EFCC arrests 133 in Abuja over ponzi scheme academy raid
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 133 individuals following a raid on a Ponzi scheme academy in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Monday.
The academy, identified as Q University (also known as Q-Net), was reportedly luring vulnerable young Nigerians into fraudulent investment schemes with promises of high returns. Recruits were allegedly trained and then tasked with bringing in more participants, a classic pyramid scheme strategy.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale explained that the suspects were enrolled in a program called “Special Training for New Generation Billionaires,” where they were brainwashed into believing they could eventually join the ranks of billionaires.
According to Oyewale, participants in the program obtained entry through an application form known as the “Independent Representative Application Form,” which was marketed with slogans like “I’m a Champion,” “I’m Unstoppable,” and “I’m Infinity.”
The raid, conducted in collaboration with the 176 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army, resulted in the seizure of phones, computers, and other electronic devices from the suspects. Once the investigations are complete, they will be brought to court to face charges.
The FCT Police Command, in collaboration with the military, has successfully rescued a kidnapped naval officer, along with two civilians, who were abducted by armed criminals in Mpape, Abuja, on March 21, 2025.According to SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Police Command spokeswoman,at approximately 7:35 PM on the said date, heavily armed assailants attacked the Mamman Vatsa Estate gate, blocked Mpape Road, and opened fire on moving vehicles before abducting the three victims. Shortly after the attack, the kidnappers contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of ₦500 million for the naval officer and ₦200 million each for the two civilians.
Upon receiving the distress report, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), FCT Police Command, DCP Isyaku Sharu, in collaboration with military authorities, mobilized a joint operation led by the Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and comprising of personnel of the Nigerian military DSS hunters, and members of the local Hunters’ Group.An intense search-and-rescue operation was conducted across Mpape, Gidan Bawa, Anguwan Mu’azu, and Yelwa Hills, covering areas in the FCT and Nasarawa State.Acting on credible intelligence, between 2:00 AM and 5:30 AM on March 23, 2025, operatives traced the suspects to a Fulani resettlement in Anguwan Mu’azu and Yelwa Hills, Nasarawa State, where four (4) suspects were arrested, and the victims were rescued unharmed. Additionally, the sum of ₦3.2 million, suspected to be ransom money from previous kidnapping operations, was recovered from the suspects.The victims are currently in stable condition and are receiving medical attention at the Nigerian Army Clinic.
Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend the remaining suspects currently at large. Security deployments has also been reinforced in Mpape and surrounding areas to prevent future occurrences. As members of the public are advised to go about their daily activities without any apprehension.The FCT Police Command urges residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the Police via the following emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08028940883, 07057337653Complaint Response Unit: 08107314192.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a 42-year-old Indian lady, Ms. Neetu Neetu at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano, with 72 parcels of heroin factory sealed in wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates.The class A drug consignment weighing a total of 11 kilograms was recovered from Neetu’s luggage after a thorough search, following processed credible intelligence, during an inwardclearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand via Vietnam and Doha at the arrival hall of the Kano airport on Friday 14th March 2025.
The arrest of Neetu signifies a growing attempt by drug trafficking organisations to hire white ladies and foreign nationals to move illicit drugs through the Nigerian borders, a bid that vigilant NDLEA operatives have consistently frustrated with the aid of modern technological tools and proactive intelligence, says Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) in his immediate reaction to Neetu’s arrest.In another interdiction operation in Kano, NDLEA officers on Thursday 20th March arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Michael Ogundele with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder at Gadar Tamburawa, along Zaria- Kano road. Based on credible intelligence, welding tools were later used to cut the giant cylinder after which 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in it were extracted. While Sunday Ogar, 40, was nabbed at Gunduwawa area of Kano on Wednesday 19th March with 27kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, a female suspect Khadijah Abdullahi, 40, was arrested with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Lungun Bulala Yalwa area of the state on Tuesday 18th March.In Lagos, the duo of Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa were nabbed with 67.5kg skunk in Mushin just as 100.8kg of same psychoactive substance was recovered from the store of two fleeing suspects in Anifowoshe area of Mushin while Isah Idris was arrested in Apapa with 4.5kg skunk; 600grams of tramadol 225mg and 30litres of codeine syrup on Tuesday 18th March. Another suspect, Yahaya Mohamed, was arrested same day in Ikotun area of the state with different quantities of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.Across the country, NDLEA Commands and formations continued to intensify their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy sensitization engagements in schools, markets, motor parts, work places and worship centres in the past week.
