Metro

NDLEA Arrests Suspected Drug Baron, Seizes Over 14,000kg Skunk In Osun

Published

2 months ago

November 16, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected drug baron, Frank Ibemesi, also known as Chisco Bee, following weeks of surveillance on his activities.

Ibemesi, 42, identified as the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig. Ltd., was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, November 15, 2025, at his Daisy Garden Hotel on Agbeke Street, Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Lagos.

A statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said he was later taken to a warehouse on Pius Ezeobi Street, also in Ago Palace Way, where officers recovered 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of “loud,” a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,762.8 kilograms.

He said cash recovered from him at the point of arrest included $11,600, £2,000, €2,200, and 50 Canadian dollars.

“A wanted drug baron who operates under the cover of a businessman and hotelier, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, alias Chisco Bee, has been arrested by operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the NDLEA after weeks of intelligence and surveillance on his criminal activities.

“The 42-year-old Ibemesi, who is the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig. Ltd., was arrested at his Daisy Garden Hotel, 66–68 Agbeke Street, Ago Palace Way, Isolo, Lagos, in the early hours of Saturday, November 15, 2025, after which he was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi Street, off Ago Palace Way, Isolo, where 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1,762.8 kilograms, were recovered.

“Also seized from him at the point of arrest were $11,600; 2,000 British pounds; 2,200 euros; and 50 Canadian dollars, all in cash,” the statement partly read.

In a separate operation in Osun State, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives disrupted a drug syndicate at Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo Forest Reserve in Ife South Local Government Area on Tuesday, November 11.

According to him, the operatives seized 11,135 kilograms of processed skunk and arrested seven suspects.

“Operatives, after days of surveillance in the forest, seized two trucks being used to transport the illicit consignments: a Volvo truck marked WWR 29 XA and a Mercedes truck with registration number AWK 713 YZ, and arrested seven suspects. Those in custody in connection with the seizure are Lucky Abiodun; Julius Amos; Victor Ngbikili; Sunday Oduegwu; Ibrahim Akanni; Eze Godstime; and Fred Ifeanyichukwu,” he said.

In Edo State, Babafemi said officers recovered a total of 1,902.1 kilograms of skunk in separate operations.

These, according to him, included 184.1kg on Oza–Igbanke Road on Thursday, November 13; 672kg from Utese Forest on Friday, November 14; and 494kg from a Mercedes-Benz (DE311BEN) on the Benin–Akure Road, where 45-year-old Felix Edah was arrested.

He added that another suspect, Lucky Abagha, 51, was arrested with 552kg of skunk in a Mercedes-Benz.

“While four suspects — Micheal Okoh, Offor Agada, Raphael Nkemjika and Nwabueze Franklin — were arrested with 68kg of skunk and 3.150kg of methamphetamine along the Ijebu-Ode Expressway in Ogun State, Danjuma Tukura, 50, was nabbed with 172kg of skunk at Sunkani, Ardo-Kola LGA, Taraba State, on Friday, November 14, and Wisdom Titus, 24, with 84kg of the same substance at Takum area of the state,” he added.

In Adamawa State, Babafemi said 396,000 capsules of tramadol were seized from 50-year-old Ahmed Isyaku Nda at the Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola, on Friday, November 14.

“Another 785kg of skunk was recovered from a warehouse in Asob Maraba Karu, Nasarawa State. The owner of the warehouse is currently at large,” he added.

In Kwara State, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck marked T-0262KT along the Ilorin–Jebba Expressway on Thursday, November 13.

The vehicle, according to him, was conveying 197 blocks of skunk weighing 78.565kg and 155 cartons of rubber solutions.

“The truck driver, Umar Yakubu, was taken into custody. In another operation, a commercial bus with registration number KJA-657CY was intercepted at Eiyenkorin, Ilorin, on Wednesday, November 12, with 20 blocks of skunk concealed in a 50-litre jerrycan, and the driver, Ibrahim Bello, was arrested,” Babafemi said.

