Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has expressed the appreciation of officers and men of the anti-narcotic agency to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continuous support for the ongoing efforts to curb the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
Marwa stated this in response to questions from journalists while inspecting facilities at the NDLEA barracks, which is expected to be commissioned soon in Yola Adamawa State.
This was according to a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, on Friday.
Marwa said, “We thank God for the project, we appreciate the continuity in governance. President Buhari appreciated the issues surrounding the security and welfare of staff. They seize, arrest, prosecute, and deal with the criminals, yet the criminals come back to them because they live among them. But now we have the barracks for our personnel. President Buhari approved it and commenced it, and now President Tinubu has continued with the same zeal and drive, so we appreciate this element of concern towards the NDLEA.
He commended the standard and quality of work being done at the barracks.
“Consultants, contractors have done very well, good quality, well monitored, best materials and design as you can see, and we are 95% done. We hope that by the grace of Allah, before the middle of this year, we’ll fully launch this first phase.
“We are targeting initially the six geopolitical zones to have a barrack each, for equity and balance, and in the succeeding years, we hope the succeeding government will continue in all the 36 state commands, FCT, and Special Area commands.
“Our officers are all excited and willing to do more because this is a testament to the good work that the officers have been doing that yielded this project and they are willing to do even more,” he said.
In the process scores of students reportedly sustained varying degrees of injury during unrest.
NDLEA operatives and police, it was gathered had visited the school community to raid and arrest students. The raid was met with resistance by some students who blocked the road leading to the community.
Some viral videos were sighted on Thursday, and the students were seen running for safety while gunshots were heard in the background.
It was reported that the EFCC operatives had on Wednesday had a sting operation in the school community where 48 students and two others were arrested, while the NDLEA and police officers visited on Thursday to also arrest some of the students.
“Yesterday, EFCC raided the school. Today NDLEA and police came and arrested boys (students) anyhow”, a source in the school said.
Also, a tweet from an X user (@babyygirlfl0) read, “EFCC came to raid in the middle of the night, two days ago, arrested over 30 students, NDLEA came in today to do the same, students tried to stop them, they joined forces with the police and started throwing teargas at students, even started shooting a gun, I saw with my own eyes.
“One student is dead, another is fighting for her life! Helppppp! Tag all the handles that can help please! The network here is really bad I’m so scared mannn. Gunshots and Teargas everywhere.”
Another user with the handle @thatgoodbae posted, “This school is a mess mahn!! I don tire!! Because how in God’s name is EFCC supposed to shoot at a student’s car??? Come to raid at 2 am??? Taking students that have exams in the morning???”
The students, reportedly, stormed the school gate to protest the act and arrest their colleagues.
KWASU Registrar, Dr. Kikelomo W. Sallee confirmed the incident.
She, however, said that peace had been restored to the area.
“Following the unrest that broke out this evening in Malete, the Management of Kwara State University wishes to inform all students and staff of KWASU that peace has been restored to the Malete community.
“We, therefore, urge all to remain calm and lawful.
“We also wish to state that contrary to reports on social media, no one was shot, and no life was lost in the unrest.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a large consignment of Loud, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, concealed in giant loudspeakers inside in a consolidated cargo imported from New York, United States of America.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
Babafemi said when the giant wooden boxes disguised as sound speakers seized by NDLEA officers at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport were opened, the sound boxes were stuffed with 60 bags of the expensive but highly sought-after psychoactive substance, weighing 33.5 kilograms.
Babafemi said three suspects: a freight agent, Akeem Afeez; logistics company manager, Babalola Ayodeji Gboyega and the receiver of the consignment, Taiwo Olusegun Anuoluwapo, have been arrested in follow-up operations between Thursday 15 and Friday 16 February.
The agency’s spokesman said while Afeez was arrested at the airport, Gboyega was nabbed at his office on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, and Taiwo was traced to his residence at 13, Ayo Babatunde Crescent, Lekki Phase1, Lagos, where he was apprehended on Friday.
Babafemi also said in Abia State, a joint operation between the NDLEA and men of the State Homeland Security at 23, Arochukwu Street, Umuahia around 11pm on February 14, led to the arrest of a female lawyer, Adaobi Nweke, 36.