These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Chrisland School, Ikeja, Lagos; Hakimi Secondary School, Mokwa, Niger state; Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje, Anambra state; Ikole City College, Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti state; Government Day Secondary School, Sunane, Sokoto state; and Government Day Secondary School, Jada, Adamawa state, among others.While commending the officers and men of MAKIA, Lagos, and Kano Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), noted with satisfaction the balance in drug supply and demand reduction efforts of all the formations nationwide, even as he charged them not to relent.
The Kano State Police Command said it has arrested 10 notorious suspects for alleged criminal cases of kidnapping and armed robbery, attributing the remarkable success to the command’s intensified measures to address identified emerging threats in the state.
Narrating how the command achieved the breakthroughs, its Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, stated that the arrests, which also led to the rescue of a 21-year-old kidnapped victim, recovery of arms and ammunition, as well as a cash sum of N4.85m, resulted from four well-coordinated operations.
According to the PPRO, at first instance, following a distress call received from a good Samaritan on March 18, 2025, at about 11:00pm, that some suspected armed robbers stormed a residence at Badawa Layout, inflicting injuries on the occupants, and were attempting to dispossess the victims of their valuables, police detectives raced to the victim’s rescue.
Two suspects, 29-year-old Awwal Hassan Ibrahim and Suleiman Umar, 24, both from Jos Plateau State, were caught at the scene, during which a Beretta pistol, loaded with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition was recovered in their possession.In another operation on the same day, which followed credible information that some suspected criminals, in possession of arms, were sighted driving a car, a team of detectives, dispatched to track down the suspects, arrested one Shuaibu Yakubu, 25, alias Dan Bula Bula, of Kadawa Mil-Tara Quarters, Kano.A further search of the suspect’s operational red Pontiac Vibe car, led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, loaded with 12 rounds of live ammunition, even as the suspect confessed to have involved in series of armed robbery incidents in Kano and Abuja.Also, on March 19, 2025, at about 01:15 pmthe command’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), while on an intelligence-led operation, arrested two suspects, Friday Bitrus, 38, and Daniel Samuel, 25, both of Zango Quarters, Kano, and recovered a locally-made pistol, with two live cartridges, and a sharp Axe from them.In the same vein, following a reported kidnapping incident received from a resident of Zakirai Town in Gabasawa LGA on March 8, 2025, to the effect that his 21-year-old son, Muhammad Bello, had been held captive, and a ransom of N15m demanded, a team from the Anti-kidnapping Squad, led by CSP Bala Shuaibu, was detailed to rescue the victim and arrest the culprit(s).
Crime PuzzlePoliceKano police bust kidnapping, armed robbery, syndicates, arrest 10, rescue 21-yr-old kidnapped victim Felix Mordi 21/03/2025IMG-20250321-WA0004ShareThe Kano State Police Command said it has arrested 10 notorious suspects for alleged criminal cases of kidnapping and armed robbery, attributing the remarkable success to the command’s intensified measures to address identified emerging threats in the state.Narrating how the command achieved the breakthroughs, its Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, stated that the arrests, which also led to the rescue of a 21-year-old kidnapped victim, recovery of arms and ammunition, as well as a cash sum of N4.85m, resulted from four well-coordinated operations.According to the PPRO, at first instance, following a distress call received from a good Samaritan on March 18, 2025, at about 11:00pm, that some suspected armed robbers stormed a residence at Badawa Layout, inflicting injuries on the occupants, and were attempting to dispossess the victims of their valuables, police detectives raced to the victim’s rescue.Two suspects, 29-year-old Awwal Hassan Ibrahim and Suleiman Umar, 24, both from Jos Plateau State, were caught at the scene, during which a Beretta pistol, loaded with two rounds of 9mm live ammunition was recovered in their possession.In another operation on the same day, which followed credible information that some suspected criminals, in possession of arms, were sighted driving a car, a team of detectives, dispatched to track down the suspects, arrested one Shuaibu Yakubu, 25, alias Dan Bula Bula, of Kadawa Mil-Tara Quarters, Kano.A further search of the suspect’s operational red Pontiac Vibe car, led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, loaded with 12 rounds of live ammunition, even as the suspect confessed to have involved in series of armed robbery incidents