By Francesca Hangeior

Libyan authorities have arrested four Nigerians in Sabha and Bani Walid on charges related to drug trafficking and testing positive for infectious diseases.

The arrests were disclosed on Monday by Migrant Rescue Watch, an advocacy group, via a post on X (formerly Twitter).

In Sabha, the Criminal Investigation Department conducted a raid on the premises of two Nigerian suspects and seized 1,200 hallucinogenic pills alongside other illicit substances.

Both suspects were handed over to the Sabha Security Directorate for further investigation.

In a statement, Migrant Rescue Watch confirmed: “CID in Sabha carried out a raid on a reported location and arrested two Nigerian drug traffickers. During a search of the premises, police found 1,200 hallucinogenic pills and other illicit drugs. Both individuals were transferred to the Sabha Security Directorate.

In a separate incident, two Nigerians, a male and a female, were detained in Bani Walid during a routine health screening after testing positive for infectious diseases.

The Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration in Bani Walid transferred the suspects to Tripoli, Libya’s capital, for further processing and eventual repatriation to Nigeria.

Migrant Rescue Watch’s statement read, “DCIM Bureau in Bani Walid transferred two Nigerian #migrants (female and male) who tested positive for infectious diseases to Tripoli for repatriation.”

Bani Walid, located south of Tripoli, is known as a transit hub for migrants attempting to cross into Europe. The Libyan authorities continue to crack down on illegal activities and enforce public health measures within the region.

By Francesca Hangeior

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a vigilante operative while fleeing with a gun.

In a statement on Tuesday, the state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said one pump action gun wrapped in a bag of rice was recovered from the suspect at Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Ikenga added that police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Divisional headquarters led by CSP Emeka Obi, acting on credible information, arrested the suspect on Friday.

He said, “Police operatives attached to 3 Police Divisional headquarters led by CSP Emeka Obi acting on credible information on 22/11/2024 by 6:38pm arrested one Enediong Bassey ‘M’ 25yrs, a native of Ikono LGA of Akwa Ibom State, and recovered one Pump action gun wrapped in a bag of rice at Nkwelle-Ezunaka.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being a member of a security outfit/vigilante and was about to escape with the gun to join his criminal gang for armed robbery and other unpatriotic activities.

“Given the above and following other complaints and unprofessional conduct by some security outfits and vigilante members, the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, in line with the principles of community policing, reiterates the calls for profiling of security operatives assisting the Police and other security agencies on anti-crime operations to improve safety in the state.”

He stated that the CP also directed the suspect’s immediate transfer to the command’s anti-robbery squad for comprehensive investigations.

Personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State have complained over the alleged refusal of the authorities to pay their allowances, despite the election being held more than 10 days ago.

Six thousand NSCDC officers, including those from neighbouring states like Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Edo, and Delta, were part of the security deployment for the election.

The aggrieved officers, some of whom spoke anonymously to The PUNCH on Monday, expressed frustration over the delay in receiving their allowances, especially since other security agencies, like the police, had already been paid.

They highlighted economic challenges in the country and described the delay as unnecessary.

One aggrieved personnel, who spoke anonymously to our correspondent, lamented that the delay in the allowance payment was uncalled for.

He said, “Those of us who participated in the Ondo election have not been paid till now. Our counterparts like the police have received theirs already. The economy is not friendly.”

Another NSCDC operative also dissatisfied with the delay simply asked, “Please help us ask the Commandant General why we are yet to be paid.”

In response to the complaints, NSCDC spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, stated that he had met with the Deputy Commandant General Operations and the General Commandant to address the issue.

According to Afolabi, the management informed him that the officers deployed for the Ondo election had already been paid their allowances on the field.

“I just met with the Deputy Commandant General Operations and the General Commandant over the issue. I learnt that the officers that were deployed for the Ondo election have been paid. They were paid on the field,” he said.