Metro

Two Suspects Excrete 150 Wraps Of Cocaine At Lagos Airport

Published

2 days ago

June 30, 2024

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced on Sunday that its operatives have arrested two passengers traveling to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight at the screening point of Terminal 2 of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, after they tested positive for ingestion of illicit substances on Friday, June 21.

According to the agency spokesman, Femi Babafemi, “The suspects, Aikhomoun Daniel (alias Oladapo Olanrewaju) and Ayigoro Waheed Omobolaji, were taken into observatory custody. Daniel excreted a total of 90 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.022 kg in six excretions, while Ayigoro discharged 60 wraps of the same Class A substance with a total weight of 662 grams in five egestions.”

Further investigation revealed that Aikhomoun Daniel had stolen the identity of his late uncle, who was once based in Germany, to obtain a Schengen visa for free access to Europe. His real name is Oladapo Olanrewaju.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives intercepted 6,125 cartons of codeine syrup containing 1,050,000 bottles of the opioid, worth over N7.35 billion in street value, at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers State.

The seizure, made from six containers on Saturday, June 29, was the third such operation in the past four weeks following credible intelligence and diligent tracking of the consignments from their port of departure by a special operations unit of NDLEA.

In Abuja, NDLEA operatives disrupted a drug party dubbed “Go Hard or Go Home. Pick Your Poison,” arresting 60 suspects (25 males and 35 females) at an apartment in Sun City estate, Federal Capital Territory. The raid followed credible intelligence about the party organized by Stanley Ikechukwu, who was arrested at the venue. Six suspects were found with different quantities of ecstasy and cannabis.

Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), directed that 20 of the suspects who tested negative for drugs be released unconditionally. Thirty-three others who tested positive for illicit drugs were to be released on bail and report to the FCT Command of the Agency on Monday to begin treatment and counseling.

Additionally, about 40.32 kg of Loud, an imported strong strain of cannabis, was recovered from a black Toyota Tacoma truck along Lekki-Ikoyi road when the driver abandoned the vehicle after noticing NDLEA operatives were on his trail.

Furthermore, four suspects—Endurance Okon, 24; Joseph Michael, 23; Ovoco Bright, 43; and Goday Abanum, 23—were arrested in a deep forest in Ugun, Igueben LGA, Edo State on Saturday, June 29, when NDLEA operatives raided and destroyed 18,632.22 kilograms of cannabis on 7.452888 hectares of farmland.

Across the country, NDLEA commands and formations continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities. These include WADA enlightenment lectures for students and staff of First Technical University, Ibadan, Oyo State; students of Government Day Secondary School, Yola, Adamawa; students and teachers of Ezeike High School, Nibo, Anambra; members of Mount Zion Anglican Church, Igoba, Akure, Ondo State; and WADA advocacy visits to the palace of the Oba of Yoruba in Kano, Dr. Murtala Alimi Otitese.

Commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Port Harcourt Ports, Lagos, and Edo Commands for their arrests, seizures, and dexterity, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), warned drug cartels that no matter the ingenuity of their modes of trafficking, the dedicated workforce of the Agency, in collaboration with other stakeholders and partners, will always be steps ahead to expose them and thwart their tricks. He urged the officers and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

Metro

Bandits Kill Lecturer In Katsina, Abduct His Children

Published

7 mins ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

Bandits have killed a lecturer with the Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA) in Katsina State.

Dr. Tiri Gyan David was killed in a fresh bandits attack in the early hours of Tuesday.

The lecturer was the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension, and Rural Development at the university.

An eyewitness told Channels Television on a telephone call that the incident occurred at about 1:30 am at the lecturer’s residence in the Yarima Quarters, Low-Cost Estate, Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State.

He added that the bandits invaded the community with sophisticated weapons, shooting sporadically to scare the residents. According to him, the hoodlums also abducted two of the lecturer’s children.

The Katsina Police Command spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq, confirmed the incident but said the command will soon release a detailed statement about it.

Dutsinma is among the ten security frontline local government areas grappling with frequent bandit attacks almost daily despite efforts by both the state government and security agencies to restore peace in the state.

Metro

Trucks, Passengers Stranded On Auchi-Benin Highway For Days

Published

15 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

Hundreds of articulated vehicles have been left stranded on the busy Auchi-Benin highway for over four days owing to the deplorable state of the highway.

The long queue of the stranded vehicles spanned over 10 kilometres from Aviele to Iyamoh axis of the highway.

The Aviele section of the road, like several other parts of the over 140km highway, has collapsed.

Some of the drivers, particularly those conveying perishable goods from the Northern part of the country to South, lament their loss.

A driver, Mallam Isa Adamu said he has spent four days on the road and had to dispose off his perishable goods cheaply in order not to incur complete loss.

Another driver, Murtala Isiaku said several of his livestock have died owing to long stay without food and water.

According to him, “I tried getting some edible grass for them here to survive, of course, it’s like several persons pursuing fewer materials.

“I am not the only driver carrying goats and other animals, we all have to struggle for the little available to take care of our animals.

“While some have sold off their goods cheaply, I have also seen some discharging their cows here to enter into the bush with the help of herdsmen they hired here.”

Meanwhile, a motorist with a popular transport line in Auchi who identified himself as Lucky, said the blockage has necessitated them to take a longer route to Benin from Auchi.

“For days now, we have not been able to go to Benin through Ekpoma because of the blockage.

“Several protests have been made to get government’s attention to fix this road, yet, things seem to be going from bad to worse.

“This bad Aviele section is only an addition to several other bad portions of the highway from Auchi to Benin.

“We are in for a terrible time this season as the rain is yet to set in fully,” he stated.

It will be recalled that on Monday, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi terminated the contract of the three contractors handling the project from Benin to Obajana in Kogi state for poor performance.

Metro

Bandits Terrorizing Benue Gunned Down In Shootout With Police

Published

17 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Editor

Two members of the bandits terrorising the Sankera axis of Benue North East District have been killed in a shootout with the Police at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

The gang members were killed following the invasion of their camp by police operatives who received credible intelligence on their hideout.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene in a statement Monday in Makurdi said various arms and ammunition, camouflage uniforms, motorbikes, communication gadgets and other items were recovered from the bandits.

The statement read, “Benue state Police Command has continuously intensified efforts to clampdown on bandits in Sankera axis of the state in the last three months.

“Several operations carried out led to the arrest of suspects that have been charged to court while others were neutralized in the course of exchange of fire. Arms and ammunition have been recovered and many camps dislodged.

“As part of follow up operations, the Operation Zenda JTF invaded a criminal hideout at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala LGA June 30, 2024. And upon arrival at the camp, bandits engaged the Police in a gun duel to resist invasion into their camp but were overpowered by the superior fire power of the Police team.

“Two of the bandits received gunshot injuries, they have been confirmed dead by a Doctor and their corpses deposited at the General Hospital Ukum, while other suspects escaped.

“Exhibits recovered from the camps includes, two Pistols loaded with ammunition, three locally made short guns, 13 motorcycles, camouflage uniforms, six walkie-talkies, one Toyota Corolla and one tricycle.

“The Commissioner of Police, Benue state Command, Hassan Yabanet who commended the bravery exhibited by these officers, has also enjoined the people of Sankera to avail useful information to the Police about the suspects at large who may be seen with gunshot injuries. He also reiterated his commitment to fight crimes in the state.”