Category: News

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted 48,380 pills of tramadol along Ewohimi Road, heading toward Kabba in Kogi.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi.

Babafemi stated that the consignment was loaded in a commercial bus marked KAK 66 XA, noting that the NDLEA operatives apprehended the bus driver, Ibrahim John in the process.

In another development, Babafemi said a total of 273kg of cannabis was earlier intercepted in a Toyota Sienna Vehicle marked RBC 451 CM on Wednesday, July 19 at Ogida, Benin City.

According to him,  two suspects: Abubakar Suleiman, 30, and Shehu Garba (aka Shagari), 29, were arrested along Keffi – Akwanga road on July 18 in a Peugeot J5 vehicle loaded with 1,608.4 kilograms of cannabis sativa.

He said that the consignment was loaded in Edo state and meant for distribution in Bauchi state.

“Meanwhile, a total of 1,556.1kg of cannabis was recovered from two suspects: Jonathan Nuhu, 54, and Mohammed Abubakar, 18, following their arrest at Wudil area of Kano State on Thursday, July, 20.”

Babafemi said 76kg of the same substance was seized from Yakubu Muhammad, 32, on July 17 along Okene/Lokoja highway in a trailer coming from Port Harcourt to Kano.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Ogun had on July 19 recovered 810 parcels of cannabis weighing 604kg from the house of one Adetunji Abiodun.

“Fresh bid to smuggle into Nigeria, another consignment of Colorado, a synthetic variant of cannabis, through the Tincan Port in Apapa Lagos was again on Friday, July 21 frustrated by NDLEA officers.

“They discovered a total of 323 parcels of the illicit substance weighing 161.5kg concealed in one of the four used vehicles in a container marked MEDU 7519460 coming from Montreal, Canada, during a joint examination of the shipment.

“At least, three suspects are currently in NDLEA custody over the shipment while a bribe of N20 million converted to $22,900 offered to operatives by the importer’s agents has also been recovered and documented as evidence, ” he said.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a drug kingpin, Charles Uwagbale, with 93 wraps of cocaine in Lagos.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the notorious drug kingpin specialized in sponsoring young Nigerians to traffick Class A drugs to Europe, especially Italy.

He said that the suspect was shocked when NDLEA operatives stormed his hotel room and arrested him together with a courier in the Okota area of Lagos, late on Friday.

Babafemi said the drug lord was preparing a recruited courier to swallow 93 pellets of cocaine meant for distribution in Italy.

He said that the recruited courier, Uju Dominic, 35, came from Italy just to ingest the pellets of cocaine on Friday and return to Italy on Saturday.

“True to plan, upon the arrival in Nigeria, the mule was lodged in Golden Heaven Hotel located at Enoma Street off Ago-Palace way, Okota, Isolo, Lagos.

“This is where Uwagbale brought 93 wraps of the Class A drug for him to swallow at about 23:45pm Friday night.

“They were in the process when NDLEA operatives who have been on their trail following credible intelligence stormed their hotel room, arrested both and recovered the drug exhibits with a total weight of 1.427 kilograms, ” he added.

Babafemi also said operatives of the Lagos state Command who made the arrest and seizure, had on Thursday recovered 37.5kg cannabis from the home of a fleeing suspect at Akala in Mushin area of Lagos.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 12 suspects for conveying solid minerals from Kaduna State and Plateau to Port Harcourt in Rivers without relevant permits.

The Commandant of NSCDC in Edo, Mr. Samuel Dan, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja.

According to him, recently, his command has arrested 12 suspects in connection with conveying solid minerals (conza stones, iron ore, and coal), without relevant permits.

Dan added that his command has impounded four trucks.

He said that when the vehicles were stopped, it was discovered that they neither had their waybills nor licenses permitting them to deal in mining.

“So, we saw them as people who were illegally conveying solid minerals or illegally dealing with them for someone.

“For you to deal on solid minerals, you need a permit, the approval of the government, and permission from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals before you are even given a mining site,” the Commandant said.

According to him, mining is a source of revenue to the Nigerian Government and if those engaging in illegal mining and solid minerals are left to continue, they will be defrauding the government.

