Metro

PICTORIAL: NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine, Opioid Shipments Meant For US, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland

Published

10 months ago

March 16, 2025

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted multiple illicit drug consignments bound for the United States, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates.

The drugs, including cocaine, tramadol, loud, and molly, were concealed in various items such as prayer beads, board game packs, and female clothing.

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

The statement read, “Desperate bids by some drug trafficking organisations (DTO) to move illicit consignments such as Cocaine, Tramadol, Loud, Molly and others concealed in prayer beads, packs of board games, female cloths to the United States of America, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Poland, and United Arab Emirates through logistics firms and the Lagos airport have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

“At least, two suspects behind some of the aborted missions at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos have already been arrested. One of them is a 43-year-old businesswoman, Jakpor Egware May, who was nabbed at the Gate ‘C’ departure hall of the Lagos airport while attempting to board an Air France flight to Italy on Saturday, 8th March 2025.

“When she was searched, 190 parcels of tramadol 225mg and another parcel of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from her luggage. In her statement, she claimed that she bought the drugs herself, with the intention to resell them in Italy.

“At the export shed of the Lagos airport, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, 11th March arrested a 60-year-old suspect, Yahaya Fatai Ayinla, while attempting to ship a cargo containing cloths used to conceal 400grams of skunk going to New York, United States of America.

“At some logistics companies in Lagos, efforts by drug traffickers to export over two kilograms of Loud, Molly, Tramadol 365mg, 225mg hidden in Vitamin C bottles and female cloths to the US were frustrated by NDLEA operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI. “Other shipments of 230grams of cocaine concealed in prayer beads, soles of locally made shoes and packs of board games heading to Saudi Arabia, Poland and UAE were equally intercepted between Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th March.”

In a separate operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested 40-year-old Hassan Haruna at Chalawa and recovered 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479 kilograms.

In Kogi State, officers intercepted 58,300 pills of tramadol along the Kabba-Obajana highway in a commercial bus traveling from Lagos to Abuja.

Additional raids in Kachia, Kaduna State, led to the arrest of 21-year-old Idris Hamza, who was found in possession of 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.

Another raid in the Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LG resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji, from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were seized.

The statement added, “In Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect Hassan Haruna who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Chalawa area of the state on Wednesday 12th March, while no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi state in a commercial bus coming from Lagos enroute Abuja on Tuesday 11th March.

“Raid operations in Kachia, Kaduna state on Thursday 13th March led to the arrest of Idris Hamza, 21, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him, just as a similar exercise in Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North LGA, on Friday 14th March resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Aminu Magaji from whom 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered.”

In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives intercepted 40,200 tramadol 225mg tablets from two suspects, Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan.

A separate seizure of 21,700 tramadol capsules was made along Eiyenkorin expressway in Ilorin, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as Salisu Usman.

In Taraba State, officers arrested 35-year-old Polycarp Adeku and seized 15.77 kilograms of skunk from him. In Osun State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial bus carrying 48.7 kilograms of Ghanaian loud, Colorado, and Canadian loud, all potent strains of cannabis.

The statement added, “While a total of 40, 200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara state on Friday 14th March, NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect Salisu Usman along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin on Thursday 13th March.

“In Taraba State, NDLEA officers on Friday 14th March arrested Polycarp Adeku, 35, at Bente road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77Kg skunk, while in Osun state, operatives on Thursday 13th March, intercepted a commercial bus marked SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island in front of King University, Ode-omu, with a total of 48.7kg Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis. Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.”

In Abuja, NDLEA officers arrested 58-year-old Ade Esan, also known as Pastor, along the Gwagwalada expressway with 27,800 tramadol 225mg pills in his possession.

Another suspect, 26-year-old Usman Mohammed, was nabbed with varying quantities of skunk and cocaine.

In Abia State, a raid in the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LG, resulted in the arrest of 34-year-old Chinaza Nwogu, also known as Young Money.

