The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a series of high-profile arrests and seizures across Nigeria, including a major bust at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, where operatives intercepted consignments of cocaine and tramadol hidden in 71 vehicle side mirrors bound for Libreville, Gabon.
It was reports that the operation, which led to the arrest of at least three suspects, was one of several anti-narcotic actions taken nationwide between July 19 and August 2, 2025.
According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, the first bust occurred on Saturday, July 19, when officers at MMIA intercepted 57,420 pills of tramadol 225mg and 57 pellets of cocaine (1.60kg) in a cargo consignment heading to Gabon via Air Côte d’Ivoire.
A popular cargo agent, Ihekweme Osinachi Benedict, was immediately arrested. Follow-up investigations led to the arrest of Uzochukwu Godspower Chukwurah the following day.
A further raid on Uzochukwu’s residence on July 21 yielded another 11 parcels of cocaine weighing 1kg, raising the total haul to 68 cocaine parcels (2.6kg).
Cocaine Disguised as Lipsticks for Export to Malabo
In a separate operation, a businesswoman, Nwafor Roseann Nneka, was arrested at her shop in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, for attempting to export 100 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of phenacetine (a cutting agent) concealed inside ladies’ lipsticks to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Two cargo agents linked to the shipment had earlier been arrested before the NDLEA closed in on Mrs. Nwafor. She confessed to purchasing the lipsticks while her husband, Remigus Nwafor, now on the run, handled the drug concealment.
On July 30, operatives in Abuja arrested three dispatch riders, Sabo Sule (24), Samuel Nnamdi (28), and Idris Jibrin (28), caught distributing drugs in Gwarimpa, Jahi, and Galadimawa areas. Recovered from them were 149.8 grams of Canadian Loud, a potent cannabis strain.
Two others, Aliyu Abubakar (25) and Adekunle Agbabiaka (30), were also arrested along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway with 91.1kg of skunk.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, one Joseph Michael, was arrested in Mushin with 3.3kg of synthetic cannabis known as Colorado on August 2, while Ibrahim Sulaiman was caught in Iwaya, Yaba, with 16.5 litres of skuchies on August 1.
In Benue State, Hussein Yusuf (37) was arrested at an NDLEA checkpoint along the Vandeikya-Ogoja road with over 100,000 tramadol pills. In Edo, a raid on a warehouse in Ekpoma led to the arrest of William Alabi (44) and the seizure of 233.5kg of skunk.
More Seizures Across States
Borno: Umar Aminu (38) was arrested at the Maiduguri airport with 160 tramadol pills hidden in his shoes.
Ogun: Yahaya Aminat Seyi was nabbed in Oja Odan with 7,218 pills of opioids.
Oyo: Oladeji Saka (54) was caught with 77.5kg of skunk in Ibadan.
Delta: Benson Izah (40) was arrested in Abraka with 12.5kg of skunk, 1kg of tramadol, and 14.4 litres of codeine.
Bayelsa: Chief Emeka Opara (52) and Onuoha Chidinma (25) were arrested in Amassoma with 41,705 tramadol capsules.
Kano: Bashir Gambo (30) was arrested in Tudun Wada with 61kg of skunk.
Osun: Kabiru Ayinde (40) and Roqeeb Adekanmbi (25) were arrested in Iwo town with 90kg of skunk, 36.3g of methamphetamine, a Toyota bus, and ₦228,200 in cash.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, worship centres, and workplaces. Notable activities include:
Lecture at Ciroma Ibrahim Islamiyya School, Potiskum, Yobe
Outreach at Sultan Maccido Institute, Wamakko, Sokoto
Engagement with Borno Express Transport drivers
Sensitisation at Seventh Day Adventist Church, Enugu
Advocacy visit to Oluwo of Iwo, Osun State
Reacting, the NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended officers across the MMIA, MBIAM, FCT, Lagos, Edo, Benue, Kano, Osun, and other commands for their diligence, urging them to maintain momentum in the agency’s balanced drug control efforts.
“Our approach combines enforcement and advocacy, and every officer must remain committed to both arms of our strategy,” he said.
The operations reflect NDLEA’s continuing resolve to disrupt drug trafficking networks and safeguard communities across the nation.
Seven women d!ed while 11 others were injured during a protest in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
According to Daily Trust, the women were protesting what they termed delayed response by the military to calm tensions between Bachama and Chobo communities of the LGA, when the incident occurred on Monday, December 8, 2025.
The women, who were seen holding leaves blocked the movement of troops into the area, accusing security agencies of delayed responses and biased interventions in favour of the Chobo community.
However, during the confrontation, sources said the military allegedly fired shots into the crowd and four of the women d!ed on the spot, while three others d!ed in the hospital. It was further learnt that 11 others, who were injured are currently receiving treatment.