in Kano and Abuja.Also, on March 19, 2025, at about 01:15 pmthe command’s Rapid Response Team (RRT), while on an intelligence-led operation, arrested two suspects, Friday Bitrus, 38, and Daniel Samuel, 25, both of Zango Quarters, Kano, and recovered a locally-made pistol, with two live cartridges, and a sharp Axe from them.In the same vein, following a reported kidnapping incident received from a resident of Zakirai Town in Gabasawa LGA on March 8, 2025, to the effect that his 21-year-old son, Muhammad Bello, had been held captive, and a ransom of N15m demanded, a team from the Anti-kidnapping Squad, led by CSP Bala Shuaibu, was detailed to rescue the victim and arrest the culprit(s).ALSO READ IGP Egbetokun honours late COAS, Lagbaja, cancels personal, social engagementsConsequently, through technical-based operation and intelligence-driven investigation, five suspects, connected to case, comprising three males and two females, were arrested within a week – from March 11 to 18, 2025, while the victim was rescued on March 17.They were identified as Tukur Lawal, aka Maikudi, 20; Ado Usman, aka Ruwa, 30; Sunusi Surajo, 27; Ummulkhairi Ibrahim, (f), 19 and Habiba Shuaibu, (f), 18.A dane gun, used in the operation, and a sum of Four Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N4,850,000:00) were recovered from the suspects.“All the suspects are currently undergoing investigations at the command’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and will be charged to court upon completion of the investigations”, the PPRO stated.Meanwhile, according to the command’s spokesman, the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, on assumption of duty on March 17, 2025, complied with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to all police commands and formations to develop action plans, aimed at minimizing crimes, spurring the CP to re-jig the command’s intelligence and operational capabilities.CP Bakori has, however, commended the gallant officers involved in the operations, and assured the public that the command would spare no effort in ensuring the safety and security of all residents in the state.
The Ogun State government has shut down Perfect Light Nursery and Primary School in Eyinogbe, near Igode, Sagamu Local Government Area, over the alleged defilement of a pupil by the headmaster, Ashafa Afelaja.
The school was also found to be operating illegally, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, who announced the closure on Wednesday after visiting the school.
Soyombo condemned the alleged abuse and the poor learning conditions at the school, assuring the community that the government and the state police command were investigating the matter.
She added that legal action would be taken against the suspect.
She assured the community that the state government, in conjunction with the state police command, had stepped into the matter and would ensure adequate investigation, while legal sanctions would be taken against the perpetrator.
Soyombo said, “The commitment of the government towards providing conducive learning conditions for the betterment of learners in both private and public schools irrespective of their level remains uppermost in the mind of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s led administration.Related News
“I hereby urge parents to take good care of their children making sure they are not exposed to social vices.
She added that the Ministry of Education was working with the Ministries of Health and Women Affairs to conduct medical examinations and ensure the affected child’s well-being.
Other pupils from the closed school would be transferred to the nearest public primary school in Igode.
“This is to again sound a stern note of warning to perpetrators of evil acts to leave the state alone because the current administration will not take it easy with people who are not ready to abide by the rules of the land,” she said.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, had earlier facilitated the rescue and medical care of the victim, while the suspect, Afelaja, was arrested by the police for interrogation.
Seven notorious Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to troops of the Multinational Joint Taskforce in Borno State.
A statement on Wednesday by the Chief Military Information Officer of the MNJTF, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba said the effort was facilitated by Multinational Joint Task Force, operating under Sector 3 Mongunu.
According to the statement, the terrorists who have been operating in the Damasak axis of the state laid down their arms to embrace peace.
The statement reads in part, “In a significant breakthrough in the fight against terrorism in the Lake Chad Region, troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), operating under Sector 3 Mongunu, have successfully facilitated the surrender of 7 suspected notorious Boko Haram terrorists with large cache of arms who have been active in the Damasak axis of Borno State, Nigeria.”
