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. Recovers over 1.3 million pills of opioids, 6,000kg skunk; nabs two teenagers with AK-47 rifles, pistol and ammunition in sweeps across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Abuja, Gombe, Imo and Ondo

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted over 1.3 million pills of tramadol and other opioids as well as 6,000 kilograms of potent strains of cannabis with a combined street value of more than N3.4 billion in a string of major operational breakthroughs across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT.

Top on the line up of successful operations was the interception of 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis with a gross weight of 603.75 kilograms, valued at One Billion Eight Hundred and Eleven Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,811,250,000), and the arrest of a trafficker who impersonates as a senior police officer to evade scrutiny at checkpoints while ferrying drugs across state lines.

The 49-year-old fake police officer Innocent Ekpe was arrested on Wednesday 16th September 2026 by NDLEA operatives along the Benin-Onitsha expressway in Asaba, Delta state with 292.48 kilograms of skunk hidden in his silver Toyota Sienna bus. Investigation established that Ekpe had long paraded himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged ID card to escape scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit consignments. An accomplice, 39-year-old Nduka Joseph, was arrested along with him.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence stormed a location on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai, who used his auto-repair workshop as a front for storing illicit drugs. Officers recovered 48 kilograms of Canadian Loud and 152 grams of methamphetamine, along with a metal box used to store the illicit substances.

At the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, and arrived on 12th September was placed under intensive monitoring by NDLEA operatives based on processed intelligence. The shipment was eventually subjected to a full joint physical examination with Customs and other security agencies on Wednesday 16th September. The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75 kilograms, concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded within two Toyota Sienna vehicles in the container.

In Niger State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway at Chachi, Tafa LGA, on Tuesday 15th September arrested three young suspects: Bashir Usman (20), Abubakar Nuhu (18) and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab (18) with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with magazine, and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.

Two suspects: Aminu Isyaku (23) and Jamilu Habibu (25) were on Friday 18th September arrested by NDLEA officers along Abaji-Abuja highway. Over 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets/capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets concealed in eight sacks en route from Onitsha, Anambra state to Mararaba, Nasarawa state, were recovered from them.

In Lagos, a suspect Onyeka Ofor was arrested on Friday 18th September at his residence in Aguda, Surulere with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg , while seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg were intercepted at a logistics company with a suspect Luke Ugokwe taken into custody. In another operation in Lagos, Ibrahim Hudu (43) was arrested at Apongbo with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas on Thursday 17th September.

A total of 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from two suspects: Sabi’u Umar (27) and Hassana Muhammad (19) who were arrested at Barunde area and Gombe main market respectively in Gombe state on Friday 18th September.

A suspect Ifesinachi Godwin (25) was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha road, Imo state with 43.85kg of skunk on Friday 18th September, while four suspects: Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday, were nabbed during raid and destruction of 5,000 kilograms of skunk on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu forest, Ondo state on Tuesday 15th September. No less than 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered from the location for the prosecution of the suspects.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of St. Ferdinand School, Ogbomoso, Oyo; Unizik Secondary School, Awka, Anambra; Scholars Nursery and Primary School, Epe, Lagos, and
Government Technical Training School, Jalingo, Taraba state, while the Delta Ports Command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Majesty, King Couple Mackson Oromoni Mobene III, Pere Ama-Okosu of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Delta state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of Lagos, Tincan, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and FCT Commands for their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach to the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the current balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

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The Arewa Youth Council (AYC) has praised the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, following the commissioning of Nigeria’s first Smart Self-Service Filling Station in Abuja.

The youth body also welcomed the clear plan to establish between 50 and 70 similar modern energy hubs across the country within the next six months.

In a statementAmbassador Sidi Sani and Publicity Secretary Mallam Bilal Usman, the Council described the project as a progressive transformation of the nation’s downstream petroleum retail sector.

It noted that traditional filling stations are being converted into integrated energy and mobility hubs that combine fuel dispensing with digital and multi-energy services.

“This initiative marks a significant and progressive transformation of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum retail sector,” the Council stated.

“By converting traditional filling stations into integrated energy and mobility hubs, NNPC Limited has introduced self-service fuel dispensing through a mobile application, digital payment systems, electric vehicle charging points, liquefied petroleum gas facilities, planned compressed natural gas services, solar-powered operations, and complementary customer amenities.

“The model prioritises convenience, accuracy, transparency, and round-the-clock accessibility,” the statement added.