Also arrested were Nweke’s boyfriend, Emeka Nkemefola, 36; her mother, Mrs. Ngozi Nweke, 65; the family’s herbalist, Dike Okpara, 43; a Chukwudi Abel, 33, member of the family; Amarachi Paul, 18, another member of the family and their 22-year-old salesgirl, Blessing Jonathan, the statement indicated.
According to NDLEA, investigations revealed that members of the family had long been in the illicit drug business passed on to them by their late father, Jonathan Nweke.
Recovered from them at the time of arrest, Babafemi said, were various quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Loud, Cannabis Sativa and precursor chemical with a total weight of 1.670kg as well as N578,400 monetary exhibit.
He also disclosed that attempt by a 25-year-old Uber driver, Joshua Henry, to deliver a consignment of 26.2grams of Loud picked in Abuja to a customer in Keffi, Nasarawa State on February 12, was thwarted by NDLEA operatives who intercepted him.
“In the same vein, 54-year-old Dada Adedara was on Wednesday 14th February arrested at Dan Bare area of Kano State with 468 blocks of cannabis weighing 246.4kg. The same day, operatives in Ogun state arrested the duo of Kafayat Junaid and Sakirat Osoanu with 13kg cannabis sativa.
“In Kogi state, a suspect, Charles Chike, 45, was arrested by NDLEA operatives in a hotel in Lokoja on Friday with 290 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 116kg.
“The exhibit was concealed in the boot of a blue Honda Accord car marked Abuja ABC853SL, which took off from Ekiti State enroute Abuja. Not less than 227kg of the same substance was recovered from Atoshi camp, Emure-Ile, Owo LGA, Ondo State, while two suspects: John Jonathan and Emmanuel Alex were arrested.
“Operatives in Edo state acting on intelligence on Wednesday, February 14, intercepted a consignment of methamphetamine coming from Onitsha, Anambra State to Lagos, in a Toyota Sienna bus marked Anambra NZM347ZL. The meth consignment weighing 0.966kg was concealed inside a cassava made local food item, African salad popularly called “Abacha”.
“The driver of the vehicle, Afamefuna Ibeawuchi Kingsley, 42, was arrested in connection with the seizure. On the same day, a team of NDLEA officers also intercepted a Peugeot 406 space wagon car driven by Akhere Fardam, 47, along Uromi road in Esan Northeast LGA. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 865 bottles of codeine; 2,600 pills of tramadol and 600 tabs of swinol and rohypnol.
“In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives conducted raid operations in Kubwa area of the FCT during which they arrested Tawa Wasiu, 47, and Iliya Ibrahim, 18, with 10.5kg cannabis, 13.5 grams of diazepam and 2.9 grams of tramadol tablets. Another suspect, Yaro Bala, 27, was arrested on Thursday 15th Feb. with 50.5kg cannabis during a stop and search operation along Abaji/Abuja highway on his way from Auchi Edo state to Paiko, Niger State…” the agency stated.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a large consignment of Loud, a synthetic strong strain of cannabis, concealed in giant loudspeakers inside in a consolidated cargo imported from New York, United States of America.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
Babafemi said when the giant wooden boxes disguised as sound speakers seized by NDLEA officers at the NAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport, were opened, the sound boxes were stuffed with 60 bags of the expensive but highly sought-after psychoactive substance, Loud, weighing 33.5 kilograms.
Babafemi said three suspects: a freight agent Akeem Afeez; logistics company manager Babalola Ayodeji Gboyega and the receiver of the consignment Taiwo Olusegun Anuoluwapo have been arrested in follow-up operations between Thursday 15th and Friday 16th February 2024.
The Agency’s Spokesman said while Afeez was arrested at the airport, Gboyega was nabbed at his office on Allen Avenue Ikeja and Taiwo was traced to his residence at 13 Ayo Babatunde Crescent, Lekki Phase1, Lagos, where he was arrested on Friday.