He said, “The suspected Boko Haram terrorists identified as Mallam Baba Ibrahim (19), Malam Bamai Ali (20), Mallam Jundu Ali (19), Mallam Abba Ali (25), Mallam Abubakar Mohammed (20), Tijjani Ali (20 yrs) and Mallam Ali Mommudu (25) voluntarily turned themselves into MNJTF troops at Walada village in Damasak after sustained offensive operation by own troops.”
Recovered items
He stated that suspected terrorists confessed to having been involved in numerous terrorist activities across Northern Borno.Related News
“They expressed their exhaustion with the conflict,though they previously feared they will be killed if they surrendered,” he added.
“The substantial arms cache and equipment surrendered by the suspected terrorists included 2 RPG tubes, 4 RPG bombs, an AK-47 rifle, an HK 21 German machine gun, and 8 empty magazines. Additionally, they handed over 2 horses, 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 715 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 51 NATO rounds, 12 mobile phones, 6 small solar panels, 2 bandoliers, and 4 knives, among other items. The former insurgents are now providing valuable intelligence to the MNJTF.”
Recovered arms
Osoba urged other terrorists to follow suit and surrender their arms in exchange for peace.
“The MNJTF wishes to encourage other terrorists to take this opportunity to surrender as laying down arms is a crucial step towards achieving lasting peace in the Lake Chad Region,” he said
He reiterated the MNJTF’s commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and restoring stability throughout the area.
Desperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations (DTO) to move illicit consignments such as Cocaine, Tramadol, Loud, Molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and the Lagos airport have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.At least, two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos have already been arrested. One of them is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday 8th March 2025.When she was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage. In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy.At the export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers on Tuesday 11th March arresteda 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400grams of skunk going to New York, United States of America.
At some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI. Other shipments of 230grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect Hassan Haruna who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Chalawa area of the state on Wednesday 12th March, while no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi state in a commercial bus coming from Lagos enroute Abuja on Tuesday 11th March.Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna state on Thursday 13th March led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him, just as a similar exercise in Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LGA, on Friday 14th March resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered. While a total of 40, 200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara state on Friday 14th March, NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect Salisu Usman along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin on Thursday 13th March.In Taraba state, NDLEA officers on Friday 14th March arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, at Bente road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77Kg skunk, while in Osun state, operatives on Thursday 13th March, intercepted a commercial bus marked SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island in front of King University, Ode-omu, with a total of 48.7kg Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis. Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.A 58-year-old suspect Ade Esan (aka Pastor) was on Tuesday 11th March arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja. In Abia state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 15th March raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, where a 34-year-old suspect Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money) was arrested with 274grams of heroin, 141grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, 4grams of cocaine and Seven Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Fifteen Naira (N753,015.00) monetary exhibit.Meanwhile, 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 U.P.E school, Ilara Epe, Lagos; Government Day Secondary School, Jigalambu, Michika, Adamawa state; Agbegi High Grammar School, Dekina, Kogi state; Capital City Secondary School, Awka, Anambra state; and Eso-Obe Comprehensive High School, Ikoro Ekiti, Ekiti state, among others.While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated. Femi BabafemiDirector, Media & AdvocacyNDLEA Headquarters, AbujaSunday 16th March 2025 NDLEA intercepts US, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy-bound cocaine, opioid shipments in prayer beads, others. Arrests 2 suspects; recovers large consignments of skunk, heroin, opioids in Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and FCT raidsDesperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations (DTO) to move illicit consignments such as Cocaine, Tramadol, Loud, Molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and the Lagos airport have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
At least, two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos have already been arrested. One of them is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday 8th March 2025.When she was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage. In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy.At the export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers on Tuesday 11th March arresteda 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400grams of skunk going to New York, United States of America. At some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI. Other shipments of 230grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect Hassan Haruna who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Chalawa area of the state on Wednesday 12th March, while no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi state in a commercial bus coming from Lagos enroute Abuja on Tuesday 11th March.Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna state on Thursday 13th March led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him, just as a similar exercise in Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LGA, on Friday 14th March resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered. While a total of 40, 200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara state on Friday 14th March, NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect Salisu Usman along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin on Thursday 13th March.In Taraba state, NDLEA officers on Friday 14th March arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, at Bente road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77Kg skunk, while in Osun state, operatives on Thursday 13th March, intercepted a commercial bus marked SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island in front of King University, Ode-omu, with a total of 48.7kg Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis.
Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.A 58-year-old suspect Ade Esan (aka Pastor) was on Tuesday 11th March arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja. In Abia state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 15th March raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, where a 34-year-old suspect Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money) was arrested with 274grams of heroin, 141grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, 4grams of cocaine and Seven Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Fifteen Naira (N753,015.00) monetary exhibit.Meanwhile, 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 U.P.E school, Ilara Epe, Lagos; Government Day Secondary School, Jigalambu, Michika, Adamawa state; Agbegi High Grammar School, Dekina, Kogi state; Capital City Secondary School, Awka, Anambra state; and Eso-Obe Comprehensive High School, Ikoro Ekiti, Ekiti state, among others.While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
Barely three weeks after launching a manhunt for him, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested an automobile spare parts dealer Levi Chidiebele Ubodoeze over a recent attempt to export two kilograms of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola.Following the seizure of the cocaine consignment at a logistics company in Aspanda, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos on 21st February 2025, swift contacts were made with Angolan authorities who in turn arrested the supposed recipient of the illicit drug in Angola, after which the identity of the sender was unraveled.As a result, NDLEA operatives on Thursday 6th March tracked Ubodoeze to his house in Ago palace way area of Isolo, Lagos where he was caught in a KIA Sport Utility Vehicle trying to escape. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a large quantity of phenacetin, a cutting agent for cocaine weighing 75.50 kilograms packaged and branded as semolina, while a digital scale used in weighing illicit drugs was recovered from his house. In his statement, Ubodoeze admitted dealing in cocaine while selling motor spare parts at Ladipo market, Mushin area of Lagos.
He stated that the supposed recipient of the illicit consignment in Angola alerted him the moment he was arrested in Angola hence his bid to evacuate his house and flee from the area shortly before NDLEA officers swooped on him.Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos have intercepted a cargo of cannabis candies imported from the United Kingdom and meant for sale at a Kiddies Mart, located at 46 Ogunlana drive, Surulere, Lagos.The consignment was seized on 27th February upon its arrival as a consolidated cargo on Allied Airways. Preliminary field test and subsequent forensic analysis of the candies established that the substance was laced with a strong strain of cannabis. As a result, the recipient of the shipment, Adedamola Taylor, was arrested on Tuesday 4th March after initial arrest of a freight agent.In his statement, Adedamola claimed the consignment was sent to him by his UK-based brother Babatunde Alabi, to deliver to one Musurat Lawal, who operates the Kiddies shop owned by Alabi in Surulere area of Lagos.
A follow up operation at the shop led to the arrest of Musurat. Two suspects: China Michael and Igbo Ekene were arrested on Friday 7th March when their commercial truck was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at Shibiri area of Ojo, Lagos. A search of the vehicle revealed 248 compressed blocks of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 128kg, were concealed in the underbelly of the truck.In another interdiction operation in Lagos, three suspects: Osinachi Nwachukwu; Tochukwu Okafor Christian and John Ugochukwu Mbakwe were on Friday 7th March arrested at Mosalasi junction, Mushin, with 301,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids.In Kano, 65-year-old Yahaya Haruna was nabbed with 19.2kg skunk along Gadar Tamburawa road on Thursday 6th March while 60-year-old Musa Bello (a.k.a Jajere) was arrested with 212 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Medile, Kumbotso local council area.No fewer than 442,594 pills of tramadol and other opioids as well as 1,274 bottles of codeine syrup were recovered by NDLEA operatives who raided the house and warehouse of a 37-year-old suspect, Blessing Okoronkwo at 19 Ubani Street, Aba, Abia state on Tuesday 4th March.
