same drug weighing 2.42kg were seized from the duo of Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate, bringing the total seizure to 10.1 kilograms valued at over N2.1 billion in street value.In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Benue state on Thursday 4th July intercepted a consignment of 350 grams of cocaine at a check point along Enugu road, Otukpo. The illicit drug was concealed in an MP3 speaker sent as a waybill parcel. A swift follow up operation at Flight motor park in Otukpo led to the arrest of the owner, 25-year-old Odeh Anthony.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers on a stop and search operation along Ngurore – Yola road in Adamawa state on Wednesday 3rd July arrested a Chadian, Yves Ahmat Gali in a commercial bus coming from Kano to Yola. The suspect was found with a loud speaker used to conceal 20 compressed blocks, and nine plastic containers of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 5.200kg. In Kano, operatives on Wednesday 3rd July arrested a youth corps member, Yusuf Abdulrahman, 25, at Corpers Lodge, Sumaila area of the city, with 1.250kg of Loud, while in Osun state, the head of Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, 50, was on Friday 5th July arrested with fresh cannabis plants that weighed 5kg.Two suspects: Monday Ali, 49, and Jimoh Alewi, 37, were arrested when NDLEA operatives raided Ikota forest in Ifedore LGA, Ondo state where a total of 42,500kg cannabis was destroyed on 17 hectares of farmland while 73.5kg of same substance was recovered for the prosecution of the suspects during a five-day operation that ended on Monday 1st July.
In Abuja, the FCT, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 6th July arrested the duo of Sanusi Mamman, 28, and Usaini Ibrahim, 20, in a vehicle along Abaji- Gwagwalada with 1,132 bottles of codeine syrup; 13, 540 pills of tramadol; 50,000 pills of diazepam and 59 pills of rophynol. The suspects claimed they were bringing the opioids from Onitsha, Anambra state. With the same drive, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students of Community Grammar School (Junior), Aroro, Ibadan, Oyo state; students of Candy Secondary School, Agu Awka, Anambra state; students of Community High School, Umuida, Enugu Ezike, Enugu state; students of School for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Kofar Nasarawa, Kano state and WADA sensitisation lecture organized by Zone M Zonal Command of NDLEA at Sabo motor park, Kaduna, among others.While commending the officers and men of the Special Operations Unit, Osun, Benue, Ondo, Kano, and FCT Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the tempo.
Marwa commends judiciary, says no hiding place for barons, traffickers
By Ebinum Samuel
Three months after vomiting and excreting eighty (80) wraps of cocaine following his arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the screening point of terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos, a Delhi, India-bound passenger, Freeman Charles Ogbonna, has been sentenced to twenty-five (25) years imprisonment by a Federal High Court. Ogbonna was arrested on Sunday 31st March while attempting to board his flight to Delhi, India via Doha on Qatar Airways, with a Liberian international passport, bearing the name: Carr Bismark. He was taken for body scan, which tested positive for ingestion of illicit drugs. Preliminary checks revealed his real identity as Freeman Charles Ogbonna and was subsequently placed under observation in NDLEA custody where he started to manifest signs of discomfort. Obviously choked by the volume of illicit drugs in his stomach and another substance taken to hold back excretion, the suspect soon began to retch before starting to vomit and excrete wraps of cocaine he ingested almost simultaneously.
The suspect who claimed he was recruited into drug trafficking by one of his relatives eventually passed out a total of 80 wraps of cocaine weighing 889 grams through his mouth and anus over a period of four days. The great risk that almost took his life notwithstanding, Ogbonna said he was given the drugs to swallow at a hotel in Ipodo area of Ikeja with a promise to reward him with N300,000 cash if he successfully delivers the consignment in India.
He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Dipeolu Deinde Isaac of the Federal High Court, Lagos in charge number FHCL/378/2024 for committing an offence contrary to section 20(1)(b) and punishable under section 20(2)(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 LFN 2004. Delivering his judgement on the case on Monday 1st July 2024, Justice Dipeolu sentenced Ogbonna to 25 years in prison without an option of fine. Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the MMIA Command and the prosecution team for a fast and diligent handling of the case, adding that the judiciary remains a strong pillar in the coordinated and concerted effort to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria. He said Ogbonna’s conviction will further send a strong signal to his ilk that there will be no hiding place for drug barons and their mules.