Babafemi also said in Abia State, a joint raid operation between the NDLEA and men of the State Homeland Security at 23 Arochukwu Street, Umuahia around 11pm on Wednesday 14th February led to the arrest of a female lawyer, Adaobi Nweke, 36.
Also arrested were Nweke’s boyfriend, Emeka Nkemefola, 36; her mother, Mrs. Ngozi Nweke, 65; Dike Okpara, 43, who is herbalist to the family; Chukwudi Abel, 33, member of the family; Amarachi Paul, 18, another member of the family and their 22-year-old salesgirl, Blessing Jonathan, the statement indicated.
According to the statement, investigations revealed that members of the family had long been in the illicit drug business passed on to them by their now late father, Jonathan Nweke.
Babafemi said recovered from them as at the time of their arrest include various quantities of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Loud, Cannabis Sativa and precursor chemical with a total weight of 1.670kg as well as N578,400 monetary exhibit.
He also disclosed that attempt by a 25-year-old Uber driver, Joshua Henry to deliver a consignment of 26.2grams of Loud picked in Abuja to a customer in Keffi, Nasarawa State on Monday 12th February was thwarted by NDLEA operatives who intercepted him.
The statement reads, “In the same vein, 54-year-old Dada Adedara was on Wednesday 14th Feb arrested at Dan Bare area of Kano State with 468 blocks of cannabis weighing 246.4kg. Same day, operatives in Ogun state arrested the duo of Kafayat Junaid and Sakirat Osoanu with 13kg cannabis sativa.
“In Kogi state, a suspect, Charles Chike, 45, was arrested by NDLEA operatives in a hotel in Lokoja on Friday 16th Feb. with 290 blocks of compressed cannabis weighing 116kg.
“The exhibit was concealed in the boot of a blue Honda Accord car marked Abuja ABC 853 SL, which took off from Ekiti state enroute Abuja. Not less than 227kg of same substance was recovered from Atoshi camp, Emure -Ile, Owo LGA, Ondo State, while two suspects: John Jonathan and Emmanuel Alex were arrested.
“Operatives in Edo state acting on intelligence on Wednesday 14th Feb. intercepted a consignment of methamphetamine coming from Onitsha, Anambra state to Lagos, in a Toyota Sienna bus marked Anambra NZM 347 ZL. The meth consignment weighing 0.966kg was concealed inside a cassava made local food item, African salad popularly called “Abacha”.
“The driver of the vehicle, Afamefuna Ibeawuchi Kingsley, 42, was arrested in connection with the seizure. On the same day, a team of NDLEA officers also intercepted a Peugeot 406 space wagon car driven by Akhere Fardam, 47, along Uromi road in Esan Northeast LGA. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 865 bottles of codeine; 2,600 pills of tramadol and 600 tabs of swinol and rohypnol.
“In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives conducted raid operations in Kubwa area of the FCT during which they arrested Tawa Wasiu, 47, and Iliya Ibrahim, 18, with 10.5kg cannabis, 13.5 grams of diazepam and 2.9 grams of tramadol tablets. Another suspect, Yaro Bala, 27, was arrested on Thursday 15th Feb. with 50.5kg cannabis during a stop and search operation along Abaji/Abuja highway on his way from Auchi Edo state to Paiko, Niger State.
“With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of St. Theresa’s College Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Oyo state; students and staff of Banma Girls Day Secondary School, Bida, Niger state; students of Dame High School, Abatete, Anambra state; students of Government Day Secondary School, Tudun Saibu, Soba LGA, Kaduna state; students of Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Obinagu, Udi LGA, Enugu state and students of Government Girls Secondary School, Garo, Kano state.
“While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Abia, Nasarawa, Edo, Kogi, Kano, Ogun, Ondo and FCT Commands of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures thus creating a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.”
Abia State government in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia Command has arrested a female lawyer, identified as Adaobi Nweke, who deals in hard drugs in the state.
Nweke, whose father was a notorious drug baron, was arrested along with other two males and three female suspects in a sting operation carried out by the officials of the NDLEA and officials of the state’s Homeland Security.
She was arrested in her father’s house located at Arochukwu Street by Calabar road, in Umuahia, the state capital.
It was gathered that drugs worth 1.217 kg were seized as well as ₦500,000 cash during the raid.
