Metro

NDLEA Intercepts Qatar-bound Drugs, Officers Reject N5m Bribe

Published

1 month ago

March 31, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have detained a 35-year-old lady, Chidinma Chinenye-Agbazue, after she was caught attempting to export 20 parcels of Cannabis Sativa weighing 10.70kg to Doha, Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The illicit drugs were said to have been concealed in African salad popularly called Abacha; and dried vegetables.

The operation was carried out in conjunction with operatives of the Department of State Services.

The anti-narcotics operatives also reportedly rejected a N5m bribe from another suspect in Lagos State.

The spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, revealed the development in a statement on Sunday while detailing arrests and recoveries made by the agency over the past week.

Babafemi said, “Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have detained a 35-year-old lady, Chidinma Chinenye-Agbazue after she was caught attempting to export 20 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 10.70kg concealed in African salad popularly called Abacha and dried vegetables to Doha, Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos state.

“NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport working in partnership with men of the Department of State Services had on Thursday, March 28 intercepted Chidinma, an outbound passenger from Lagos to Doha, on Qatar Airways during clearance of passengers at the screening point of Terminal 11 of the MMIA.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that Chidinma was based in Qatar but returned to Nigeria last December for Christmas celebration. She said preparatory to her return to Doha, she was lodged at Club Dice Hotel in Ikotun area of Lagos where the consignment was handed over to her for trafficking to the Arab country,”

Babafemi further noted that two suspects, Monday Okeke and Chigozie Emeka, were on Tuesday, March 26, arrested by NDLEA operatives in Oniwaya, Yaba and Agege area of Lagos, where they recovered from them 842,560 pills of opioids especially tramadol in addition to 15 litres of codeine syrup and 596 grams of Molly.

He said, “Two suspects; Monday Okeke and Chigozie Emeka were on Tuesday, March 26, arrested by NDLEA operatives in Oniwaya, Yaba and Agege area of Lagos, where they recovered from them 842,560 pills of opioids especially tramadol in addition to 15 litres of codeine syrup and 596 grams of Molly.

“Attempt by Okeke to bribe the NDLEA officers with N5m cash was rebuffed while the money was documented as part of exhibits to prosecute the suspects in court.”

In Bayelsa, the bid by three suspects: Ebuka Eze, 31; Ugochukwu Okoro, 44; and Kingsley Uzim, 27, to smuggle opioids including codeine, molly, tramadol and diazepam weighing a total of 73.425kg to the creeks in Southern Ijaw area of the state was thwarted on Wednesday by NDLEA operatives at Swali jetty, Yenagoa where Eze and Okoro were arrested while Uzim was nabbed at Amasoma in a follow-up operation. The drugs were concealed in jumbo sacks and conveyed to the jetty in a tricycle.

Meanwhile, two suspects: Eniola Muyideen and Bankole Shuaib were arrested with 137 blocks of cannabis weighing 71kg during a raid at Orile Imo, Ogun State on Friday.

NDLEA operatives in Taraba recovered 39,980 pills of tramadol from a suspect, Abubakar Mohammed, 33, in Lankaviri village, and another suspect, Apaji Vincent, 29, arrested in Wukari on Thursday with 131kg cannabis sativa.

In Abia State, Nwachukwuu Chinedu, 28, was arrested on Friday at Akara Ahuba, Isikwuato LGA by NDLEA officers.

Recovered from him include 46.65kg cannabis and different quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine and rohypnol as well as N71,500 monetary exhibit.

At least, 127.5kg cannabis loaded in a Volkswagen Vento saloon car marked NTT 215 AA was recovered along Isua/Kabba Road, Idoani area of Ose Local Government Area, Ondo State, while a 30-year-old female suspect, Chinasa Christopher, was arrested with 400 bottles of codeine syrup in Sabon Gari area of Kano.