Arrests 60 at Abuja drug party; destroys 18,632kg cannabis in Edo forest; recovers Tacoma truck loaded with imported Loud in Lekki
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted six thousand one hundred and twenty-five (6,125) cartons of codeine syrup containing one million and fifty thousand (1,050,000) bottles of the opioid worth over seven billion three hundred and fifty million naira (N7, 350,000,000.00) in street value, at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers state.The seizure made from six containers on Saturday 29th June 2024 was the third of such in the past four weeks following credible intelligence and diligent tracking of the consignments from their port of departure by a special operations unit of NDLEA, which worked in partnership with the Port Harcourt Ports Command of the Agency and other security agencies including the Customs Service for a 100 percent joint examination of the targeted containers.
At the end of the joint examination of the six containers, a total of 6,125 cartons containing 1,050,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 157,500 kilograms were recovered on Saturday.Meanwhile, NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos have arrested two passengers travelling to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight at the screening point of terminal 2 after they tested positive to ingestion of illicit substances on Friday 21st June. The suspects: Aikhomoun Daniel (alias Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji were thereafter taken into observatory custody. While Daniel excreted a total of 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.022kg in six excretions, Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps of the same Class A substance with a total weight of 662grams in five egestion.Further investigation revealed that Aikhomoun Daniel actually stole the identity of his late uncle who was once based in Germany, a decision he claimed he took to get Schengen visa to enable him free access to Europe, while his real name is Oladapo Olanrewaju. No less than 40.32kg of Loud, an imported strong strain of cannabis was on Friday 28th June recovered in a black Toyota Tacoma truck along Lekki-Ikoyi road when the driver jumped off the vehicle after noticing that NDLEA operatives were on his trail.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Friday night disrupted a drug party dubbed “Go hard or Go Home. Pick Your Poison”, where sixty (60) suspects comprising 25 males and 35 females were arrested at an apartment in Sun City estate in the Federal Capital Territory. The raid followed credible intelligence about the drug party organized by one Stanley Ikechukwu who was arrested at the venue. At least six of the suspects: Victoria Adoga; Hamza Yari; Joanne Essein Joy; Socchima Valentine; Jago Imole; and Charles Indobuibisi, were arrested with different quantities of ecstasy and cannabis. The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has directed that 20 of the suspects who tested negative to drug be released unconditionally, while 33 others who tested positive to illicit drugs were to be released on bail and will report at the FCT Command of the Agency on Monday to begin treatment and counselling.No fewer than four suspects: Endurance Okon, 24; Joseph Michael, 23; Ovoco Bright, 43; and Goday Abanum, 23, were arrested in the deep forest of Ugun, Igueben LGA, Edo state on Saturday 29th June when NDLEA operatives raided and destroyed 18,632.22 kilograms of cannabis on 7.452888 hectares of farmland.In the same vein, 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 for students and staff of First Technical University, Ibadan, Oyo state; students of Government Day Secondary School, Yola, Adamawa; students and teachers of Ezeike High School, Nibo, Anambra; members of Mount Zion Anglican Church, Igoba, Akure, Ondo state and WADA advocacy visit to the palace of Oba of Yoruba in Kano, Dr. Murtala Alimi Otitese.
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Port Harcourt Ports, Lagos and Edo Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) warned drug cartels that no matter the ingenuity of their modes of trafficking, the dedicated workforce of the Agency in collaboration with other stakeholders and partners will always be steps ahead to expose them and thwart their tricks. He enjoined the officers and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
Following a marching order by the Delta state commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Abaniwonda to his men to swiftly apprehend notorious Robbers who robbed some students of Western Delta University, Church and a warehouse, two suspected kingpins have been nabbed by the police in the state in connections with these robbery attacks. Edafe Bright, the Command spokesman who confirmed this said that Abaniwonda directed that the case be handle by the DPO Ekpan Division ,CSP Aliyu Shaba for a discreet investigation. The DPO in compliance with the CP’s directive embarked on an intelligence-led operation and on 24/06/2024 at about 1830hrs trailed the suspects to a hotel in Aziza Junction Sapele Road and arrested one Okoro Udochukwu ‘m’ 36yrs of Ore II Community and one Sunday Dickson ‘m’ 32yrs of Ore II Community being members of the six-man gang terrorising Warri, Sapele, Oghara and other parts of Delta State.