Our correspondent reports that Arochukwu Street, which has served as safe haven for criminals who perpetuate various criminal activities, was a no-go zone between the hours of 7pm to 6am, with many victims being dispossessed of their valuables by criminal gangs.
Addressing journalists on the operation, the Deputy Governor, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu, thanked the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Homeland Security, Mr. Chukwunenye Alajemba and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for the successful operation.
Emetu said the Abia State government is committed to flushing out all forms of criminality, describing drugs as the bedrock of all criminal activities.
According to him, Abia is not a safe haven for criminals and warned all drug kingpins and other criminals in the State to leave the State or face arrests.
He appreciated the NDLEA for its support and disclosed that the war against drugs in the State is still ongoing and advised those peddling drugs to desist forthwith.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma and the State Commander NDLEA, Adelanwa Amos Adetunsi were present at the press briefing.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it has arrested a 42-year-old man, Ahmad Mohammed, taking thousands of concealed opioid pills to insurgents’ enclave in the Banki area of Borno State.
The agency said Mohammed was one of 24 suspected drug traffickers and dealers arrested in various interdiction efforts in eight states.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, revealed this in a statement yesterday, saying a six-month-old-pregnant lady, a mother of three children and three other women were also arrested.
Babafemi said operatives seized over 7,609 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs.
He said: “In Borno state, a 42-year-old suspected supplier of illicit drugs to insurgents in Banki, a border region between Nigeria and Cameroon, Ahmad Mohammed, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday 9th February at Bama checkpoint.
“When his luggage was searched 20,000 capsules of tramadol were recovered from him while on his way to deliver the opioid consignment in the border town.
“A six-month pregnant woman, Amarachi Akaolisa, 25, and another lady, Ifeoma Iheanyi, 21, were among six suspects arrested for dealing in illicit substances in Oraifite and Umuni-Evili, Aguleri, Anambra State.
“Others nabbed include: Okwuchukwu Chukwuka; Onyedika Ngwu; Ekene Hyginus and Nzomiwu Ikechukwu. Recovered from them were over six kilograms of cannabis, tramadol, diazepam and codeine syrup in raids conducted by NDLEA operatives between Tuesday 6th and Thursday 8th February in parts of the state.
“In Lagos, two ladies: Boluwatife Adebayo and Omolade Fola Adebayo were among suspects arrested during raids in parts of the state on Saturday 10th February. While Ogah Sunday Adole and Boluwatife Adebayo were arrested at Agidingbi, Ikeja, in connection with 220grams of cannabis, 10.6 litres of codeine syrup, and other psychotropic substances; Omolade Fola Adebayo was nabbed at Ijesha with various quantities of cannabis, codeine syrup, rohypnol and molly.”
Babafemi said the bulk of the seizures was made in Nasarawa state where NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Sunday 4th February intercepted a truck marked Lagos JJJ64YC.
He said the vehicle was conveying 367 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 4,037 kilograms from Akure, Ondo state to be delivered at the Shabu area of Lafia.
He said that three suspects- Shuaibu Yahaya Liman, 35; Monday Audu, 33, and Linus Samuel, 42- were arrested in connection with the seizure.
“The following day Monday 5th February, operatives in Abuja, FCT arrested the duo of Jibrin Shuaibu, 23, and Prosper Innih, 17, with 169 bags and 80 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 1,961.5kgs concealed in a truck with registration number Ogun WDE557XC.
“The truck was intercepted during a stop and search operation along Abaji-Abuja highway on their way from Uzeba to Dei-Dei, FCT…” Babafemi said.
“In another operation by NDLEA operatives in Abuja on Tuesday 6th February, a suspect, Abdulhameed Dauda, 27, was arrested with 89kgs of the same psychoactive substance loaded into his truck in Owo, Ondo state to be delivered at Gwagwalada in FCT.
“On the same day, operatives also intercepted another driver, Hassan Ade, 30, transporting 696.5kgs of the same substance loaded in Idoani, Ondo state to be delivered at Gwagwalada and Dei-Dei in FCT.
