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Auto parts dealer arrested over heroin, loud shipments concealed in lamps, sofa legs(Photos)
. As NDLEA arrests 2 wanted kingpins, 2 ex-convicts for drug trafficking; intercepts illicit consignments going to US, UK, Canada, Australia, Thailand
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested an automobile spare parts dealer Ejiofor Nnaemeka Chiwuzie over attempt to export consignments of heroin and loud, a strain of cannabis, concealed in LED rechargeable lamps and sofa metal legs through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos.
Ejiofor was arrested on Tuesday 24th September 2024 at the Trade Fair complex, Ojo area of Lagos where he sells automobile spare parts following the seizure of his cargo containing auto parts, rechargeable lamps, sofa metal legs and electronics going to Liberia at the export shed of the Lagos airport.
Concealed inside the LED lamps and sofa legs were 37 parcels of heroin weighing 1.10 kilograms and four blocks of loud with a total weight of 1.20kg. A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of two freight agents and then Ejiofor who sent the consignment.
In the same vein, attempts by drug trafficking networks to export consignments of loud, tramadol pills, co-codamol tablets, pentazocine injection, dihydrocodeine and promethazine tabs through some courier companies to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Thailand and Oman were foiled by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operation and General Investigation, DOGI, attached to the logistics firms.
While 2.3kg of loud hidden in a carton was going to Thailand, 749 grams of tramadol concealed in soles of locally made footwears were heading to Oman, with 60 ampoules of pentazocine injection going to the United States.
No less than 200 pills of co-codamol were meant for Australia while a total of 700 tablets of dihydrocodeine, promethazine and tramadol as well as 20 ampoules of pentazocine injection concealed in soles of footwears were heading to the United Kingdom. Going to Canada were 58 ampoules of pentazocine injection hidden in female cloths. All the seizures in the courier houses were made between Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th September in Lagos.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 25th September arrested a wanted drug kingpin Ajiboye Damilare Samuel (a.k.a Na God) after 12 months of evading arrest following the raid of his warehouse in Akala, Mushin area of Lagos, where a total of 1,101 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis was recovered on 4th September 2023. The arrest of Ajiboye in a bank in Ogun state followed well-coordinated efforts by the Agency’s Directorate of Assets and Financial Investigation, which traced 20 bank accounts linked to the suspect and blocked them.
In like manner, NDLEA operatives in Lagos on Friday 27th September took into custody a wanted community leader and Sarkin Yamma of Badagry, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba, following the arrest of his two wives: Hauwa and Asma’u and son, Sadat as well as the seizure of a total of 226.2kg cannabis at their homes in Badagry on 18th September. In another operation in Lagos, no less than 9.7kg cannabis sativa and 50 litres of monkey tail, a fermented combo of cannabis and dry gin, were recovered from a suspect Florence Moses at Badore area of Ajah, Lekki on Tuesday 24th September.
In Kogi, three suspects: Owolabi Dele, 42; Ayodele Monday, 40; and Olawale Ojo, 22, were arrested by NDLEA operatives along Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway while conveying 132 sacks of cannabis weighing 2,062.00kg in a Mercedes container truck from Osun state to Dei Dei in Abuja. Another suspect Benedict Simire, 57, was arrested at Ayetoro road, Kabba, conveying 33.40kg of same psychoactive substance and a pump action gun with six cartridges on Wednesday 25th September.
On the same Wednesday, operatives of the Marine Command of NDLEA intercepted a two 40HP Yamaha engines boat bearing 71 bags of Ghana Loud weighing 2,982kgs along Alfa beach, Lekki area of Lagos.
Men of the Nigerian Customs Service Western Marine Command were on hand to support the NDLEA officers to recover the boat and exhibits after the two suspects in the boat dived into the water.
Also, on Wednesday 25th September, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports complex, Onne, Rivers state intercepted 1,500 cartons of codeine-based cough syrup containing a total of 150,000 bottles during a joint examination of a targeted 40ft container, with men of Nigerian Customs and other security agencies.
While NDLEA operatives in Niger state recovered 6,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection from Chukwudi Nwanoche, 38, at the former Minna city gate, their counterparts in Kano arrested Aminu Danmanya, 31, with 15,530 capsules of tramadol at Kano residential hotel, Katsina road.
In Plateau state, operatives on Friday 27th September arrested a female suspect Jummai Luka, 58, behind Jehovah Witness junction, Kabong, Jos North LGA, in possession of 12,000 pills of tramadol while NDLEA officers in Oyo state on Tuesday 24th September nabbed
Segun Asogba, 50, with 601kg cannabis sativa and a Dane gun at Igangan town.
In Katsina, two ex-convicts: Muhammad Machido, 44, and Zakari Ya’u Buhari, 32, were again arrested by NDLEA operatives with illicit substances.
While Muhammad was nabbed along Kano-Katsina highway, Kankia, on Monday 23rd September with 51,000 pills of opioids, Zakari was arrested in Daura with 14 blocks of cannabis weighing 7kg. Zakari was first arrested on 8th February 2024 and sentenced by court to 15 months’ imprisonment with an option of 15,000 fine, which he paid. In his case, Muhammad was earlier arrested with 45kg cannabis sativa and 2.5kg tramadol on 12th December 2022. He was then sentenced to two years imprisonment.