The gang, Bright said specialized in breaking of churches, companies and warehouses while armed with guns. Preliminary investigation revealed that on 26th of May 2024, they allegedly robbed a ware house in Warri and stole One hundred and twelve bags of rice and have sold some of them. The suspects led the police to the arrest of Arinze Ezisi ‘m’ 44yrs of Okumaga Community, one Titus Chinedu ‘m’ 47yrs of Okumaga community being the receivers of all the stolen properties diligent search was conducted at their stores/houses which led to the recovery of thirty-eight bags of rice, one Silver crest blender, one Inverter engine with two Inverter batteries, three Sharp photocopying machines and two sharp standing AC, five LG Homes-Theaters, one Hisense air conditioner, three inter com machine, one 50 inches black LG television ,two shovels one black Hisense speaker, eight yards of Armoured cable, six Generators, five Stabilisers three Kenstar A/C, two Hisense standing AC, three Hisense inverter AC, peculiar professional mixer, three Kenstar standing AC one Panasonic AC,one Pumping machine, five Sound prinex , one Yamaha piano, five Gas cylinders, twenty-one Amplifiers, four Guitars, four LG Speakers, five Microwave , two MP3, one OX Standing fan, three Cushion chairs, one large vita foam mattress, large quantity of copper.
They carry out these operations using two Sienna vehicles and one Shuttle bus which they use to carry the stolen item. Efforts are on to arrest other members of the gang, and recover their operational vehicle.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has justified the decision of the anti-narcotics body to go after the assets of drug barons and traffickers as part of ongoing offensive action against illicit drugs and cartels. Marwa explained the rationale behind the fresh drive of the Agency at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday 19th June 2024 to kick off week-long activities to celebrate the 2024 International Day Against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking, in conjunction with other stakeholders like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC. “Permit me to share with you that our offensive action against drug cartels and traffickers, launched in January 2021, has to date continued to yield the desired result with the arrests and prosecutions of several barons. As you are all aware, two serial traffickers got life imprisonment in court in April. Our prosecution efforts have continued to achieve successes in courts given the painstaking investigations and diligence in the prosecution of cases. Our water tight case preparations are unassailable. This has been further strengthened with our forfeiture regime with the passage of Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA 2022). “Apart from conviction, the assets of the convicts used as instrumentality of the crime or the proceeds derived from the crime would be forfeited to the federal government. Indeed, a civil action in rem could be maintained against assets reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime in which case the burden of proving the licit origin of the asset would be on the defendant who claims ownership of the asset. This diligent and painstaking preparation of investigations and prosecutions explains the success of the high conviction rate”, the NDLEA boss, represented by the Agency Secretary, Mr. Shadrach Haruna stated. Speaking on the drug demand reduction efforts of the Agency, Marwa said the flagship programme, war against drug abuse, WADA, built on ‘the whole of society approach’ to preventive action against drug abuse has been a tremendous success as an effective tool of advocacy for social action and an awareness-driven vehicle for public engagement and collaboration against illicit trafficking and abuse, which he said aligns with the theme for the 2024 world drug day, WDD.