“A follow up operation led to the arrest of a mother of three children, Mrs. Joy Chukwuka, 42, linked with the consignment.
“In Ondo state, apart from the seizure of 633.5kgs of cannabis at Eleyere, Ogbese in Akure North LGA, NDLEA operatives also recovered 59 jumbo bags of same substance loaded in a truck marked GAD287XA heading to Northern part of the country.
“Detergents were sprayed on the cannabis bags ostensibly to suppress the odour of the psychoactive weed, while 192 packs of table water were loaded on top to conceal the illicit consignment,” the statement read.
Babafemi said that not less than 187kgs of same substance were seized by operatives at Sapele road, Benin, Edo state while in Kano, NDLEA officers on Monday, February 5, arrested 58-year-old Bashir Attahir in Bachirawa area of the state with 216,000 pills of tramadol 250mg.
He said another suspect, Ejike Moses Nmenme, 47, was nabbed on February 6, with 25,190 capsules of tramadol and different quantities of rohypnol and codeine syrup along Emir Road, Sabon Gari area of the city while the duo of Yusuf Abdullahi Musa, 35, and Yusuf Musa, 28, were nabbed at Gadar Tamburawa, with 1,000 ampoules of tramadol injection on Thursday 8th February.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a 42-year-old man, Ahmad Mohammed, for taking thousands of concealed opioid pills to insurgents’ enclave in the Banki area of Borno state.
The Agency said the suspect was one of 24 suspected drug traffickers and dealers including those arrested in various interdiction efforts in eight states.
The Director, of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, February 11, also said the arrested suspects include a six-month-old-pregnant lady, a mother of three children, and three other women.
Babafemi said operatives seized over 7,609 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs.
The statement reads: “In Borno state, a 42-year-old suspected supplier of illicit drugs to insurgents in Banki, a border region between Nigeria and Cameroon, Ahmad Mohammed was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday 9th February at Bama checkpoint. When his luggage was searched 20,000 capsules of tramadol were recovered from him while on his way to deliver the opioid consignment in the border town.
“A six-month pregnant woman, Amarachi Akaolisa, 25, and another lady, Ifeoma Iheanyi, 21, were among six suspects arrested for dealing in illicit substances in Oraifite and Umuni-Evili, Aguleri, Anambra state.
“Others nabbed include Okwuchukwu Chukwuka; Onyedika Ngwu; Ekene Hyginus and Nzomiwu Ikechukwu. Recovered from them were over 6 kilograms of cannabis, tramadol, diazepam, and codeine syrup in raids conducted by NDLEA operatives between Tuesday 6th and Thursday 8th Feb in parts of the state.
“In Lagos, two ladies: Boluwatife Adebayo and Omolade Fola Adebayo were among suspects arrested during raids in parts of the state on Saturday 10th February. While Ogah Sunday Adole and Boluwatife Adebayo were arrested at Agidingbi, Ikeja, in connection with 220grams of cannabis, 10.6 litres of codeine syrup, and other psychotropic substances, Omolade Fola Adebayo was nabbed at Ijesha with various quantities of cannabis, codeine syrup, rohypnol and molly.”
Babafemi said the bulk of the seizures was made in Nasarawa state where NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence on Sunday 4th February intercepted a truck marked Lagos JJJ 64 YC.
He said the vehicle was conveying 367 jumbo bags of cannabis sativa weighing 4,037 kilograms from Akure, Ondo state to be delivered at the Shabu area of Lafia, the state capital.
He added that three suspects: Shuaibu Yahaya Liman, 35; Monday Audu, 33, and Linus Samuel, 42 were arrested in connection with the seizure.
“The following day Monday 5th February, operatives in Abuja, FCT arrested the duo of Jibrin Shuaibu, 23, and Prosper Innih, 17, with 169 bags and 80 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 1,961.5kgs concealed in a truck with registration number Ogun WDE 557 XC.
“The truck was intercepted during a stop and search operation along the Abaji – Abuja highway on their way from Uzeba to Dei-Dei, FCT.
