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. Arrests businesswoman, Chadian, couple, others in Edo, Kogi, Rivers interdiction operations

Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.
The intelligence-led interdiction operation came barely a week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of the same psychoactive substance from the false bottom compartment of a truck that came into Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.

One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.

Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested.
Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.

Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos. The cargoes which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them came aboard British Airways flight and Ethiopian Airlines flight on 24th June and 3rd July respectfully.
Two cargo agents: Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga linked to the shipments were initially arrested following which another suspect Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus who showed up to take delivery of the consignments from a logistics company was also nabbed.

A 44-year-old businesswoman, Chioma Nneka Mokeme who is the actual owner of the consignments was eventually arrested on 7th July, 2026, in collaboration with the Area C Command of the Nigeria Police, Surulere Lagos.

Chioma who claimed she is into printing business said her friend Agbons Collins who lives in Canada introduced her into the criminal trade.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Rivers state have arrested an 80-year-old grandpa, Chika Ugwoji for dealing in illicit substances. The Octogenarian was found in possession of 800 grams of skunk at the time of his arrest at Ahoada on Tuesday 14th July.
In Edo state, a couple: Christian Chukwuka, 32, and Nwanneka Christian, 33, were on Monday 13th July arrested following a raid of their illicit drug warehouse along Sapele road, Benin City where 22 bags of cannabis sativa weighing 219.5kg and compressed blocks of Canadian Loud with a gross weight of 192.67kg were seized.

A Chadian woman, Hajara Abdullahi, 38, and her Nigerian accomplice Abdulkarim Jidda, 44, were nabbed in Lagos following the seizure of 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg intercepted in Kogi state on Sunday 12th July. The consignment was eventually linked to the two suspects who were traced to Lagos and arrested in Apapa area of the state.
The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Government Day Junior Secondary School, Bakori, Katsina; Colliery Technical School, Ngwo, Enugu; Starlight College, Iganmu Ijora, Lagos; Community Secondary School, Kono, Rivers; Odoro High School, Ikole Ekiti; and Government Junior Secondary School, Gabasawa, Kano, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Rivers, Edo and Kogi Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted that their efforts and those of their compatriots across the country have contributed in no small measure to ongoing drug control efforts across the country. He charged them to remain vigilant at all times.

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The Ondo State Police Command has nabbed a father in Owo Local Government Area for allegedly causing bodily damage on his 10-year old daughter.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, July 16, 2026, that the suspect, Amos Paul,used a hot pressing iron to b¥rn the priv@te part of his daughter as punishment for bed wetting.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) said the suspect was taken into custody after the incident was reported to the police on Thursday. He added that the victim is currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo.

Jimoh further stated that the case would be transferred to the Gender Unit for thorough investigation and other necessary actions.

Meanwhile, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, condemned the alleged assa¥lt, describing it as cruel, inhumane and unacceptable.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding children and other vulnerable members of society against all forms of ab¥se, vi%lence and exploitation.

The Commissioner also urged members of the public to promptly report incidents of child ab¥se, domestic vi%lence and other related offences to the nearest police station, assuring them that the Command remains committed to ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.

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Three siblings travelling from Abuja to Benue State with the remains of their late mother have reportedly been abducted by suspected armed herdsmen along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of the state.

The victims were said to have been kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday between Omutele and Ankpechi communities while transporting their mother’s body from Abuja to their hometown, Iklenyi in Okpokwu Local Government Area, LGA, for burial.

A source familiar with the incident said the family had encountered difficulties during the journey after their vehicle developed a mechanical fault, delaying their trip until the early hours of the morning.

“Even at about 2am they were still on the road because their vehicle had broken down. After repairing it, they continued the journey because they were determined to take their mother’s body home for burial,” the source said.

According to the source, the three siblings maintained contact with their relatives throughout the trip until they reached the stretch of road between Omutele and Ankpechi communities, where they were allegedly ambushed by armed men.

“It was the three of them travelling with the corpse of their mother. When they got to that area, the armed men abducted all three siblings and even took the corpse of their mother into the bush. As we speak, they are still being held,” the source added.

Describing the incident as heartbreaking, the source appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and recover the remains of the deceased.

“It is painful that a family already grieving the loss of their mother has been subjected to this ordeal. They kidnapped not only the children but also took the corpse of a dead woman. We appeal to the security agencies to act swiftly and ensure their safe rescue,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Mr. Gabriel Adole, said he had received reports of the abduction and was on his way to the affected community to obtain firsthand information.

“I have been informed about the incident and I am heading to the area to ascertain exactly what happened,” Adole said.

The Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.