Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 43-year-old makeup artist, Adekoya Adebukonla Mary, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 2.20 kilograms of cocaine to India under the guise of traveling for fibroid surgery.

Spokesperson for the agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that Adekoya was arrested on Monday, June 16, 2025, after a surveillance operation based on credible intelligence. She was allowed to check in her luggage and was apprehended at the boarding gate of a Qatar Airways flight to India via Doha.

Upon inspection, officers discovered two large parcels of cocaine factory-fitted into the walls of her suitcase. Adekoya later confessed she was promised financial rewards and falsely claimed she was traveling for a medical procedure.

Further investigations linked the illicit shipment to a drug baron, Akeem Ayinde Adekanbi, said to be the owner of Rockford Hotel in the Sango area of Ogun State. He is currently at large.

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In other operations, NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted 1.3kg of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in sewn female dresses heading to Bahrain via courier. In a separate case, 850 grams of cocaine hidden in cloth hangers were intercepted en route to Australia.

In Bauchi State, NDLEA arrested Ibrahim Galadima (37) and Ibrahim Muhammed (28) on the Bauchi–Darazo road with over 1 million opioid pills, including tramadol, diazepam, and exol-5.

In Kaduna, Bishir Isyaku (38) was caught with 14.2kg of skunk and 198kg of rubber solution concealed in sacks of charcoal on June 17.

In the Federal Capital Territory, six suspects, including Murtala Adamu and Ahmed Ismai’l, were arrested in raids at Karu Abattoir and Torabora areas. 6.9kg of skunk and 59 grams of methamphetamine were recovered.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Destroys 77,000kg Of Skunk Farms In Cross River, Edo

Along the Zaria-Kano road in Kano State, multiple suspects were arrested, including Umar Hamisu (19) and Dahiru Abdullahi (32) with 56.2kg of skunk, and Obiwuru Henry (27) with 23,720 capsules of tramadol and 1,400 ampoules of pentazocine.

In Kwara State, a 22-year-old polytechnic student, Olotin Nifemi, notorious for supplying drugs to students, was arrested in Ilorin with 1kg of skunk.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided Ugbada camp in the Uzebba forest of Owan West LGA, destroying 4,226.11kg of skunk and arresting Albert Shamaki (33). Another raid in Emado community, Esan West LGA, led to the arrest of Esther Abumere (28) and the recovery of assorted drugs like Colorado, Loud, Molly, and opioids. In Igueben LGA, Eko Gift (38) was arrested with 1.143kg of skunk.

READ ALSO:NDLEA Destroys Cannabis Farms, Arrests 39 Suspects In Edo

NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative with sensitisation programs in schools across Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kano, Enugu, and a visit to the Ooni of Ife in Osun State, promoting public awareness and drug demand reduction.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), applauded the operatives from MMIA, DOGI, and various state commands for their dedication.

“These arrests and seizures reflect a balanced approach between supply suppression and demand reduction. I commend our officers for their professionalism and resilience,” he said.

Investigations are ongoing, and efforts continue to track drug syndicates and dismantle distribution networks nationwide.

A powerful windstorm that swept through Gwadabawa and Kware Local Government Areas of Sokoto State has left a trail of devastation, claiming five lives, injuring dozens, and displacing thousands of residents.

The disaster, which struck earlier in the week, was followed by a joint assessment visit on Saturday by officials from the Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Preliminary reports revealed that over 1,400 homes were damaged across both local government areas, with critical public infrastructure—such as schools and government buildings—also affected.

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Gwadabawa LGA recorded the most severe impact, with 878 houses either completely or partially destroyed. A total of 1,306 households were affected, displacing an estimated 7,836 people. Eleven people sustained injuries, while five residents lost their lives in the Marabawa community. Among the deceased were two young children—an 18-month-old and a 3-year-old—belonging to a local resident, Mansur Salihu Talhi.

Members of the assessment team included DPM Shehu Muhammad, Councillor for Gidan-Kaya Ward Hon. Siba Sodangi, community elder Adamu Abdullahi Talhi, and SEMA Desk Officer Nafi’u Bello.

In Kware LGA, the storm destroyed 523 homes, affecting 1,403 households and injuring 18 people—several of whom are in need of urgent medical care. The storm also caused significant damage to educational infrastructure, notably Government Secondary School Kware, where fences and classroom buildings were severely impacted.

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The Kofar-Barga area was among the hardest hit, with resident Ahmad Abbas losing his entire home. In the 30-Quarters section of Kware, around 100 houses suffered varying levels of damage.

SEMA confirmed that documentation of affected households is ongoing, with data being compiled for submission to both state and federal authorities.

“This information will support timely humanitarian assistance for victims of the disaster,” the agency noted.

As residents continue to grapple with the aftermath, local efforts are underway to support displaced families, pending government intervention.

Gunmen have killed the former Peoples Democratic Party chairman of Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, Aondoakaa Yaiyol.

Yaiyol before he was killed Friday night was the Commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services in the local government.

It was gathered that the deceased lost his wife last year in the same circumstance and his house burnt.

The PDP state publicity secretary, Tim Nyior confirmed the assassination of Yaiyol in a telephone call on Saturday.

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Nyior said, “It’s true that the man was once PDP chairman in Tarka LGA before his current position as commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services in Tarka.

“Unfortunately, his wife was killed just last year,” he said.

Also confirming the incident on Saturday, the Special Adviser to governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har described it as an ‘assasination’.

Har said, “It was an assassination of commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services NHFSS, Aondoakaa Yaiyol

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“They came on a bike and shot him at close quarters and fled.

“After they shot the guy, they fired sporadically to scare others and then fled on a bike and they were shielded by two cars also firing sporadically to scare away people.

“Sketchy investigation shows that a criminal that attacked and killed the deceased wife and burnt the house was sent to prison. On his return both of them were chasing each other until this happened.”

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When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet confirmed the report and said that police were on the trail of the suspect.

“The incident is confirmed, immediately police in Tarka received the report, a team of officers was detailed to arrest him and they trailed him to his hideout but escaped before officers could reach there.”

Edet assured that the suspect would soon be apprehended.