“In another operation by NDLEA operatives in Abuja on Tuesday 6th February, a suspect, Abdulhameed Dauda, 27, was arrested with 89kgs of the same psychoactive substance loaded into his truck in Owo, Ondo state to be delivered at Gwagwalada in FCT.
“On the same day, operatives also intercepted another driver, Hassan Ade, 30, transporting 696.5kgs of the same substance loaded in Idoani, Ondo state to be delivered at Gwagwalada and Dei-Dei in FCT.
“A follow-up operation led to the arrest of a mother of three children, Mrs. Joy Chukwuka, 42, linked with the consignment.
“In Ondo state, apart from the seizure of 633.5kgs of cannabis at Eleyere, Ogbese in Akure North LGA, NDLEA operatives also recovered 59 jumbo bags of same substance loaded in a truck marked GAD 287 XA heading to Northern part of the country.
“Detergents were sprayed on the cannabis bags ostensibly to suppress the odour of the psychoactive weed, while 192 packs of table water were loaded on top to conceal the illicit consignment.”
Babafemi added that not less than 187kgs of the same substance were seized by operatives at Sapele road, Benin, Edo state while in Kano, NDLEA officers on Monday 5th February arrested 58-year-old Bashir Attahir in Bachirawa area of the state with 216,000 pills of tramadol 250mg.
He said another suspect, Ejike Moses Nmenme, 47, was nabbed the following day Tuesday 6th Feb with 25,190 capsules of tramadol and different quantities of rohypnol and codeine syrup along Emir road, Sabon Gari area of the city while the duo of Yusuf Abdullahi Musa, 35, and Yusuf Musa, 28, were nabbed at Gadar Tamburawa, with 1,000 ampoules of tramadol injection on Thursday 8th February.
The Agency’s Spokesman said the Commands across the country balanced their drug supply reduction operations with War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, worship centres, and communities.
“Some of these include WADA sensitisation lecture on Drug Use and Mental Health for students and staff of Oba Akinbiyi High School, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo state; Owode Senior Secondary School, Owode Yewa, Ogun state; Federal Science and Technical College, Awka, Anambra state; Yusad Secondary School, Gashua, Yobe state; and African Church Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun state as well as WADA advocacy visit to HRM Ochi’Idoma, Agaba Idu, Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo Obagaji John at his palace in Otukpo, Benue state and the Emir of Rano, HRH Amb. Muhammed Kabiru Inuwa in Kano state,” he said.
While commending the efforts of the Nasarawa, FCT, Ondo, Kano, Borno, Edo, Anambra, and Lagos Commands of the Agency for jobs well done in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across the country to always strive to surpass past feats in their drug supply and drug demand reduction efforts.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has tasked zonal commanders, state commanders, and area commanders of the agency to go all out and smoke out drug barons still in hiding.
Marwa also urged the commanders to dismantle their cartels as part of ongoing efforts to cut off drug supply to elements involved in criminalities across the country.
He gave the charge in his meeting with directors and all commanding officers of the agency at its national headquarters in Abuja.
He commended them for the unprecedented successes achieved so far and tasked them not to rest on their oars.
Marwa said: “No effort must be spared to remove illicit drug equation from the security challenges facing the country.
“Within the limit of our resources, we have been able to push boundaries. The statistics of our operations, empirical facts from the field, the general anti-illicit drug climate we have built, and the rapport between us and our domestic and international partners, all speak volumes about how we are faring, especially against the backdrop of where we are coming from, of what the situation used to be a few years ago.
“Commendations apart, we also cannot afford not to tell ourselves the plain truth; we still have a long way to go. Hence commanders, officers and men of NDLEA can’t afford to rest on their oars. Yes, we have kept the flag of performance flying, but there’s still room for improvement. There is still much to do. And we cannot afford to be complacent now as we have committed to a lot of ongoing efforts to improve our operational capabilities.
“We are constantly engaging stakeholders within and outside the country to support and help optimise our capabilities. So, if anything, our performance should justify these ongoing efforts. We need to remind ourselves that to achieve our mandate, professionalism and discipline must be maintained at all times and in all our operations.
