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NDLEA intercepts Qatar-bound illicit drugs concealed in African salad, dried vegetables(PHOTOS)
. Seizes consignment hidden in noodles packs going to Bayelsa creeks, razes over 3 tonnes of cannabis in Edo forests
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have detained a 35-year-old lady, Chidinma Chinenye Agbazue after she was caught attempting to export 20 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 10.70 kilograms concealed in African salad popularly called Abacha and dried vegetables to Doha, Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos state.
NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport working in partnership with men of the Department of State Security had on Thursday 28th March intercepted Chidinma, an outbound passenger from Lagos to Doha, on Qatar Airways during clearance of passengers at the screening point of terminal 11 of the MMIA.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Chidinma was based in Qatar but returned to Nigeria last December for Christmas celebration. She said preparatory to her return to Doha, she was lodged at Club Dice Hotel in Ikotun area of Lagos where the consignment was handed over to her for trafficking to the Arab country.
Two suspects: Monday Okeke and Chigozie Emeka were on Tuesday 26th March arrested by NDLEA operatives in Oniwaya, Yaba and Agege area of Lagos, where they recovered from them 842,560 pills of opioids especially tramadol in addition to 15 litres of codeine syrup and 596 grams of Molly. Attempt by Okeke to bribe the NDLEA officers with N5 million cash was rebuffed while the money was documented as part of exhibits to prosecute the suspects in court.
In Bayelsa, the bid by three suspects: Ebuka Eze, 31; Ugochukwu Okoro, 44; and Kingsley Uzim, 27, to smuggle opioids including codeine, molly, tramadol and diazepam weighing a total of 73.425 kilograms to the creeks in Southern Ijaw area of the state was thwarted on Wednesday 27th March by NDLEA operatives at Swali jetty, Yenagoa where Ebuka and Ugochukwu were arrested while Uzim was nabbed at Amasoma in a follow up operation.
The drugs were concealed in jumbo sacks and conveyed to the jetty in a tricycle.
While two suspects: Eniola Muyideen and Bankole Shuaib were arrested with 137 blocks of cannabis weighing 71kg during a raid at Orile Imo, Ogun state on Friday 29th March,
NDLEA operatives in Taraba recovered 39,980 pills of tramadol from a suspect, Abubakar Mohammed, 33, in Lankaviri village, and another suspect, Apaji Vincent, 29, arrested in Wukari on Thursday 28th March with 131kg cannabis sativa.
In Abia state, Nwachukwuu Chinedu, 28, was arrested on Friday 29th March at Akara Ahuba, Isikwuato LGA by NDLEA officers. Recovered from him include 46.65kg cannabis and different quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine and rohypnol as well as N71,500 monetary exhibit.
At least, 127.5kg cannabis loaded in a Volkswagen Vento saloon car marked NTT 215 AA was recovered along Isua/Kabba road, Idoani area of Ose LGA, Ondo State, while a 30-year-old female suspect, Chinasa Christopher was arrested with 400 bottles of codeine syrup in Sabon Gari area of Kano. The owner of a consignment of illicit drugs intercepted along Zaria-Kano road, Bakura Goni was arrested at Mile 2 market in Lagos on Tuesday 26th March in a follow up operation and flown to Kano to face charges. The consignment consisting of cannabis and tramadol weighing 73.8kg was earlier seized in a truck conveying it from Lagos to Kano.
While 278kg of cannabis going to Idoani in Ondo state was recovered during a raid at Oloma-Okpe forest, Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State, not less than 3,065.255kg of the same psychoactive substance was razed on two farms at Amahor waterside forest in Igueben area of the state where three suspects: James Thankgod; Wisdom James and Akpa Festus were arrested on Thursday 28th March.
In the same vein, Commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy lectures in the past week. These include: Sensitisation lectures for students of Federal University of Technology, Ihiagwa, Owerri, Imo; students and teachers of Community Secondary School, Eyo-Abasi, Oron, Akwa Ibom; students and teachers of Oke Iragbiji Grammar School, Osun; commercial motorcycle riders in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state; commercial motorcycle riders at Ankpa, Kogi state and Muslim faithful at Aliade Central Mosque, Aliade, Benue state.
While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Taraba Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Sunday 31st March 2024
News
Rep Amos reacts as Dutsin-Ma Varsity honours Appropriation chair, Bichi with Doctorate degree
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on House Services, Rep. Dan Amos, has joined other well wishers to congratulate Rep. Abubakar Bichi, for bagging Doctorate degree Honoraris Causa, from Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State.
