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NDLEA relocates to new headquarters building in Abuja(Photos)

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. As Marwa charges personnel to remain focused, unrelenting in battle against drug cartels

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has relocated its headquarters to its new facility, which is being developed in phases in Jahi area of Abuja.
The facility, which is the first phase of the national headquarters project expected to be completed with the 2025 budgetary provisions, was officially unveiled during an interdenominational service within the complex on Wednesday 26th November 2024.
Speaking during the brief ceremony, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) said the development represents a phase in the transformation and recalibration of NDLEA into a modern and result-oriented anti-narcotic Agency, a process that began in January 2021.
“I’m glad we have finally moved in to occupy this facility after initial budgetary constraints. Even though this is the first phase of the new headquarters project, we are hopeful that we will be able to complete the process with next year budget. This is not 100% completed but it is sufficiently functional for us to move in because I was determined to move in before the end of 2024 because with the expansion of the Agency the headquarters also expanded, and in our old location we could not accommodate everyone. I have had to post out scores of officers due to lack of space for them to work.

“It was for this reason that the management took a unanimous decision that since it is not 100% ready and we need it, we should make it a low-key inauguration ceremony. This will enable us relocate some of our directorates still operating outside Abuja into one facility to consolidate our operations for efficiency, effectiveness and seamless coordination”, Marwa stated.
While stating that the old head office in Gimbiya, Garki area of the FCT will continue to serve as the headquarters annex, the NDLEA boss expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support and encouragement to the Agency to be in a position to achieve its mandate of curbing substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
“The support we are getting from our international partners and local stakeholders especially President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Judiciary and the citizenry, is not just to appreciate our efforts but to encourage us to do more and I believe this new work environment will motivate you to surpass past feats”, Marwa told a crowd of excited management staff, officers and men of the Agency at the ceremony. He commended his predecessor for starting the process of getting a befitting headquarters for the Agency.
In his welcome remark, Secretary to the Agency, Shadrach Haruna, commended Marwa for providing inspiring leadership that has in three years transformed NDLEA into the same class with its counterparts across the world in terms of professionalism, capability and capacity.
“The commissioning of our headquarters today is part of the incremental but well-laid agenda for the repositioning of the Agency by the chairman. We have witnessed some monumental achievements since 2021, including increasing the staff strength of the Agency from 5,000 to 15,000. Promotion of officers, opening up of vacancies, payment of accumulated allowances to staff and widows of our fallen officers, the recent amendment of the Agency’s enabling law by the National Assembly, and many more.
Christian and Islamic prayers were offered for President Tinubu and Nigeria while a commemorative plaque was unveiled to mark the event.

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EASTER:Let’s use this period to pray for compassionate leaders -Obi

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The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 poll, Peter Obi, has asked Nigerian Christians to use the Easter period to pray for Compassionate leaders who will share in their pains.

Obi, in an Easter message on Saturday, said that Compassionate leaders always think of the people in the consequences of their actions and inactions.

“At Easter, what Christians celebrate is the huge sacrifice Jesus Christ made for mankind.
“Therefore, there is no better time to pray for tender-hearted and caring leaders for our country than at Easter when we saw in Jesus a remarkable, compassionate leader.

Obi noted that “what is apparent in Nigeria today as insecurity and myriads of problems engulf the land is a visible abdication of responsibility by insensitive and indifferent leaders.

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Nigeria deserves better leadership than they are getting to turn the natural and human capital gifts from God to the benefit of the populace.

Finally, Obi urged fellow Nigerians and obedient families across the globe never to despair in the face of any tribulations because our Redeemer is living and active, assuring us that a New Nigeria is possible.
Happy Easter.

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INSECURITY: Armed herders attack reportedy leaves family of eight dead, nine others

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A family of eight and nine others have been reportedly killed in what appeared to be a coordinated attack by armed herdsmen on communities in Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State.

Several people also sustained severe injuries, while many have gone missing.