“We’re working with relevant authorities for improved funding so that we can comprehensively and holistically play our role as part and parcel of the solution to the security challenges facing the nation because if we can cut the access to and availability of drugs to the criminals, we would have effectively tampered with their nefarious activities and so we’re going to plead for enhanced funding to do more things in support of the fight against insecurity and I trust that the President will give us a listening ear because he’s interested in the progress of the NDLEA.
He added: “This year, we want to raise the bar of our performance and this calls for commanders who are up to the task to be up and doing on the job. We must clean our streets and communities of illicit substances. We all are witnesses to the upsurge in the cases of kidnapping and such vices, this means NDLEA must remain upstanding.
“For those who have been watching and listening, recently, there is another demand by kidnappers and bandits aside money, which is drugs. In that sense, it means NDLEA is working because they didn’t ask for it before, meaning that they’re no longer as available as they used to be and the prices of those available have gone beyond their reach.”
He charged the commanders to always ensure that the corporate integrity of the Agency is always protected in all they do.
“Therefore, every command must shun any act capable of bringing into disrepute the hard-earned reputation of NDLEA. Where inappropriate actions occur, the management certainly will not overlook it. There will be penalties, just as there are rewards for good conduct, hard work and results. Now, the onus is on every commander to ensure the protection of our corporate integrity.”
He assured that he remains committed to staff welfare including a conducive work environment, allowances, remuneration and entitlements, and the basic welfare package.
He asked the commanders to replicate such in their various Commands. He warned that Commanders will have to justify their retention in Command positions with their performance.
Marwa stated: “We have applied meritocracy to the rank and file; it is also fair to apply the same standard to the leadership. The implication for commanders is that your retention in command positions will henceforth be measured by your performance, which will be reviewed every quarter.
“In the new NDLEA, there is no room for laggards, and there are no excuses for laxity. Where there is a clear deficit of leadership, at zonal, state or area command, the agency will not hesitate to review and make a change of leadership, if necessary. This year, we want to raise the bar of our performance and that calls for having commanders who are up to the task.
“Our jobs are clearly defined: We must clean our streets and communities of illicit substances. Therefore, go and perform and let’s see greater results in the weeks ahead. And I assure you that at any time, you need backup, we are here to provide the necessary reinforcement. On this note, I want to implore commanders to let us keep our eyes on the ball. Let’s be prepared to work hard in 2024 and achieve unprecedented goals.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted 14, 524.8 kilogrammes of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana loaded in two trucks and a J5 bus.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, February 4, said the three vehicles conveying jumbo bags of the psychoactive substance were trailed and intercepted at Ojuelegba area of Lagos in the early hours of Sunday 28th January 2024.
Babafemi said in the process of blocking the vehicles, two of the drivers jumped off while still in motion while the third driver, 66-year-old Nasiru Ojomu, who works with wanted Akala, Mushin-based drug baron, Suleiman Jimoh (alias Olowo Idi Ogede, also known as Temo) was arrested.
Babafemi said in the last three years, NDLEA operatives have seized several shipments of the same psychoactive substance worth billions of naira linked to Temo.
He said the wanted drug lord has since gone into hiding while the Agency continues a manhunt for him.
The spokesman said in the same vein, NDLEA operatives on routine patrol around a warehouse sealed at Church Street, Idumota, Lagos by the Agency over an ongoing investigation on Thursday 1st February arrested three suspects.
According to the statement, the suspects Joseph Joshua; Muhammed Adamu and Balarabe Musa burgled the store and loaded 546,700 pills of tramadol and other opioids into a waiting yellow bus marked BDG 447 XD and an unregistered Suzuki minibus.
Babafemi also said a male deaf and dumb suspect dealing in illicit substances was arrested at the Samaru area of Zaria, Kaduna state.
At the time of his arrest, 150 grams of cannabis were recovered from him while selling the psychoactive substance, the statement disclosed.
The statement reads: “Another suspect, Ibrahim Sani, 56, was also arrested in possession of 51 kilograms of same substance at Tirkaniya area of the state.
“Operatives in Abuja on Wednesday 31st January arrested Emmanuel Paul with 43.5kg cannabis concealed in used shoes loaded in a trailer coming from Ogbese, Ondo state to be delivered at Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. In Katsina state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Dutsinma – Katsina road on Friday 2nd February apprehended a suspect, Murtala Isah, 35, with a total of 37,600 pills of tramadol and other opioids recovered from him.