“For Nigeria, the Smart Station programme represents a decisive shift toward technology-enabled energy retailing.”

The Arewa Youth Council emphasised that the programme strengthens national energy security while modernising service delivery.

It said the initiative positions the country to meet changing consumer demands and prepare for a multi-energy future that includes petrol, diesel, LPG, CNG, and electricity.

Direct benefits for citizens were highlighted as practical and immediate. Motorists, commercial transporters, and households stand to gain from shorter queues, greater control over transactions, and more reliable product delivery, according to the Council.

“Motorists, commercial transporters, and households will experience reduced waiting times, greater control over transactions, and improved reliability in product delivery,” the statement declared.

“Digital self-service options minimise disputes over quantity and enhance accountability.

“The inclusion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure anticipates the gradual expansion of cleaner mobility options, while solar power reduces operational dependence on the national grid,” it continued.

“These stations will deliver a more efficient, modern, and dignified retail experience for ordinary Nigerians.”

At the national level, the Council observed that the programme carries strategic value by supporting the expansion and modernisation of NNPC Limited’s retail network of about 900 outlets.

The transformation is expected to deepen market presence, create new value chains, and generate opportunities in technology support, infrastructure maintenance, and customer service.

Rather than displacing workers, the new model is expected to evolve existing roles and introduce new skill requirements, thereby contributing to sustainable employment across the sector.

“We specifically commend Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari for the strategic leadership that has made this possible,” the Arewa Youth Council said.

“Since assuming office, he has demonstrated a consistent commitment to performance, institutional reform, and national interest.

“Under his direction, NNPC Limited has maintained focus on production growth, critical infrastructure delivery, commercial discipline, and customer-oriented transformation,” the statement noted.

“The Smart Self-Service Station initiative is a tangible expression of that leadership—practical, measurable, and citizen-focused.”

While acknowledging NNPC Limited’s other achievements in upstream operations, gas development, and organisational efficiency, the Council chose to focus on the downstream innovation because of its direct impact on the daily lives of Nigerians.

Energy, it stressed, remains the lifeblood of economic activity and household wellbeing.
Making retail more efficient, transparent, and multi-dimensional is therefore a matter of national importance, the group maintained.

“The Arewa Youth Council urges accelerated and inclusive nationwide rollout, with deliberate attention to northern and underserved regions,” the statement read.

“We call on state governments, private sector partners, and technology providers to support the expansion.

“Continuous refinement of the customer experience and structured training for personnel supporting the new systems will be essential for long-term success,” it added.

“We congratulate Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the Management and staff of NNPC Limited and NNPC Retail, and all collaborating partners.”

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The African Democratic Congress Senatorial Candidate for Ekiti North, Funso Ayeni, has condemned the attack and vandalisation of his campaign office, calling on law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter.

Ayeni spoke at Ido Ekiti, the headquarters of the senatorial district, on Saturday during an assessment visit to the damaged office.

The campaign office was inaugurated on Thursday last week.

The candidate condemned political violence and intimidation in any form in the state, as he urged that the 2027 elections should be remembered for ideas and accountability, and not destruction.

The campaign office after the attack.
He said, “Whatever the circumstances surrounding the damage to this office are, political disagreement must never become a pathway to destruction, intimidation or violence. I believe Ekiti must not walk the road of political violence.

“Ekiti State is too knowledgeable, too educated and too politically conscious to allow such a culture to take place. I, therefore, call on the relevant security and law enforcement authorities to investigate what happened here and establish the facts.

Political competition should be about ideas; it should be about programmes, it should be about records and the service we are about to offer our people, not destruction of one’s property or another person’s political office. I will continue to advocate for a peaceful, issue-based and responsible political environment in Ekiti North and across Ekiti State.

We can disagree without destroying; let us compete without violence and let us ensure that the 2027 political session is remembered for ideas, for accountability and not for intimidation nor destruction, and not for bloodshed.”

Ayeni appealed to his supporters across the senatorial district to remain calm and not take the law into their hands despite the provocation.

He said, “I am here today not only to merely inspect that damaged office, but to draw attention to a development that should concern every peace-loving citizen of Ekiti State and in particular Ekiti North Senatorial District.”

The senatorial candidate urged politicians in the state to learn from the recently conducted governorship election in Osun State, “where destruction of campaign materials and political property became part of a broader atmosphere of political tension and violence, with subsequent attacks and loss of lives reported. We must learn from Osun not to repeat the painful experience in Ekiti.”