He said the world drug day, observed on June 26 every year, “is an important day for the global community, and an occasion during which current efforts against illicit drug problems are given policy direction for the next 12 months.” He added that the theme for this year “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention”, emphasises the importance of preventing people from falling into the danger of experimenting with illicit drugs and subsequently falling into the trap of dependence on psychoactive substances. According to him, “Prevention is an important aspect of the effort to curb the menace of abuse of illicit drugs in society. At NDLEA, prevention, as ably anchored in our War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), social advocacy programme is a priority area for us. Within our modest means and with the support of the Federal Government and our various stakeholders, we have invested in prevention by various means over the past three years as part of the reforms being undertaken in the agency.” Giving a breakdown of the weeklong activities, the NDLEA boss explained that “On Friday, June 21, we will observe a Juma’at Service at the National Mosque in Abuja to commemorate World Drug Day. On Saturday, June 22, our usual Walk Against Drugs in collaboration with MTN and other stakeholders will be staged from the Old Parade Ground as the take-off point by 7 am to the Garki Market. On Sunday, June 23, we will have a thanksgiving church service at the National Christian Centre, that is, the Ecumenical Centre, by 10 am. On Monday, June 24, we will be having the grand finale of our secondary school essay competition. The NDLEA essay competition is a nationwide contest conducted among secondary schools, with the entries whittled down to the final six.
“That same day, Monday, June 24, is earmarked as NGO Day when our partners will have their activities. The following day, Tuesday 25, we will be in markets and parks in the Federal Capital Territory area councils for a programme for out-of-school youths. Finally, on Wednesday, June 26, the World Drug Day commemoration event will be held at the State House Conference Centre, beginning at 9 am, where all stakeholders will gather to formally unveil the new global policy direction for tackling illicit drug problems.” He expressed gratitude to the federal and state governments for the support given to the Agency in various ways in the onslaught against drug traffickers. “The UNODC has been a strong support for us as well as our foreign partners, including the US-Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), the British Border Force, National Crime Agency (NCA) of United Kingdom, as well as our stakeholders like Nigerian Armed Forces, the Customs, Police, Immigration, NAFDAC, NFIU, NACA, FRSC and Civil Defence, among others. And importantly, our media friends. That you are here today is a testament to the support you have given to us these past three years. I cannot help but thank you and the media you represent”, he added. In his remarks, UNODC Country Deputy Representative, Mr. Danilo Campisi called on government at all levels and other stakeholders in Nigeria to invest in drug use preventive measures to avoid a 40% rise in the population of drug users in the country especially the youth population. According to him, “projections show that by 2030, there will be a 40% increase in the use of drugs in Africa, based on the population of young people. This is extremely concerning, if we consider that 2030 is only six years away.
“We are all familiar with the saying: “prevention is better than cure” and considering the data and projections, it has become even more critical for Nigeria to invest heavily in drug use preventive measures. I do not think it would be an exaggeration to describe this as a national emergency. If the country is to take on the challenge of this projected increase in drug use, it is imperative that it adopts scientific evidence-based approaches that prioritise prevention and treatment.” He said UNODC has worked with the “Government of Nigeria to adapt and implement evidence-based prevention measures which include the highly successful UNPLUGGED, a school-based Drug Prevention Programme implemented together with the Federal Ministry of Education, in 110 Unity Schools and in a few states in the country, notably Kebbi, Bayelsa and recently, Kaduna, on the initiative of the State Governments in these States.”
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have apprehended a General Overseer, identified as Bishop Godfrey, along with his wife and several church associates, in connection with an attempted kidnapping of another bishop in Agbarho, Ughelli North local government area.
The police arrested the cleric and his accomplices, which included an assistant pastor, church elders, and a few members, after intercepting threatening messages sent to the targeted bishop. The suspects are currently detained at the Ughelli Police A’ Division, where military uniforms were also discovered during a search.The detained bishop allegedly sent a text message threatening to kidnap and assassinate the other bishop while demanding a ransom of N150,000. The victim managed to send N100,000 to an account provided in the message, but subsequent delays in sending the remaining N50,000 led to multiple threatening messages.
In the messages, the suspect, who identified himself as a member of the Black Axe cult, demanded the ransom and warned of severe consequences if the payment was not completed. One of the texts read in Pidgin English, “Hello Bishop, this is me, Dust to Dust, member Black Axe cultist (Eye) Ugolo Zone. Be informed that we were asked to assassinate you, kidnap and kill you right in your church at Agbarho but we therefore decided to change our mind based on one condition.”
