The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said its operatives repelled gunfire from armed hoodlums in Opuje, Edo State, as they sought to access forest warehouses storing psychoactive substances.

This was made known in a statement signed by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, shared on the agency’s X account on Thursday.

The incident followed a similar attack 11 months ago when NDLEA officers were ambushed during an operation, resulting in the arrest of suspects.

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Opuje is known for large-scale cannabis cultivation, with drug cartels investing heavily in protecting their warehouses.

The statement said, “Following credible intelligence that the drug cartels had again stocked their warehouses in the forest to start distribution of the psychoactive substance to various parts of the country ahead of the yuletide season, teams of NDLEA officers were mobilized to enter the Edo forests and block the distribution of the illicit drug by destroying their warehouses.

“Some of the warehouses containing about 6,000kgs of cannabis were first taken down in Ujiogba forest in Esan West LGA last weekend.

READ ALSO: NDLEA Intercepts Abuja-bound Loads Of Laughing Gas Consignments, Destroys 40 Tons Of Cannabis Plants

“The NDLEA teams, however, came under gunfire attack in the early hours of Monday 4th December when they approached the Opuje forest after the armed hoodlums had blocked all access roads in the community. The NDLEA operatives were able to exit the area after over two hours of gunfight with the armed hoodlums.

“Unfortunately, three of the officers were injured in the attack with one of them shot in the head while some of the vehicles used for the operation were riddled with bullets. The affected officers were rushed to the hospital for treatment while the critically injured one had a major surgery on Wednesday 6th December to remove the bullets in his brain.”

Some policemen have been sighted in a video demanding money from a female biker who was on a tour of Nigeria from the Netherlands.

The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday, said the officers were recorded along Moniya Road in Oyo State.

The officers had flagged down the biker, asking her where she was from and where she was heading.

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The Dutch replied that she was from the Netherlands and she was on her way to Abuja, apparently surprising the two officers.

In the 1:26-minute video, the officers asked the woman to offer them money or whatever she had in her possession.

Interacting with the biker in pidgin, the officers said: “Wetin you bring come? Wetin you won give me. O yah give me something nah.”

The tourist appeared not to comprehend the officers’ message until they clearly said, “Give me money, money,” to which she asked, “Why?”

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Reacting to the video shared by an X user, @Oyoaffairs, the Force PRO, Adejobi called on the Oyo State police command to look into the incident.

“Now that is along Moniya in Oyo, @OyoPoliceNG should take necessary steps on that. I have notified the PPRO Oyo of this. They need to be worked upon,” Adejobi reacted.

Watch video below:

https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1732749914080194872?s=20

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Command, on Wednesday, arraigned one Abdulhamid Isah before an Ikeja High Court over alleged $63,599 fraud.

Isah is facing a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, stealing and retaining proceeds of criminal conduct.

The defendant, arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

The EFCC Prosecutor, Mr Nwandu Ukoha, told the court that the defendant had, sometime in Oct. 2022, obtained $63,590 by false pretences.

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Ukoha said the defendant also stole the said amount belonging to one Chinedu Ugokwe.

He informed the court that the money was given to Isah with the intention to exchange the same for the naira equivalent which the defendant failed to do.

The prosecutor stated that the defendant also retained the said amount, suspected to be proceeds of criminal conduct.

According to him, the offences contravene Section 1(1)(2) and (3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

He said the offences also contravened Sections 278(1) (b), (2)(1) and 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State No. 11 of 2011 and Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

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Ukoha urged the court to remand the defendant accordingly, pending the commencement of trial.

He also said that the bail application of the defence counsel should be at the discretion of the court.

The Defence Counsel, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, moved a bail application, praying the court to grant the application, requesting that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.

Consequently, the judge granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.

Ijelu said one of the sureties must be related to the defendant by blood and must reside in Lagos.

He also said the sureties must present evidence of a reliable source of livelihood and that the defendant be produced at every trial date.

The judge then ordered the remand of the defendant in Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the perfection of his bail.

He adjourned the matter till Feb. 1, 2024 for trial.