The attack came less than 24 hours after residents of the area raised the alarm over the influx of AK-47-bearing herders who moved freely around the communities, unrestricted.

A source in the area disclosed that the armed herdsmen stormed Tyuluv, Saror, and Mbawar communities Thursday night, “and started shooting indiscriminately into early Friday and killing several persons and injured many.”
“Before the attack, they came to our communities with thousands of cows armed with AK-47 rifles, but no one could talk to them because they were ready to kill anyone.

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“As we speak, people are fleeing their homes, and the painful thing is that nowhere is safe anymore because they are almost everywhere.

“Among those they killed in Ukum was a family of eight, including children and women who could not escape before they got to them.

“From what we heard, the people also attacked neighboring Logo LGA, and this morning, corpses were being moved from the villages to the mortuary at Anyiin. Those killed in the two LGAs were so many.

“From all indications, they want to take over the Sankera axis of Benue State, which is the food basket of the state. It is a dire situation because our people are already preparing to commence the season’s farming, and this is happening. Food is already very expensive in the state, and now this is happening.”

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Confirming the development, the Benue State Police Command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent CSP Catherine Anene, said 17 bodies had been removed from the scenes of the attacks.

Part of the statement read, “On April 17, 2025, at about 9 p.m., information was received that a large number of suspected militia had invaded the Sankera axis of Benue State with the intention to attack communities around Gbagir, Ukum LGA.

“Upon receipt of this report, the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Police Command, Mr. Steve Yabanet, ordered tactical teams to move to the area and join forces with police officers on the ground and other security agencies to forestall the attack.

“Following this order, a team of officers moved to the area and engaged them. While the attackers were being repelled in the early hours of today, they shot sporadically at unsuspecting farmers as they came across them.
Five persons were recovered in the Gbagir area and taken to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead.

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“Unfortunately, an unsuspected simultaneous attack was carried out in Logo LGA, where 12 persons were killed before the arrival of the police, making a total of 17 persons.

“However, security agencies within the Sankera axis are still engaging the bandits as they retreat back to the forest around the Taraba axis.

“The Police Commissioner warns social media users who are reporting unconfirmed reports and inciting the general public to desist from such actions that are capable of creating unnecessary tension in the state.

“He reiterates his commitment to fight the attackers and encourages the good people of Sankera to continue to cooperate with the police as the operation is ongoing.”

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In 2027, if Atiku contests again, I will still vote against him-Fayose promises

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Ex-governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose, has disclosed that the 2023 presidential candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, will not receive his support if he decides to run in 2027.

”I publicly worked against Atiku, and I am saying for the second time, if Atiku comes again, I will work against him.

“It is time to learn our lesson,” Fayose said on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

According to the former governor, the crisis in the party reared its head when the decision to zone power to the North was agreed upon by the leaders.

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”After eight years of a Northerner, it is the turn of a Southerner. which could involve someone from the East, South West or South South.”

”Those who gave or zoned power back to the North caused all these problems.”

”You don’t have to like a Nyesom Wike or a Peter Obi, but there should be an unwritten, respected gentleman’s understanding of powershift,” he said.

Fayose, back in 2024, openly declared that he publicly worked against Atiku, adding that his decision was for the good of the country

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“Don’t get it wrong. I worked against him (Atiku) 100 per cent. Nigeria is bigger than the PDP, APC.”

Fayose, however, conceded that for party supremacy to thrive in the PDP, it needs to show levels of accountability and avoid abuse and breach of zoning agreements.

”The party must be equitable, the party must be accountable. The party or parent that is irresponsible will produce irresponsible children, they will produce rebellion, they will produce anger.”

”After Asiwaju’s(Bola Tinubu) tenure, if God gives him a chance at a second term. Let a Southerner come out, we as leaders at that time, I will be over 70 or about 70, I will come out straight that a Southerner can not be the President of Nigeria.”

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