“In Kogi state, operatives on Wednesday 31st January destroyed 833.32 kilograms of cannabis sativa on a two-acre of farmland at Iluke community, Kabba- Bunu LGA while the owner, Samuel Atonila, 49, was equally arrested.
“On the same day, operatives in Nasarawa also arrested three suspects: Muhammed Musa, Bilyaminu Musa and Sadiya Ya’u with the same psychoactive substance weighing 24.4kg at Uke, Karu local government area of the state, while no less than 258 kilograms of same substance were recovered from a bush store around Ikare bypass, Owo, Ondo state.
“In the same vein, NDLEA Commands across the 36 states and the FCT continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation lectures in schools, communities, workplaces and others in the past week. Some of these include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and staff of Gombe State College of Education and Legal Studies, Nafada; parents, students, and teachers of Kemta comprehensive high school, Olugbo, Odeda LGA, Ogun state; students of Government Day Science Technical School, Babura, Jigawa state; students and staff of Government science school, Mokwa, Niger state; students of Ansarudeen secondary school, Iludun, Osun state; students of St David’s Anglican Basic School, Ogbomoso, Oyo state; students of Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Anguwar Danya, Wudil LGA, Kano state; traders at Ogbo-Olu timber market, Anambra state and commercial motorcyclists in Oko Afo, Olorunda LCDA, Badagry, Lagos state, among others.
“Commending the arrests and seizures of the past week by officers and men of the Lagos, Kaduna, Ondo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Kogi and FCT Commands, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to continue to remain vigilant and double their efforts on both drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction simultaneously.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a Brazil returnee, Udechukwu Ekene Theophilus, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Lagos, for ingesting 60 big wra ps of cocaine.
The suspect was arrested during inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the D-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport on Sunday, January 21.
He initially refused to undergo body scan, raising health concerns in a desperate bid to evade arrest, a statement by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi said yesterday.
“When he was however offered other options, he accepted to be placed on excretion observation and shortly after he was ushered into NDLEA observatory, he excreted the first set of cocaine pellets, after which he expelled a total of 60 wraps of the class A drug weighing 1.279 kilograms in five excretions.
“In his statement, Udechukwu claimed he ingested the consignment in Brazil and was to discharge everything at the airport in Addis Ababa but could only excrete 15 pellets which he handed over to another member of his syndicate before his connecting flight to Nigeria was c alled,” the statement read.
The agency, Babafemi said, also declared an ex-beauty queen, Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye, wanted for dealing in illicit drugs.
The suspect, who was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of Queen Christmas Foundation, was declared wanted after she escaped from operatives from her Lekki residence.
Babafemi said a search of her residence led to the recovery of 606 grams of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale, large quantities of drugs packing plastics, a black RAV4 SUV marked Lagos KSF872GQ, and her picture frame among others.
He said the suspect, also known as Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas, “has been declared wanted by the agency after she escaped from her Lekki, Lagos residence when NDLEA operatives raided her apartment at Oral estate, Lekki on Wednesday 24th January following credible intelligence she deals in illicit substances.”
Babafemi said two members of an international drug trafficking syndicate, Sunday Michael Owoborode, 52, and Valentine Anene were arrested on Thursday January 25, at Edu Orita, Ogun State, where Valentine was being prepared to travel with some drugs to Qatar same day onboard a Qatar airline flight from Lagos.
“At the time of their arrest, 1.8kg cannabis, electronic weighing scale and other illicit substances were found on them. In another interdiction operation by operatives in Lagos, a 50-year-old Sunday Adediran, was arrested on Wednesday 24th January with 20kg cannabis sativa found in one of the rooms in his house at Mushin Olosha,” Babafemi said.
Operatives at the Lagos Airport, Babafemi said, recovered a total of 12 cartons of tramadol 225mg containing 599,900 pills weighing 385.40kg from an overstayed cargo at the SAHCO import shed after a joint examination with other agencies on January 23.