Babafemi added that, “The owner of a consignment of illicit drugs intercepted along Zaria-Kano Road, Bakura Goni was arrested at Mile 2 market in Lagos on Tuesday in a follow up operation and flown to Kano to face charges. The consignment consisting of cannabis and tramadol weighing 73.8kg was earlier seized in a truck conveying it from Lagos to Kano,”

Meanwhile, 278kg of cannabis going to Idoani in Ondo State was recovered during a raid at Oloma-Okpe forest, Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State, while not less than 3,065.255kg of the same psychoactive substance was razed on two farms at Amahor waterside forest in Igueben area of the state where three suspects: James Thankgod; Wisdom James and Akpa Festus were arrested on Thursday.

Metro

Man Arrested For Raping Four-year-old Girl

Published

6 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

The Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has apprehended one Afolabi Ojo for allegedly raping a four-year-old pupil.

Leadership reports that the mother of the young girl reported the incident at the NSCDC Command in Ado-Ekiti, where she informed officials that the assault took place on Olujoda Street. Subsequently, the suspect was arrested.

During questioning, the girl disclosed that the suspect had removed her underwear and sexually assaulted her late in April.

Additionally, the girl’s mother stated that her daughter had confided in her about the incident.

However, the suspect denied all allegations, claiming he was falsely accused.

The Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the state, Tolu Afolabi, confirmed that a medical examination had been conducted on the girl.

Afolabi revealed that the medical report confirmed the rupture of the hymen of the young girl.

Furthermore, Afolabi stated that the command had initiated an investigation into the matter.

Metro

LAUTECH Student Stabbed To Death In Ogbomoso

Published

6 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

An undergraduate student at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in Oyo State, simply identified as Adedokun Olamilekan was stabbed to death by yet-to-be-identified people at the Under G area in the town on Thursday night.

Olamilekan, a 200-level student of the Department of Information Science, was said to be running a business outfit known as Dcrown Unisex Salon at Under G before he was murdered by his assailants during an argument.

He was reportedly stabbed by yet-to-be-identified colleagues and later rushed to a nearby hospital, where he gave up the ghost.

One person who witnessed the incident said, “He was rushed immediately to the nearest hospital where he was confirmed dead.

“The case has been reported to Owode Police Station, Ogbomoso, Oyo state.”

All efforts to get the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso’s reactions were unsuccessful as his telephone mobile number was not reachable.

Also, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Fadeyi was not reachable as of press time.

Metro

Navy Sends Eight Warships, Helicopters After Sea Pirates

Published

6 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanual Ogalla, said eight elite Nigeria Navy warships and two helicopters have left the country’s shores to combat sea piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

The maritime security operations will encompass anti-crude oil, anti-sea piracy, anti-sea robbery, and anti-fishing, as well as boarding and aerial operations, among other activities.

Vice Admiral Ogalla, who disclosed this to newsmen during the flag-off of exercise ‘Obangame Express 2024,’ in Onne, Rivers State on Friday, said the deployment was a global joint naval operation.

Ogalla, who was represented by the Navy’s Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Adm. Olusegun Ferreira, also said the naval Special Boat Service (Special Forces) would participate in the week-long exercise.

The CNS stated, “Obangame Express, sponsored by the United States African Command (US Africom), brings together naval fleets from the GoG and key partners from Europe, the Spanish navy, and North America to secure the region.

“It offers a platform for like-minded partners to jointly devise African-led solutions to transnational threats and challenges for enhancing regional security,” he said.

He stated that Nigeria is committed to working with the Gulf of Guinea nations on the anti-piracy mission aimed at securing the maritime environment of the region to promote economic activities.

The CNS recounted recent successful joint operations between the Nigerian Navy and the Cameroonian Navy that led to the arrest of a vessel ‘MV Jasmine’ for alleged crude oil theft.

He added, “Likewise, through information provided by the French navy, another rogue vessel, MT Big Majesty, was arrested two months ago in the Gulf of Guinea. Just a few days ago, the Nigerian Navy, acting on behalf of the Gabonese Government, apprehended MV Blu Shark, demonstrating our commitment to regional collaboration.

“These successes mirror the objectives of exercise Obangame Express, which are already commonplace in our maritime space”

He noted that the exercise aligns with the African Union’s forthcoming launch of a joint maritime task force to enhance regional cooperation in combating maritime crimes in the GoG.