”So, it is based on this that we impound the vehicles.

“Investigation is ongoing now, and we have given them room to make available their permits and licenses, and if any of them does, then we free them.

“We are taking every necessary step to forestall any planned acts of terrorism, particularly criminal activities aimed at depriving citizens of their property and lives.”

Dan, who called on the Federal Government to regulate the activities of miners, said the government should not fold its arms without controlling the activities of miners.

According to him, it has been established that about 22, 000 weapons of mass destruction are related to mining, construction, and medical.

“So, if we are talking of security in the country, those things have to be controlled.

“Governments have to regulate the activities of people that are in possession of these things.

“The same thing is applicable to this mining, the government expects anybody who deals with solid minerals to possess a license before dealing with it.

“It is good for the government to regulate the activities of miners who involve in explosives, explosive devices, especially now that most of these activities are carried out by foreigners,” he said.

The Lagos State Government has said that the recent demolition of distressed buildings in the Alaba International Market was neither a witch-hunt nor intended to acquire the land but done to protect lives by averting impending disaster.

The General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), Mr Gbolahan Oki, said this at the weekend during an on-the-spot assessment of the demolition site.

Oki visited the market amid heavy downpours alongside his counterpart in the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Mr. Kehinde Osinaike, and the seven-man committee set up by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the aftermath of the demolition exercise.

They were led on the trip by Mr. Oluwole Sotire, the Permanent Secretary of their parent parastatal, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

TSouth-East traders in the market, led by Imo State Governor, Mr. Hope Uzodimma, had met with Governor Sanwo-Olu to put to rest allegations of tribal bias behind the demolition exercise. 

During the on-the-spot assessment, Oki explained that the demolition was simply to enforce building regulations and laws, to prevent building collapse.

According to him, most of the demolished buildings were without permits, and necessary documentation needed by the state government was also ignored.

“All we are after is that the lives of traders and other Nigerians are extremely important to the Lagos State Government.

“I have seen people painting buildings that are dilapidated, that are not good, it is not painting that makes a building new. Our lives are more important,” he said.

Oki urged owners of distressed buildings marked for demolition to remove them within two weeks, to prevent disaster, or else the government would move in to take action.

“My mandate is to remove anything that is dilapidated, that is harmful to the people that even owns it,” he said.

The General Manager said Sanwo-Olu set up the seven-man committee to look into the demolition without causing disaffection among the traders at the Alaba International Market.

He said LASBCA officials were usually prevented from enforcing laws by people who failed to get building plan approvals or those who did an illegal conversion of their properties.

The LASBCA boss waded through flash floods to issue a stop work order on a contractor on site from the Ojo Local Government, for amicable resolution of all issues.

He assured protesters carrying placards that the government had their interests covered with the appointment of an additional 17-man sub-committee compromising their market leadership, for quicker resolution of issues.

Oki explained why distressed buildings were being demolished and the need for some of the traders to do regularisation.

He said this was because of issues of land grabbers selling one land to several people as well as the need to correct haphazard development.

The Police in Ogun State on Saturday confirmed the death of six friends who died after taking alcohol in their friend’s house in Ogbogbo, Ijebu North-East Local Government Area of the state.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, at a drinking joint where the seven friends reportedly gathered to have a nice time.

According to reports, the deceased and the suspect had a serious altercation at the joint but later resolved their issue.

It was further learnt that the suspect offered to donate a bottle of drink to affirm their reconciliation but everyone that had the drink died, except the seventh person that allegedly served the drink from his home.

He was said not to have partook of it.

The source said that some hours after they had dispersed, news filtered into the town that two of them had died, while four others were hospitalised.

It was also gathered that four of the victims died the following day.

The suspect was reported to have fled the area in the wake of the incident.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to newsmen.

She said, “I just confirmed that something like that occurred but the families said they were not pressing charges but prefer to bury their dead.” 

The Enugu State Government has again, urged Enugu residents to disregard Monday’s sit-at-home order by the factional members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and go about their normal businesses.

The government also directed the resumption of normal activities on Monday, whilst threatening to sanction civil servants, schools, markets, and others that observe the illegal IPOB order.

Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the State Government, gave the directive in a statement he signed on Saturday in Enugu.

He said, “The Enugu State Government wishes to remind the good people and residents of the state that the ban on the illegal Monday sit-at-home order remains effective.

“In view of this, civil servants, schools, markets, financial institutions, business premises, and others, are hereby directed to resume normal activities on Monday.”

He added that the state government had restated its resolve to apply sanctions against defaulters of its cancellation of the illegal order.

“Markets that fail to open to customers on Monday shall be shut down indefinitely and shops in the markets that close on Monday shall be sealed and re-allocated to those eager to do business in the state. 

“Government extends the same warning of sanctions against schools, financial institutions, shopping malls, department stores, business premises, and others that may defy its directive,” he said.

Onyia further reiterated that the illegal sit-at-home order was totally at odds with the Igbo spirit of industry, hard work, enterprise, productivity, and creativity.

“Therefore, the general public is urged to go about their normal daily activities as adequate security measures have been put in place to protect lives and property,” he advised. 

A momentous occasion unfolded in Maiduguri at the weekend as a host of distinguished guests gathered to celebrate the wedding Fatiha of Mohammed, the son of Governor Babagana Zulum.

The event, held at the magnificent Maiduguri Central Mosque, was attended by notable figures, creating an atmosphere of joy and festivity.

Among the esteemed attendees was Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside former President Muhammadu Buhari. The revered Nigerian business magnate, Aliko Dangote, also joined the gathering, bringing his influence and affluence to the festivities.

The event’s prominence was further amplified by the presence of several serving and former governors from various states across the nation. Among them were governors from Lagos, Yobe, Kwara, Gombe, Bauchi, Katsina, Ogun, Niger, Jigawa, and Niger, who gathered to extend their felicitations and well wishes to the newlywed couple.

Beyond the political sphere, the occasion was enriched by the attendance of prominent figures from various sectors.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and businessman Mohammed Indimi were among those present, adding a touch of diversity to the guest list. Mele Kyari, the leader of a significant sector in Nigeria’s economy, also graced the event with his esteemed presence.

The wedding fatiha was not only an affair of state importance, but it also drew the attention of influential traditional rulers from within and outside Borno state. The eminent Shehu of Borno led the delegation of revered traditional leaders, bestowing blessings upon the couple and symbolizing the unity of traditional and political significance in the region.

Presiding over the sacred ceremony was the esteemed Chief Imam of Borno, Zanna Laisu, who conducted the wedding fatiha, ensuring that the union commenced on a blessed note.

Former President Buhari took on the honorable role of the groom’s representative (Wali), signifying the unity and respect among Nigeria’s leadership.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja has inaugurated a special operation force code name ”Operation Hakorin Damisa IV” to tackle insecurity in Plateau State.

Lagbaja inaugurated the special operation on Saturday in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau.

The COAS explained that the special operation was aimed at tackling the ongoing security challenges within Mangu and its environs.

He charged troops of the special force to respond to all distress calls and work with other security agencies to end all forms of insecurity in the area.

”Gentlemen, as your 23rd COAS I address you today and charge all of you deployed for this special operation to end the conflicts in Mangu and the environs.

”You must work with other security agencies and because you are a people’s army, you must respond to all distress calls

”You must also give feedback to the people at all times in order to win the confidence of the public.”

The COAS also charged the troops to be professional and guided by the rules of engagement during the operation.

He warned that any soldier found wanting would not be spared.

”You must be fair and just to all; you should be soldiers for all, always check the books and operate by the books,” he added.

Lagbaja, who promised to address the challenges of troops on war fronts, said his leadership was determined to restore peace and security to all troubled areas in the country.

He called on residents of Mangu to cooperate with the military and other security agencies by providing timely information for a prompt response.

The COAS was earlier briefed on the security situation in the area by Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, the Commander of Operation Safe Haven and General Officer Commanding 3 Division, Nigeria Army.

He also met with religious and community leaders, youth and women groups, and officials of the local authority in Mangu.

Lagbaja appealed to the stakeholders to preach peace at all times, stressing that peace and security were key to national development.