Metro

Customs Intercept 111 Live Parrots, Illicit Drugs In Adamawa, Taraba

Published

2 months ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

The Adamawa and Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 111 live African grey parrots, illicit drugs, and other contraband items worth over N67 million.

The Area Comptroller, Garba Bashir, made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Yola.
Bashir said that within three weeks, officers recorded 19 seizures valued at N67,785,358 in different locations.

According to him, the locations are Mubi-Sahua, Goshindan-Farang, Belel, Girei-Woro Bokki, Gella, Fufore-Gurin, Damare Waterside, Apawa-Numan road, and the Savannah-Numan axis.

The seized items include; 13,200 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 1,925 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, packed in 528 and 77 jerry cans respectively.

“11 sacks of second-hand clothing, Tramadol capsules; 5,710 (100mg), 990 (50mg); and 185 packets of Benzhexol tablets, 111 live African grey parrots and nine dead ones,” he said.

The comptroller said that the illicit drugs were intercepted from a suspect along the Apawa-Numan road on June 19.

He noted that the substances were concealed in charcoal sacks and recovered following credible intelligence.

“These drugs, when abused by youths will induce them to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

“Such drugs can be inimical to the health of the citizens and undermining security of the nation,” he said.

On the wildlife seizure, Bashir said a suspected trafficker was caught on June 27 while attempting to smuggle the parrots from Cameroon through the Gurin border.

Bashir said the parrots were stuffed in six wooden boxes, leading to the death of nine resulting from poor handling.

“The interception aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“Poaching methods are often brutal and a high percentage of captured birds die even before reaching export sites.

“The species are highly trafficked due to its high demand as intelligent and mimicking pet,” he said.

The comptroller said that the seized drugs and suspects would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, while the parrots would be transferred to the World Parrot Trust for rehabilitation.

He said that 101 raw donkey skins, earlier seized in May, would be destroyed under NCS regulations.

He said the seized petroleum products would also be auctioned immediately to avoid fire hazards, with proceeds paid into the Federation Account.

The customs boss commended the leadership of the Comptroller General, Bashir Adeniyi, for providing an enabling environment and support from sister security agencies.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to curbing smuggling, protecting Nigeria’s borders, and safeguarding public health and the economy.

(PUNCH)

Metro

Edo Govt Demolishes Building Owned by Suspected Cultist

Published

5 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

The Governor Monday Okpebholo led-Edo State Government has demolished a house belonging to a suspected cultist.

The building was said to have been used for initiations in Egbaen community along Upper Siluko Road , Egor Local Government Area.

The building was said to belong to a suspected Maphite cult leader, and was said to be used as a base for cult initiation rites and ritual practices.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary ( CPS) to the governor, Fred Itua in Saturday said the operation was executed by the Edo State Special Security Squad, codenamed “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers”, working in concert with various security agencies and community stakeholders.

The statement said the, coordinator of the Edo State Security Squad, Idemudia Noah confirmed that the building was linked a leader of the Maphite cult group, who had allegedly converted the bungalow into a shrine and meeting point for illegal activities.

“We were here some days ago to seal up this building following allegations of cultism, ritual practices and other nefarious activities of suspected Maphite cult leader and his members,” the Edo State Security Squard said in the statement.

The squad leader also disclosed that despite the earlier sealing of the premises, intelligence reports confirmed that the suspects resumed their clandestine operations under the cover of darkness. Their continued defiance prompted the government’s decision to demolish the structure.

“We got credible information that the suspected cult leader Marvellous Adetarami and his members still gathered to have their meetings in this sealed bungalow, where the horrible shrine was discovered,” he revealed.

He said, “Neighbours and community members are all joyous seeing the building pulled down, as they have lived in fear following the suspect’s activities.”

Metro

My Husband Fought, Abandoned Me Cos’ I’m Barren, Woman Tells Court

Published

11 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

A woman, Wasilat Saka, has pleaded with a Grade 1 Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja (Federal Capital Territory), to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Tajudeen Jimoh, over alleged abandonment and conflicting faith beliefs.

Wasilat told the court that she got married to Jimoh under Islamic Law on July 30, 2022, adding that their marriage did not produce any children.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she alleged that Jimoh, who claimed to be a Muslim, abandoned her for months shortly after they got married while refusing to perform necessary Islamic rites.

“My husband does not observe the five daily prayers and the Ramadan fast.

“We always quarrel and fight for these reasons.

“I beg the court to grant my request of divorce,” Wasilat said.

Jimoh was absent in court despite being served with the hearing notice.

The judge, Ibrahim Rufai, adjourned the case.

Metro

Our First Child Beat Me Blue And Black After My Wife Turned Them Against Me —Man

Published

12 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…That was the easiest way I made him pay their fees —Wife

Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has given judgment on a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Tajudeen, who dragged his wife, Kafayat, to court, accusing her of showing him no love or affection.

He added that she was troublesome and violent and that she refused to let him have peace of mind.

Tajudeen stated that Kafayat was defiant and never listened to him nor took instruction from him.

The plaintiff explained that the defendant was brutal and always sought every opportunity to fight and hurt him with any dangerous object within her reach.

He added that she refused that he give their children proper training, and that she turned them against him.

According to him, the eldest of their children beat him till he was almost unconscious in the presence of his wife and she saw nothing bad in it.

Tajudeen explained that Kafayat constantly came to his office to fight and disgrace him.

The plaintiff stated that he was fed up with his wife’s unruly behaviour and thus pleaded for divorce.

Kafayat refused that their union be dissolved, stating that she and her husband jointly built their house.

The defendant did not deny being defiant and in the habit of fighting her husband even in his office.

According to her, that was the only way she made her husband commit to his responsibilities in the home and, more importantly, pay their children’s school fees.

Tajudeen, in his evidence, said, “My wife and I got married under Islamic Law and I paid her bride price.

“My marriage to my wife is void of love and care. She made our home a hell to live in.

“I no longer have a say in our home because my wife is rebellious. She never listens to me nor takes orders from me. She would turn every argument between us into a fight.

“Kafayat being a violent person always hits me with dangerous objects within her reach. The scars on my body tell the story.

“Much worse is the fact that my wife refused that I train our children and always instigates them against me.

“The strain in the relationship between our children and me led to our eldest child beating me till I almost fainted.

“My wife was present at the scene and she neither restrained our son nor rebuked him.

“My wife is still not satisfied and would come to my office to fight and disgrace me.

“My lord, I have had enough of my wife and children’s waywardness and cannot take it any longer.

“I pray this honourable court to end our marriage and grant me custody of our children so that I can give them proper training.

“I also request an order restricting her from coming to my office to fight me.”

Kafayat in her response said: “What my husband said is not totally true.

“We met in 1997 and he impregnated me.

“I started living with him although no marital rites were carried out on my behalf. He in addition did not pay my bride price.

“My lord, I do not agree to divorce because we both contributed towards building the house we are living in.

“It is true that I fight him even in his office. I discovered that was the only way I could force him to be committed to his responsibilities in the home and especially paying our children’s school fees.”

Ruling, the court president, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, said there was no marriage to be dissolved since no customary marriage was held and no bride price was paid.