Rep. Bichi, the Member representing Bichi Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, was honoured at the weekend for his commitment to the university.
Over the past five years, he has contributed to funding infrastructure projects and providing scholarships for students in his constituency, helping them achieve their academic goals.
In a message of felicitations personally signed Monday morning by Rep. Amos, who currently represents Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, the Lawmaker ascribed the honorary Doctorate degree to the selfless and dedicated services of Rep. Bichi to his Constituency and promotion of good governance and national development.
“I am thrilled to extend my warmest congratulations to you on receiving an honorary doctorate from the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State.
“This prestigious recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of your tireless efforts and exemplary leadership in promoting good governance and development in Nigeria.
“Your commitment to your constituents and the nation at large is truly inspiring. Your achievements in infrastructure development, education, and healthcare have made a lasting impact on your community. Your dedication to transparency, youth empowerment and development has positioned your constituency as a model for progress.
“Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable achievement. May this honour continue to motivate you to strive for greater heights”, the message read.
Other notable Nigerians honoured at the weekend by the university include, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Goodwill Akpabio; and former Governor of Sokoto State and Chairman, Senate Committee on Security, Senator Aliyu Wamako.
News
Drama as Band A customers request downward review of high tariff
By Francesca Hangeior
Many electricity consumers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Band A, have appealed to the Federal Government to lower the high tariff amid the economic hardship.
Reports have it that Band A customers are those who enjoy at least 20 hours of electricity daily and are expected to pay N209.5/kilowatts per hour (KWh).
The consumers who live at Lugbe, Area 10, Apo resettlement area, and environs spoke with NAN in Abuja on Sunday.
They said that Band A was okay because they enjoy constant power supply but added that the tariff was too high and so could not cope with the present situation.
Mrs Amen Odigie, a civil servant residing in Lugbe, said that she found herself paying so much to enjoy power supply, which was okay.
Odigie said that what she paid for electricity in the two-bedroom flat she occupied was more than N30,000 in a month.
“This is really telling on me, as what I earn as salary cannot go anywhere with the present economic hardship in the country.
”I want to appeal to the government to review the high electricity tariff as this Band A is taking most of my income, ” she said.
Mr Ugochukwu Okafor, also residing in Lugbe, said that the electricity tariff for Band A customers was too high.
Okafor, a Vulcaniser, said that his income in a month could not pay for the Band A tariff.
According to him, he wants the Federal Government to do something about the Band A tariff, as it is too high, in view of the present hardship in the country.
Mrs Anita Adaje, a fashion designer residing in Apo resettlement, said that she used electricity a lot to run her business, and with this Band A tariff, she was not making any profit.
”When you bill customers so high, they will refuse to pay, and this is really affecting my business.
”My appeal is that government should look into this high tariff and do something about it,” she said.
Mr Festus Ogunbor, a printer in Area 10, said that he recharged more than N30,000 daily to run his printing machines.
Ogunbor said that the high cost of electricity was affecting his business as he could no longer do much work.
”How much do I make that I have to be paying so much for electricity? Please, I want the government to look into this high tariff as it is seriously affecting businesses and cost of living,” he said.
Mr Chidi Okeke, also a printer in Area 10, said that he had been finding it difficult to power his printing machines because of high electricity tariff.
Okeke said that the government should look for a way of reducing the high cost of electricity to boost businesses as well as encourage more Nigerians to go into business.
News
Valencia ask for another Copa del Rey postponement after floods
By Francessca Hangeior
Valencia requested their postponed Copa del Rey first round clash with Parla Escuela be delayed again on Monday because of the devastating flooding in the region.
At least 217 people died, with many more still missing, after an intense storm hit the east of Spain last week.
Valencia’s Copa del Rey game was originally due to be played last week but was pushed back to November 6 by the Spanish football federation (RFEF).
The Spanish club’s La Liga match due to be played last Saturday against champions Real Madrid was also postponed and Los Che asked the club to delay their cup game again.
“The club thinks that, at this time of great difficulty, all energy, attention and support must be focused on helping those affected by the tragic events of (the storm),” said Valencia in a statement.
“Football is in the background. We wish to convey our deepest condolences and our love to the families and friends of the deceased and those affected by this catastrophe that leaves us devastated.”
Several coaches and players from La Liga teams suggested all fixtures should have been postponed at the weekend instead of only Valencia’s match and Villarreal against Rayo Vallecano.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone said it made “no sense” to play matches, while Barcelona’s Hansi Flick said if it was up to him he would have cancelled the whole round of games.
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