The statement added, “A 58-year-old suspect Ade Esan (aka Pastor) was on Tuesday 11th March arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, FCT Abuja with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg, while another suspect Usman Mohammed, 26, was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja.

“In Abia state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 15th March raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, where a 34-year-old suspect Chinaza Nwogu (aka Young Money) was arrested with 274grams of heroin, 141grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, 4grams of cocaine and Seven Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, Fifteen Naira (N753,015.00) monetary exhibit.”

Metro

Court Upholds Death Sentence For Woman Over Ex-husband’s Murder

Published

17 seconds ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

The Court of Appeal has affirmed the death sentence handed down to Farida Abubakar for the murder of her former husband, Chief Magistrate Attahiru Muhammad-Ibrahim.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday in appeal No. CA/S/75C/2025, a three-member panel led by Justice Tunde Awotoye dismissed Abubakar’s appeal and upheld the decision of the Kebbi State High Court delivered on June 3, 2024.

The court ruled that the appeal lacked merit, adding that the conviction and sentence imposed by the trial court were proper and supported by credible evidence.

Abubakar was prosecuted by the Kebbi State Government and represented by A. N. Salau, while the prosecution was led by Zainab Muhammad Jabbo of the Kebbi State Ministry of Justice.

During the trial, the prosecution called 12 witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including Abubakar’s extra-judicial statement and circumstantial evidence linking her to the crime.

In its judgment, the appellate court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and upheld the trial court’s reliance on the doctrine of “last seen,” describing it as adequately supported by the evidence before the court.

Although Abubakar’s extra-judicial statements were not deemed confessional, the court held that all the essential elements of the offences were established.

The Court of Appeal consequently affirmed her sentence to death by hanging under Section 191(b) of the Kebbi State Penal Code, as well as a seven-year imprisonment under Section 224(1) of the same law for causing grievous hurt.

Abubakar has since filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the judgment.

Metro

Lagos Govt Begins Clearance Of Illegal Structures Along Lagos-Badagry Expressway

Published

15 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Government has begun a coordinated enforcement exercise along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway aimed at dismantling illegal structures and easing traffic congestion on the busy corridor.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the development on Monday via a statement shared on his official X account.

According to Wahab, the clearance operation took off at Alakija in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area before moving through Iyana Iba.

He said enforcement activities are currently ongoing opposite Lagos State University, LASU, with additional operations being carried out around Alaba Market in Ojo Local Government Area.

He explained that operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Agency, LAGESA, working alongside other enforcement units under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, are leading the exercise.

“The clearance operation commenced at Alakija and has progressed through Iyana Iba. It is presently ongoing opposite LASU, with active enforcement also taking place at Alaba Market along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway,” Wahab stated.

The commissioner noted that the exercise is part of the state government’s commitment to improving environmental hygiene, restoring order to public spaces and ensuring the smooth movement of vehicles along the expressway, in line with established environmental and urban planning regulations.

Metro

Nigerian Army Confirms Arrest Of Suspected Suicide Bombing Facilitators

Published

16 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army said its troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), following intelligent gathering, have arrested eight suspects including two principal suspects believed to be key facilitators within the suicide bombing network.

Media Information Officer
Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI who stated this, in a statement on Monday, said, a search of the arrested suspects’ residence led to the recovery of cash, mobile phones, identification documents, ATM cards, jewellery, and other personal effects, which are currently undergoing forensic analysis to support ongoing investigations.

It said during identification procedures, a suspect already in custody positively identified the two principal suspects as individuals who supplied materials used in preparing the Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

The statement confirmed that additional occupants of the residence were also linked to the network, adding that all suspects remain in military custody, undergoing detailed interrogation to facilitate further intelligence recovery before being transferred for continued investigation.

In a related development, OPHK troops intercepted a large consignment of suspected terrorists’ logistics in Mayo Nguli, Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State on 4 January 2026.

The troops seized 45 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), with a total volume of approximately 1,125 litres, suspected to have been smuggled for terrorist use.

The suppliers reportedly fled upon sighting the troops, abandoning the petroleum products, which are now in military custody pending further action.