Crime
NDLEA nabs dismissed DPO, dozens of others for drug offences
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has arrested Monday George Chika who was a former Divisional Police Officer of Idanre Police Station, Ondo State
Chika who is a dismissed police officer was arrested alongside an accomplice while in possession of 280 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 168kg.
The 64-year-old, was arrested alongside, Emmanuel Eniola, 40 years.
Both were arrested on Sunday, January 30, 2022 in Mokwa, Niger State, after their Toyota Avalon car marked Lagos EKY 429 BZ loaded with the substance at Idanre and heading to Kanji, Borgu area of the state was intercepted.
The operatives of the agency also arrested one Fatima Musa, 30, for attempting to smuggle pentazocine injections into the camp of surrendered insurgents in Borno State.
A manhunt that had been on for weeks by narcortic officers on a suspected female drug kingpin, Mrs. Jemilat Adoke Seriki, 50, yielded expected result with the arrest of the woman.
The agency Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday pointed out that the suspect is one of the owners of 12,385 pellets of “Loud” imported from Ghana and intercepted at Eko Atlantic beach, Victoria Island Lagos on Saturday, November 27, 2021.
The statement added that Mrs. Seriki, a.k.a Iya Ilorin admitted being one of the owners of the seized consignments.
Also, she confessed to the NDLEA that her bags of drugs had the label ‘’Jah Bless’’on them.
The agency said when it eventually identified and sorted the exhibits, she has 16 bags with the inscription containing drugs weighing 668.85kg.
Other female suspects, five in number are among 17 suspects arrested in connection with the 3,727.72kg Methamphetamine seized in an early morning raid at Akala, Mushin, Lagos, on Thursday, February 3, 2022.
In another development, total of 14,080kg codeine syrup (8,080 litres) and 4,352.43kg cold caps used to conceal the codeine in a 40ft container imported from India, were also intercepted on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at the Apapa port, Cannabis/Loud/Skunk imported from Ghana.
The seizure at the Lagos seaport followed intelligence from foreign partners and cooperation of other port stakeholders.
NDLEA said the arrests at Akala was made possible by NDLEA Strike Force operatives who in their numbers with support from the military stormed fortified warehouses in the drug den and evacuated bags and bottles of cannabis, loud, skunk, skuchies and methamphetamine as well as the 17 suspects for further investigation.
Attempts by some traffickers to export different quantities of Methamphetamine to Brazil and United Kingdom were scuttled by narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
The first bid was made on Friday, January 28, through the SAHCO export shed where operatives intercepted 0.80kg of Meth concealed in relaxer plastic container heading to the UK.
However, a suspect, Akuta Chioma Lucy who presented the consignment for search had been arrested for further investigation.
The second attempt was on Friday 4th February during the outward clearance of passengers at Gate ‘C’ Departure hall of the airport when an intending male passenger on Ethiopian Airline going to Brazil, Onyeaghala Chidi was intercepted with 500grams of Meth concealed inside three plastic hair relaxer containers while a male passenger, Iliyasu Yushau Yushau, coming from Kampala, Uganda via Nairobi, Kenya was intercepted by operatives with 268 debit cards belonging to Access Bank, GTBank and Zenith Bank, during the inward clearance of passengers on the flight on Sunday 30th January, 2022.
The agency operatives also stormed the Igbogiri forest, Orhionwon Local Government , Edo State, on Friday , February 4 and destroyed four dry season Cannabis farms , measuring 3.067718 hectares, following the evacuation of 20 bags of compressed blocks of Cannabis weighing 269.5kg stored in a bush at Uzebba, Owan West Local Government , Edo State, the previous day and the arrest of Afadama James, 42, with 348kg cannabis at Owan, Ovia North East Local Government on Wednesday, February 2.
While operatives in Delta State arrested a 21-year-old student of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Kate Osagie over a 17.6grams designer drug she ordered from Onitsha, Anambra State.
In Plateau state, operatives intercepted a truck marked LSD 857 XB coming from Ekpoma, Edo State with 885 blocks of cannabis sativa that weighed 736kg.
A N400,000 paid to bribe the arresting officers has also been warehoused as part of exhibits for prosecution, just as two suspects; Ebunoluwa Babalola, 40, and Sulyman Sheu, 30, were arrested at Ganmo, Ilorin, Kwara State with 90kg of Cannabis.
In the same vein, two kg of Methamphetamine being brought to Abuja by a 29-year-old Charity Omuche from Anambra State was intercepted on Friday, February 4 by operatives at Gwagwalada area of the FCT, while officers of the Kaduna Command of the Agency also arrested a suspect, Buhari Isah Umar with 300 shisha pens and 999 portions of synthetic cannabinoids with gross weight of 9.690kg.