Further threats followed as the payment deadline approached, with the suspect detailing their capacity for violence and previous crimes. They warned the bishop to transfer the remaining money or face dire consequences, stating, “Do not bother to come to your church on Sunday as we are going to shoot you on your head and chest to ensure that you did not survive.”
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, confirmed the arrests and the recovery of incriminating items, including three army uniforms and over 20 SIM cards from the General Overseer’s residence. He assured that investigations are ongoing to fully uncover the extent of the crime.“Investigation is on to unravel the incident,” Bright said.The case has drawn significant attention and highlights ongoing security challenges in the region. The police continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
The Mpumalanga High Court in South Africa has sentenced a 39-year-old, Sizwe Cedric Khoza to three life sentences for killing his wife and her siblings.
Khoza, who was attached to Masoyi police station, shot and killed his wife, 35-year-old Nomthandazo Mnisi last year. He also shot her 32-year-old sister, Colisile Mnisi, and her 42-year-old brother, Dennis Mkhantshwa, in Hazyview on 30 April 2023.
Khoza shot the siblings in cold blood during a family meeting seeking to resolve his marital issues with his wife.
The judgement was handed down on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, by Judge Takalani Vincent Ratshibvumo, who also declared Khoza medically unfit to possess a fireman.
Judge Ratshibvumo imposed the sentence against Khoza “to send a message to the community of Masoye”
“I checked to see if there is any substantial and compelling reason that justifies deviation from the prescribed sentence of life imprisonment,” said Judge Ratshibvumo.
“The more I zoomed into these traditional mitigating factors, instead of me finding anything substantial and compelling to justify the imposition of anything less, unfortunately, I find even more aggravating factors.
“In fact, deviation from the prescribed sentences will send a wrong message to the community. The community of Masoye and people of Mpumalanga have to know that the courts are not going to tolerate gender-based violence
“The message has to go out to the streets of Mbombela that anyone who violates women will be dealt with by the courts mercilessly
“For the simple reason that you have one life, the legislature also provides that any sentence that is imposed together with life imprisonment shall run concurrently with life imprisonment. As a result, the sentences in count number 2 and 3 shall run concurrently with sentences in count 1,” said the Judge.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga, Khoza had last week, pleaded guilty in the High Court in Mbombela to three counts of murder after he shot the two sisters who were working as nurses, and their brother Dennis Collen Mkhatshwa.
“The accused in the matter (Khoza) pleaded guilty on three counts of murder and the matter was postponed to June 10, 2024 for sentencing proceedings,” Mpumalanga NPA regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said last week.
Khoza returned to court on Monday, where the case was rolled over to Tuesday.
During the appearance on Monday, Nyuswa said the State and the defence presented arguments in aggravation and mitigation of Khoza’s sentence.
Court papers revealed that prior to the shooting incident, Khoza and Nomthandazo were having challenges in their marriage.
The police officer also invited his relatives to the meeting which was held at his residence on April 30 last year
The meeting degenerated, and according to court papers, Khoza became angry and stormed out of the meeting.
“He came back armed. He cocked the firearm and shot the two deceased (Xolisile Mnisi and Dennis Collen Mkhatshwa) and his wife (Nomthandazo). The three deceased died at the scene of the crime,” the court papers detail.
Injuries suffered by the three family members are also detailed in the court papers, including gunshot wounds to their heads, multiple perforating gunshot wounds to the chest, with lung and liver injuries
After Khoza’s conviction, Nyuswa on behalf of the NPA in Mpumalanga, told IOL that the State will ask the court to impose “a severe sentence” on Khoza.
At the time, acting national spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), Robbie Raburabu said the police officer allegedly used his service pistol to slaughter the siblings
“The family were meeting, following a dispute between the suspect constable and his wife. When things did not go the suspect’s way, he decided to go fetch his service pistol and fatally shot the three family members, including his wife,” said Raburabu.
Ipid investigators were summoned to the crime scene at Kamajika Trust near Sabie Sand in Mpumalanga province.