In Benue state, 50,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from two suspects: Nwaeze Onyeabor, 47, and Tombo Thomas, 23, on Wednesday 5th March when their vehicle was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at Ugbema junction, Katsina Ala area of the state.In Osun state, a suspect, Asimiyu Muibi, 50, was arrested on Tuesday 4th March with 162kg skunk at Modakeke, Ife East local government area while 95kg of same substance was recovered from a Toyota Camry car marked KSF 72 GW during a raid in Ede same day.A suspect, Etim Esien Stephen, 55, was arrested when NDLEA officers on Wednesday 5th March raided the Amahor community forest, in Igueben area of Edo State where 9,514.625kg skunk was destroyed on 3.805846 hectares of cannabis farm land. 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 sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Model High School, Amaechi, Enugu; Bengy Secondary School, Agege, Lagos; Sunshine Secondary School, Nku Udo Eno, Akwa Ibom; and Government Day Secondary School, Dong, Adamawa state, among others.While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Abia, Benue, Osun and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
The police in Lagos, weekend, arrested three suspects alleged to specialize in forging international bank cheques by impersonating foreign celebrities. The suspects: Innocent Odumosor, 27, Ajie Samuel Chukwudi, 31, and Godwin Divine, 19, were arrested at their residence in Lagos after detectives attached to Anti-Corruption Unit, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos recieved intelligence reports about their criminal activities with other members of the syndicate based abroad.The ring leader of the syndicate, Innocent Odumosor lives in a four bedroom flat at Ocean Freeze Estate, Ologoro, Ikate, Lagos while his second in command, Ajie lives at Star Times Estate, Ago Palaace Way, Lagos.Both the ring leader of the syndicate and his second in command reportedly confessed to have made about N400m each since they started the fraudulent business in 2021.
It was learned that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime and gave vivid details of their criminal exploits, which involves impersonating notable foreign celebrities and defrauding Bank of America of millions of dollars. According to their ringleader, Innocent Odumosor, a graduate of the University of Cross Rivers State, we buy ‘tools’ from Xeet.com, which we use in commiting the crime. According to him, tools work as software and we buy from the site.”It works with the software of different foreign banks. We clone cashier cheques and contact other members of the syndicate overseas to source for foreign accounts where they can log in the cheques. “The victim unknowingly cash the cheque and send it to the account our syndicate will provide.
The victims are randomly chosen and engaged in long chats before we strike. We normally load the account, and the victim will be chatting with any member of the syndicate resident abroad.”Police investigation uncovered that after they received proceeds of their latest exploits on March 28th, 2025, the ring leader acquired a Mercedes 223 GLE valued at N250m while his second in command also bought Mercedez GLE 221 worth N150m. Share of the third suspect is said to still be cooling off in his bank in Nigeria.
The ring leader said that he graduated in 2019 and started internet fraud in 2021. According to him, I learned how to do it through online and websites like: Xeet.PW and Monove.com. I specialize in loading of foreign bank accounts by buying loading tools from different websites such as Olux.TO, Monove.com, and Cheap.com at different prizes ranging from $10 to $100. I get different foreign bank accounts from other members of the syndicate and I load money into the account. The foreign banks are mostly in USA. We share proceeds of our loot 50/50. The latest transaction I had with Ajie eas that of $350,000 cash cheques from Bank of America and the beneficiary is Babara Franks. I got $150,000 as part of my share using my Access bank and it came to be N230m.
I used part of it to buy Mercedes GLE worth N120m and used the remaining to take care of myself, my family, and my music career. I use my I-Phone 16 Promax and Labtop to do the deals. I pay N10m for my four bedroom flat at Ocean Based Estate at Ikate.”The second in command, Ajie Samuel aka Pappy, a native of Delta State and a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Cross Rivers University said he got $50,000 from their deal stating that he was a middle man during negotiations. It was gathered that detectives are collaborating with the International police with a view to rounding up other members of the criminal syndicate based abroad and that they have already confiscated international passports of the suspects.
They are also said to be beaming their seachlight on all the banks connected with the activities of the suspects with a view to ascertaining if there is internal connivance or not. When contacted, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade confimed the arrest of the suspects stating that investigations are still on.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested nine individuals suspected of engaging in internet fraud in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the arrests were made at two locations — Sunnyville Estate in Lokogoma and Open Heaven Estate, in Dawaki.
During the operation, law enforcement officers seized several items, including four luxury cars, laptop computers, iPads, and mobile phones, which are believed to have been used in fraudulent activities.Related News
“EFCC, have arrested nine suspected internet fraudsters in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“They were arrested on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Sunnyville Estate in Lokogoma and Open Heaven Estate in Dawaki areas of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
“Items recovered from them include four high-end cars, laptop computers, iPads, and phones. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the statement said.