Meanwhile Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig- Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has commended officers and men of the Strike Force, Apapa seaport, MMIA, Lagos, Niger, Edo, Borno, Plateau, Kwara, FCT and Delta Commands of the agency for the successful interdiction operations that led to the seizure of thousands of kilograms of illicit drugs from across the country in the past week.
He also urged them and their compatriots in other commands not to rest on their oars.
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
In a decisive operation, the Kogi State Police Command has arrested a suspected car thief, Nnamdi Osita, aged 39, and recovered a Toyota Coaster Bus allegedly stolen from Nyanya, Abuja, over a year ago.
The cream-colored bus, bearing Registration Number GWA 488 ZD, was flagged down by operatives on Thursday, January 23, along the Abuja-Lokoja highway after intelligence reports indicated its movement in the area.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Kogi Command, SP William Ovye Aya disclosed that the arrest was a collaborative effort between the operatives of ‘B’ Division Lokoja and other security agencies.
“Our swift action underscores the commitment of the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Gajere Dantawaye, to eradicating criminal elements from Kogi State,” Aya stated.
He noted that the CP had issued a directive upon assumption of office, charging officers to strengthen security efforts and maintain a zero-tolerance policy against crime.
“The arrest and recovery are proof of our dedication to ensuring the safety of lives and property. We are working tirelessly in synergy with other security agencies to make Kogi State secure,” Aya said.
The CP also appealed to the public for their cooperation, urging them to provide credible and timely information to assist in clamping down on criminal activities across the state.
The ongoing investigation seeks to uncover the circumstances surrounding the theft and determine any accomplices involved in the crime.
This operation is part of a broader effort by the Kogi State Police Command to restore public trust and bolster security within the state.
(Ends)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking with major operations resulting in multiple arrests, the seizure of vehicles, and the interception of vast quantities of illicit substances across Nigeria.
In a midnight operation on Saturday, NDLEA operatives intercepted a 40ft trailer loaded with 2,217.6 kilograms of skunk at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa, Abuja.
The consignment, destined for Northern states, was being distributed into six vehicles, including Toyota and JAC models, when officers swooped in, arresting 42-year-old suspect Isaac Monday Desmond.
The director of media and advocacy, Femi Babafemi in a statement indicated that additional operations in the Federal Capital Territory led to the arrest of two suspects, Anthony Nnamdi and Abba Ali, and the recovery of 1.398 kilograms of cocaine and precursor substances.
In Lagos he said the NDLEA officers intercepted 20 wraps of cocaine concealed in face cream containers meant for export to Australia. Meanwhile, a massive codeine shipment valued at over N1.1 billion was seized during a joint operation at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Rivers State.
In another significant breakthrough, NDLEA apprehended Bariu Aliu, a traditional priest of the Igunuko shrine in Lagos, three months after a raid at the shrine uncovered 2,760 kilograms of skunk. His accomplices had already been convicted.
Further successes included the arrest of 23-year-old Habibu Ya’u in Kano, where officers recovered 24.2 kilograms of cannabis and over 40,000 pills of opioids.
NDLEA’s nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign also gained momentum with sensitization programs targeting schools, worship centers, and communities.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the agency’s operatives for their balanced approach to reducing drug supply and demand, emphasizing their role in safeguarding the nation.
A violent cult-related clash in Owo, Ondo State, has left five people dead, including Fisayo Oladipupo, a former youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), heightening concerns over the growing insecurity in the region.
The deadly confrontation, which occurred on Sunday night, was part of an ongoing feud between rival cult groups that has simmered for over a decade, leading to numerous fatalities.
Oladipupo, 56, was shot and killed around 2:00 am on Monday, and his death triggered further violence across the town, with four other individuals gunned down in various parts of Owo, including the Eyinogbe, Ekusi, and Uselu areas.
Tragically, a mother and her child also fell victim to the violence when stray bullets struck them while they were attempting to flee the chaos at Mobil Junction.
Sources close to the community suggest that Oladipupo’s murder was likely carried out by individuals familiar to him, based on the nature of the attack. His death sparked widespread fear and panic, with the town reeling from the loss of several lives in a matter of hours.
The long-standing nature of the feud between the cult groups, fueled by unresolved disputes, has left the community on edge. Residents are now demanding increased security and a stronger police presence to prevent future bloodshed.
The police have confirmed the incident, with the Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, stating that investigations are underway to uncover the perpetrators and their motives.
While there are conflicting reports about Oladipupo’s status as an APC chieftain, the local authorities have confirmed the deaths of four individuals and reassured the public that efforts to restore order are ongoing.
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