“They came out peacefully, carrying leaves, begging for security, instead, they were met with live gunfire.
“The wounded were rushed to Numan General Hospital, where medical officials say some remain in critical condition,” District Head of Gyawana, a community in Lamurde LGA, Chief Agoso Bamaiyi, said.
Meanwhile, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Lamurde Local Government Area, following the incident.
The directive was announced on Monday in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Hussaini Hammangabdo, who confirmed that the governor has instructed security operatives to immediately move into the troubled communities
The statement said Fintiri had ordered security agencies to respond swiftly to the renewed crisis to re-establish stability and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
The Adamawa State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Lamurde Local Government Area with immediate effect following a renewed communal clash that broke out on Sunday evening,” the statement read.
Hammangabdo said security agencies have been directed to move into the area and restore peace and order without delay.
The state government also appealed to residents of Lamurde to remain peaceful and cooperate with the deployed personnel as efforts intensify to contain the situation and avert additional violence.
The fresh violence erupted barely days after Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri brokered a fragile peace deal between the warring Chobo and Bachama groups, according to Dr. Jamila Suleiman, Executive Vice Chairperson of the Adamawa State Peace Commission
When contacted on phone, the police spokesman, Adamawa State Command, S.P. Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed that some people lost their lives and that the injured were taken to a hospital for treatmen
“Actually lives were lost. But for now, we cannot give the total number of people that lost their lives but the injured have been taken to a hospital for treatment,” he said.
Nguroje said that based on the reports he received in the morning, the incident centered within Rugange and neighbouring villages, down to Wadugo
Asked on the cause of the incident, the spokesman said police had been drafted to the area to investigate the root cause, so he will not pre-empt their finding
“I plead that we should give them the opportunity to come out with their findings on what must have triggered the conflict so as to make it known to the members of the public,” he added.
The Kogi State Government has said security operatives have intercepted a group of underage children trafficked into the state in what is suspected to be a covert recruitment attempt for banditry training.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 said some suspects linked to the trafficking operation were arrested.
“At about 1500hrs on December 5, 2025, eagle-eyed security operatives of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Yagba Area Command, in collaboration with other security agencies in Isanlu, acting on credible intelligence from community hunters, intercepted a truck conveying 21 children aged between six and 17 years into Kogi State,” the commissioner stated.
He said initial investigations revealed that the children were moved from different northern states under suspicious circumstances by adults who could not provide legitimate justification for their movement.
“Several suspects linked to the trafficking operation have been arrested, including individuals who claimed they were transporting the children to establish an informal ‘Islamic school’ within Yagba East,” he said.
Fanwo added that further arrests were made as security operatives intensified surveillance in the area, uncovering additional persons allegedly connected to the movement of the minors.
“Some of the suspects were also found with items raising significant security concerns,” he said, adding that the rescued children had been transferred to the NSCDC State Command in Lokoja for detailed investigation and proper profiling of all persons involved.
He said Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had directed the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to take full custody of the underage victims, ensure their wellbeing and provide necessary psychosocial support pending the conclusion of investigations.
“Upon completion of profiling and verification, the children will be handed over to their respective state governments for further investigation and eventual reintegration with their families,” he noted.
The commissioner, however, said all individuals found culpable in the trafficking operation would be prosecuted in line with Kogi State’s child trafficking and child rights protection laws.
“The Kogi State Government reiterates its uncompromising stance against child trafficking, criminal infiltration and any form of security threat.
“The administration of Governor Ododo will continue to work closely with security agencies and local communities to safeguard every part of the state,” he added.
A 64-year-old man who worked as a “Santa for hire” in New Jersey, United States, has been arrested after authorities accused him of possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material, raising concerns over his repeated interactions with children during holiday events.
As reported by Daily Star on Tuesday, Mark Paulino, of Hamilton Township, was taken into custody on Monday and charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse materials, as well as endangering the welfare of a child.
According to Mercer County officials, the investigation began on 4 December 2025, when detectives were alerted to suspicious activity involving the alleged uploading of child pornography from a Hamilton Township residence.
The probe quickly identified Paulino, who had previously worked as a retired elementary school teacher, as the person involved.
Police said Paulino had presented himself online as a retired teacher and had recently performed as Santa Claus for photographs and private, corporate, and organisational events, a role that brought him into repeated contact with children.
“Because this role involved direct, repeated contact with children, detectives worked around the clock to secure a search warrant,” authorities said.
The warrant was executed on 5 December, during which police seized multiple items of evidentiary value, and Paulino was arrested without incident.
Prosecutors have since filed a motion to detain him pending trial, and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.