The PUNCH reported that the agency on Tuesday intercepted a shipment of cocaine valued at over $235m (about N338bn) at the PTML Terminal of the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos.

The agency said it has launched a joint investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United Kingdom National Crime Agency to identify those behind the importation of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine.

(PUNCH)

Metro

BREAKING: BIZARRE! Millions Lost As Delta Man Sets Own Shop Ablaze

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

A yet-to-be-identified man suspected to have taken hard drugs on Tuesday night set his own furniture shop ablaze in the Saniko community, Agbarah-Otor, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, our source said set the furniture shop containing modern furniture worth millions of naira ablaze, and chased anyone who attempted to intervene with matchett until he was overpowered by the community youths.

Our source who does not want his name in print narrated via the phone: “It actually happened this night. Nobody knows what fell on him to have set his own shop ablaze, but the belief his that he must have taken some hard drugs.

“The man should be in his 40s. He set the shop ablaze, and when people attention was drawn to it, they rushed there but he chased them with cutlass. He was chasing people with cutlass until the youth mobilised and overpowered him, and as I speak with you, he has been tied down, naked.

“I don’t know his name, and nobody has identified with him as a relation, but the point is, millions have been lost. All the modern furniture in the shops have turned to ashes. The shop is completely burnt down.”

Contacted on the phone, Delta State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe said the Command was not aware of the incident.

He said: “Inasmuch he set his own shop ablaze, and nobody died, nobody will come to the Police to report it. And since nobody will come to report such an incident to the Police, it’s assumed the Police are not aware.”

Metro

Seven Journalists On Their Way To Colleague’s Marriage, FG Reacts

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the tragic death of seven journalists who were confirmed killed in a lone road crash in the Gombe South area of Gombe State on Monday.

The incident occurred on Monday evening as the journalists were returning from a wedding ceremony in the Gombe South Senatorial District. They were said to have traveled in solidarity with a colleague from the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, who was getting married.

According to preliminary information from the Gombe State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Samson Kaura, the crash was fatal.

The Minister described the tragedy as a heartbreaking loss to the media community and the nation, noting that the journalists were committed voices who informed the public with courage, integrity, and professionalism.

“This is a harrowing moment. Nigeria has lost dedicated voices who informed, educated, and stood for truth. Their passing is a heavy blow to us all,” he said.

The Minister extended his condolences to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Gombe State Council, and especially to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. He prayed that God would grant them the strength to bear the painful loss.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones. May Almighty God grant them comfort and grant the souls of the departed eternal rest,” he added.

“We stand in solidarity with the NUJ and the entire media community at this difficult time. We must continue to work together to improve safety measures for those who serve the nation daily,” he said.

He assured that the Federal Government stands with the bereaved families and the media community during this moment of grief. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.

Metro

VIDEO: Chaos As Last-minute Shoppers Overwhelm Lagos Balogun Market

Published

2 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Large crowds on Tuesday overwhelmed Balogun Market on Lagos Island as residents trooped out in their numbers for last-minute year-end shopping, crippling movement around the commercial hub.

A viral video making the rounds online showed extreme congestion within and around the market, with traders and shoppers barely able to move as they jostled for limited space in one of Lagos’ busiest trading centres.

The footage captured scenes of tightly packed walkways and stalled human traffic, as buyers scrambled to complete end-of-year purchases ranging from clothes and shoes to household items.

The gridlock is largely being blamed on Nigerians’ long-standing culture of last-minute shopping, often described as “panic buying,” where many delay festive purchases until the final days of the year.

Balogun Market, known for its wholesale and retail activities, traditionally experiences a spike in patronage toward the end of the year.

As of the time of reporting, no incidents had been confirmed, though the situation highlights the recurring challenge of overcrowding during peak festive periods in Lagos.

Watch the video below:

𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐀𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭-𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭
Credit: X | dammiedammie
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