News
NDLEA arrests Lagos community leader, wives, son over drug trafficking
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has at the weekend nabbed a wanted kingpin, the community leader and Sarkin Yamma of Badagry, Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Talba.
This, the agency said, followed the arrest of the community leader’s 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 September 18.
It also nabbed a wanted drug kingpin Ajiboye Damilare Samuel (a.k.a Na God) after 12 months of evading arrest.
Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said Ajiboye was arrested at a bank in Ogun State by the agency’s Directorate of Assets and Financial Investigation, which traced 20 bank accounts to the suspect and blocked them.
Babafemi, in a statement yesterday, said also following his arrest, the suspect’s warehouse in Akala, Mushin, Lagos, was raided by operatives, where a total of 1,101 kilogrammes of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis was recovered on September 4.
Babafemi said in Katsina, two ex-convicts: Muhammad Machido, 44, and Zakari Ya’u Buhari, 32, were arrested by NDLEA operatives with illicit substances.
He said while Muhammad was nabbed along Kano-Katsina highway, Kankia, last Monday, with 51,000 pills of opioids, Zakari was arrested in Daura with 14 blocks of cannabis weighing 7kg.
He said Zakari was first arrested on February 8, 2024 and sentenced by court to 15 months’ imprisonment with an option of 15,000 fine, which he paid.
Muhammad’s case was earlier arrested with 45kg cannabis sativa and 2.5kg tramadol on December 12, 2022 and sentenced to two years in prison.
According to the statement, the agency also arrested an auto spare parts dealer Ejiofor Nnaemeka Chiwuzie for attempting 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.
Babafemi said Ejiofor was arrested last Tuesday at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos where he sells auto 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.
He said 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 follow up led to the arrest of two freight agents and Ejiofor.
The statement reads: “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 grammes of tramadol concealed in soles of local 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 clothes. All the seizures in the courier houses were made between September 23 and 24 in Lagos.
“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 the same psychoactive substance and a pump action gun with six cartridges on Wednesday, September 25.
“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 September 25, 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.
“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 September 24 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.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) applauded the commands for their efforts, urging them not rest on their oars.
News
Bill For Independent Candidacy Recommitted, Referred To Constitution Review Committee
News
Just in :INEC announces date for Anambra governorship election
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the date for the Anambra governorship election.
Addressing representatives of political parties at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, October 17, INEC national chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said the election will be held on Saturday 8th November 2025.
Hear him: “As you are aware, the last governorship election in Anambra State was held on 6th November 2021. By the effluxion of time, the governorship election is due next year.
In compliance with the mandatory requirement of 360 days, the formal notice for the election will be published on 13th November 2024. Party primaries will be held from 20th March 2025 to 10th April 2025.
“The candidate nomination portal will open at 9.00 am on 18th April 2025 and close at 6.00 pm on 12th May 2025. The final list of candidates will be published on 9th June 2025.
“Campaign in public by political parties will commence on 11th June 2025 and end at midnight of Thursday 6th November 2025. Voting will take place in all the 5,720 Polling Units across the State on Saturday 8th November 2025.
In compliance with the mandatory requirement of 360 days, the formal notice for the election will be published on 13th November 2024. Party primaries will be held from 20th March 2025 to 10th April 2025.
“The candidate nomination portal will open at 9.00 am on 18th April 2025 and close at 6.00 pm on 12th May 2025. The final list of candidates will be published on 9th June 2025.
“Campaign in public by political parties will commence on 11th June 2025 and end at midnight of Thursday 6th November 2025. Voting will take place in all the 5,720 Polling Units across the State on Saturday 8th November 2025.
The candidate nomination portal will open at 9.00 am on 18th April 2025 and close at 6.00 pm on 12th May 2025. The final list of candidates will be published on 9th June 2025.
“Campaign in public by political parties will commence on 11th June 2025 and end at midnight of Thursday 6th November 2025. Voting will take place in all the 5,720 Polling Units across the State on Saturday 8th November 2025.
“In the coming weeks, the Commission will provide details of other electoral activities, including the registration of new voters, transfer of voters and the replacement of lost or damaged PVCs.
“The detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2025 Anambra State Governorship election will be uploaded to our website and social media platforms before the end of this meeting.”
News
Despite heavy hunger, World Bank Tells Nigerians Not To Oppose, Reverse Tinubu’s Economic Reforms
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Despite hunger, World Bank has urged Nigerians to support the ongoing economic reforms, warning that opposing or reversing them could have serious negative consequences for the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report in Abuja, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiame Diop, emphasized that while the reforms may be challenging, they are crucial for the nation’s long-term stability.
Dr. Diop cautioned that rolling back these reforms would be detrimental, saying, “Reversing the reforms would spell doom for Nigeria.”
In the same vein, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, reiterated the importance of staying committed to the reforms. He stated, “Any effort that is not sustained will be a waste. Together with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, we’ve been discussing how to stay on course.”
Edun further explained that the government’s focus is on reducing inflation while ensuring investments flow into critical sectors such as industry, where jobs can be created. “We are prioritizing market pricing and sat down with labor unions to explain why we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip.”
On the removal of subsidies, Edun noted, “Every day without subsidies means more funds available for education, healthcare, and other essential expenditures.”
Also speaking, Central Bank Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso highlighted the importance of promoting exports in light of the exchange rate adjustments. “The moderation in the FX rate should make our goods more competitive for export and discourage the importation of unnecessary goods,” he said
-
News18 hours ago
Just in: Shettima jets out in Tinubu’s absence
-
Sports18 hours ago
European Football Chiefs, FIFPRO Slam FIFA Over Schedule
-
Sports10 hours ago
Get ready for Libya rematch – Obi Tells Super Eagles
-
News8 hours ago
20 seconds after prayer my father suddenly died- Senator Zwingina’s son
-
News21 hours ago
Companies Blame Host Communities For Oil Theft, Pipeline Vandalism
-
Entertainment17 hours ago
Actress Bimbo Akintola reveals why she can never date an actor
-
News6 hours ago
Reps Pass For Second Reading Bill to create Ogoja state
-
News6 hours ago
Reps Seek Upward Review Of Budgetary Allocation For BPE