Metro

Niger Gov Under Fire For Ordering Security Aides To Slap Cleric

Published

1 year ago

July 7, 2024

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has come under attack for ordering his security aides to slap one of the Islamic clerics at a gathering.

Bago, in a video seen by The PUNCH, ordered his aide to ‘slap’ the cleric.

“Slap him, very well. I said slap him. Go and arrest him. Deal with him well-well”, the governor ordered.

He thereafter uttered a Hausa idiomatic expression which was interpreted as “I have power.”

The cleric, who knelt down, was dragged away from the gathering by one of the security operatives suspected to be an officer of the Department of State Services.

Some of the people at the gathering were laughing and giggling when the governor gave the order.

The offence committed by the cleric was not known, but sources said he wanted to give the closing prayer at the event which the governor opposed.

Reacting on social media on Saturday, many Nigerians described the governor’s action as an abuse of power.

A popular skit maker, Debo Adedayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni, wrote, “a governor who has sworn to serve the people is ordering a security agent to assault the same citizen he sworn to serve. See security agent too, flexing muscles on a man already on his knees. Continue pushing the people until they get to the wall.

“See my people laughing and giggling while their brother, a fellow human being like them was being assaulted by the same person that swore to serve and protect them.”

Also an X user identified as @greatjoe01 tweeted, “I sincerely understand when people argue against state policing for fear of this kind of abuse of power from the governors. But what exactly are the governors not doing with the federal police now?

“Here is a DSS agent being ordered to carry out illegality. What are we afraid of?”

Speaking to The PUNCH, a human rights lawyer, Mr Deji Ajare, condemned the governor’s action, describing it as a violation of the cleric’s right.

However, when contacted, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, said he was not aware of the viral video.

He said, “I am not aware of the video. Is it social media work? I will look for it, let me check.”

Metro

NDLEA Arrests 46 Suspects, Seizes 40,000 KG Of Drugs

Published

6 minutes ago

August 11, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, has arrested 46 suspects, while seizing over 39,977 kilograms of assorted drugs in the month of July 2025.

The agency also destroyed seven cannabis plantations spanning 15.85 hectares across two local government areas.

Speaking in Benin City while presenting the command’s July operations report, the Commander of Narcotics, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the raids were carried out in Ihama Road and other known drug hotspots across Edo State.

“The July result reflects the ongoing commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations in the state. We apprehended 46 drug suspects, comprising 38 males and 8 females. A total of seven cannabis farms measuring 15.85 hectares across Oke Forest in Uhunmwonde and Ewere Forest in Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Areas, were destroyed.

“In all, we successfully took 39,983.294 kg of narcotic drugs out of illicit circulation. The breakdown of the drugs is as follows: cannabis, 39,977.644 kg; psychotropic substances, 5.5753 kg; methamphetamine, 0.26 grammes; cocaine, 0.0598 grammes; and 5.8 litres of codeine syrup,” he stated.

Ofoyeju added that the agency’s operations throughout July were driven by intelligence, which enabled the successful dismantling of several drug hubs and the arrest of high-profile traffickers.

“Among those apprehended was 49-year-old Alaba Monday, a suspected drug baron and long-wanted cannabis cultivator from Owan West. He was found at one of the illicit farms with eleven bags of processed cannabis weighing 115 kg.

“In a separate operation, 40-year-old Yusuf Isuku from Etsako West was intercepted along Wareke Road, Auchi, with 22 parcels of skunk—a potent cannabis strain—hidden in black Bacco bags filled with garri. The drugs weighed a total of 10.265 kg.

“Another arrest was made along the Igara-Auchi Road in Igara, where 48-year-old Josiah Friday from Akoko Edo was caught transporting five bags of cannabis weighing 36 kg concealed in black polythene sacks.

“Also taken into custody was Izunna Nwankwo, 26, from Ishielu Local Government Area in Ebonyi State. He was nabbed along Benin-Auchi Road with a large cache of psychotropic substances including 15,400 capsules of tramadol, 200 tablets of swinol, 357 tablets of molly, and 54 bottles of codeine syrup.”

“The NDLEA has also focused on dismantling local drug markets, particularly along Ihama Road in Benin City’s GRA. Arrested during the crackdown were Emmanuel Onaji, 29, from Ogbadibo in Benue State, found in possession of molly; Joshua Paul, 21, from Ovia North East, Edo State, caught with Loud; Prosper Titus, 20, from Gboko, Benue State, also caught with Loud; Andy Obioma, 28, from Kana in Rivers State; and 23-year-old Agu Emmanuel from Kachia, Kaduna State, likewise found with Loud.”

Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA also made strides in drug demand reduction.

According to the agency, 32 individuals received brief intervention counselling, while eleven persons are undergoing rehabilitation at the command’s facility.

Several public sensitisation campaigns were held throughout the month, reaching an estimated audience of over 8,000 people.

Reiterating the agency’s resolve, Ofoyeju declared: “The command remains resolute in its mandate to eradicate drug trafficking in Edo State.

“We will ensure the prosecution of all those arrested and continue our efforts to dismantle the drug cartels threatening the social fabric of our communities.”

Metro

BREAKING: EFCC Arrests Tambuwal Over Alleged N189bn Fraud

Published

59 minutes ago

August 11, 2025

Editor

Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Sokoto State, is currently being quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Abuja.

The Cable reports that Tambuwal, a former governor and currently a serving senator, is in detention over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals to the tune of N189 billion.

The development comes after the African Democratic Congress, ADC, alleged that EFCC was carrying out selective investigations targeting opposition politicians.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party claimed that recent EFCC summons to senior members of the opposition coalition were politically motivated and linked to their political affiliations.

According to ADC, some of the cases being pursued are not based on new evidence but involve reopening files from past years.

Metro

EFCC Raids Obasanjo’s Hotel, Arrests Suspected Internet Fraudsters At Pool Party

Published

23 hours ago

August 10, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have reportedly stormed the Green Legacy Hotel, located within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and arrested some youths suspected to be internet fraudsters.

The PUNCH gathered that EFCC operatives carried out the raid in the early hours of Sunday during a pool party at the premises of the library.

This came barely five days after operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the commission arrested a suspected internet fraudster with two locally-made pistols in a raid at K-Hotel in Itori, Ewekoro area of the state.

The suspect, according to the anti-graft agency, was among the 55 others arrested during the raid carried out on Wednesday.

A viral video of the Sunday raid at the Obasanjo Library showed youths scampering for safety as the sound of gunshots filled the air.

The operatives reportedly arrested a number of youths and seized “more than 20 luxury cars and other valuable items.”

Sources said the operation was carried out by the EFCC operatives from the Lagos Directorate.

An X user, A.Ayomide, in a post said, “Literally left my house past midnight to go to OOPL, got there and the crowd was too much. I don’t like the settings, my guy doesn’t like the settings, so we were just at the car park.

“Left around 1:30, 20 minutes later I get home and I’m getting calls that EFCC is raiding OOPL.”

The Managing Director of OOPL Ventures, Vitalis Ortese, confirmed the incident, but he did not provide details.

“Yes, they did. There was an incident this morning. We will find out and we will let you know,” he told our correspondent.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Lagos zonal command of EFCC, Ayo Oyewole, said he was not aware of the operation but promised to get back to our correspondent.

Also contacted, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, promised to confirm and get back to our correspondent.