While Benjamin Benjamin Ebei, 33, was arrested at Biase LGA Cross River state, with 38kg cannabis recovered from his vehicle, operatives in Edo state on Tuesday 24th September raided a house along Okpuje road, Uzebba in Owan West LGA where they arrested a suspect
Idonuan Ajilo, 53, and seized 112.5kg cannabis from his store.
Meanwhile, across the country, NDLEA Commands continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization lectures and advocacy visits to worship centres, schools, workplaces, palaces of traditional rulers and communities all through the past week.
Instances include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Government Girls Secondary School, Kafur, Katsina; students and teachers of Akinlade Primary School, Ajah, Lagos;
students of St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Cross River; and WADA advocacy lecture at the palace of Aree of Iree town,Osun state, Oba Muritala Oyelakin, among others.
While commending the officers and men of DOGI, DAFI, MMIA, Onne, Marine, Lagos, Kogi, Katsina, Oyo, Plateau, Niger, Kano, Edo, and Cross River Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also applauded their compatriots in all the commands across the country for intensifying the WADA sensitization lectures and advocacy messages to every part of their areas of responsibility.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
In a bid to ease the impact of rising food prices and economic hardship, the Zed-Faith Foundation International has donated food items and medical supplies to Ark of Refuge Orphanage and Old People’s Home in Kado, Abuja.
The items were distributed over the weekend by representatives of the Foundation on behalf of its Founder and Chairman, Amb. Daniel Onyeka Newman, a UK-based Nigerian and Chief Executive Officer of SBI.
The Foundation’s Media Consultant, Amb. Victor Atewe, who led the delegation, said the donation was a personal initiative by the Chairman and not funded by government or external bodies.
“These items are intended to directly support the children and elderly, and we trust they will be used solely for that purpose,” Atewe said.
He added that the Foundation plans to continue its outreach efforts across the country, noting that the economic situation has made daily survival increasingly difficult for vulnerable groups.
The Foundation also used the occasion to urge the federal government to collaborate more with credible non-governmental organisations in supporting disadvantaged populations, especially as inflation and food insecurity worsen.
Speaking on behalf of the Country Representative, Mr. Chinnaya Dominic Chikwado, the Foundation’s Administrative Officer, Mr. Udodirim Okorie, called on well-meaning Nigerians to support charitable causes and contribute to alleviating the burden on those most affected by the country’s economic crisis.
Representatives of the Old People’s Home and Ark of Refuge Orphanage expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing it as timely and impactful. They noted that such support helps bridge the gap in essential services for the elderly and children in their care.
“This donation will go a long way in meeting our daily needs.”
“We thank the Foundation for its continued support, especially during such challenging times.”
“Even the smallest gesture makes a big difference to those who have no one else to turn to.”
“We hope others are inspired to follow suit and remember those most in need.”
The Senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District, Manu Haruna celebrates May Day with Nigerian workers in Taraba and across Nigeria.
Senator Manu in a congratulatory letter to all Nigerian workers said:
“Your labour towards building a virile nation shall never be in vain as you celebrate May Day today in Nigeria and across the globe.
The former Taraba State Deputy Governor acknowledged the invaluable contributions of workers across various sectors and emphasized their crucial role in driving the nation’s development and progress.
He encouraged continued solidarity among workers while advocating for better working conditions, fair wages, and enhanced opportunities.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has reaffirmed his commitment to improving the welfare of workers across the state.
This assurance was given during a meeting with the leadership of organised labour unions held at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Administrator, Hector Igbikiowubo, the meeting served as a platform for open and constructive dialogue on critical labour matters.
The statement outlined key areas of intervention currently being addressed by the government.
These, he said, included the timely payment of salaries and pensions, as well as the resolution of salary arrears, with approval already granted for the payment of newly employed workers at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the judiciary.
Similarly, he said medical workers in the local government areas would receive their proper wages.
He said the minimum wage was being implemented for all local government employees across the state.
The administrator also noted that his administration was currently reviewing challenges related to the contributory pension scheme, ahead of the July 2025 implementation deadline.
Ibas disclosed that plans were underway to expand the fleet of intervention buses reintroduced to ease the transportation burden of workers.
On capacity building, the administrator announced that specialised leadership training for senior civil servants would begin within the next two weeks.
He also revealed that the government was actively considering the implementation of the N32,000 consequential pension adjustment, along with measures to clear outstanding gratuities owed to retirees.
While commending workers for their dedication to service, he called for continued collaboration with labour unions to ensure lasting industrial harmony in the state.
According to the statement, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alex Agwanwor, expressed appreciation to the administrator for the steps already taken to promote workers’ welfare.
Agwanwor also lauded the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged the sustained support and cooperation of labour unions in achieving shared goals.
Meanwhile the NLC has directed its members in the state to observe the International Workers’ Day as a peaceful rally, which is expected to be held within the premises of the union, involving all affiliate unions, and would focus on advocating for the restoration of democratic governance in the state.
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