Crime
PHOTOS: Police arrest six suspected drug barons in Jigawa
The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested six suspected drug barons in a series of operations conducted across the state.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Shi’isu Lawan Adam, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, August 4, 2025.
“In a continued clampdown on illicit drug distribution, on 30th July 2025 at about 1500hrs, a team of detectives from Ringim Division arrested one Usman Muhammad ‘m’ age 27yrs of Gabasawa LGA, Kano State, at the Beguwa market. Recovered from him were sizable quantities of Indian hemp, eight hundred (800) pieces of exol tablets, three (3) sachets of tramadol, four (4) sachets of diazepam and forty-eight (48) wraps of Indian hemp,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the suspect usually visits the said market and sells hard drugs to the people. The suspect was transferred to SCID Dutse for discreet investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, the suspect will also be transferred to *NDLEA Dutse* for prosecution.
“On the 2nd of August, 2025, operatives attached to Kiyawa Divisional Police Headquarters, acting on credible intelligence, conducted well-coordinated raids at Kiyawa motor park and Gidan Kara Quarters within Kiyawa town.
“The operation led to the arrest of five suspects: Sama’ila Haruna ‘m’ age 25yrs, Sani Abdullahi ‘m’ age 29yrs, Abba Sunusi ‘m’ age 24yrs, Sadik Ibrahim ‘m’ age 25yrs, Isyaku Ibrahim ‘m’ age 20yrs all of Kiyawa town.
“During the raid, the following illicit drugs were found in their possession: one hundred and eighty-four (184) pieces of D-5 tablets and two hundred seventy-five (275) pieces of exol tablets.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were actively involved in the distribution and consumption of these illegal drugs, thereby contributing to criminality and social vices within the area.
“The suspects are currently in custody and will be charged in court upon completion of a discreet investigation.”
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A 44-year-old man, Wasiu Akinwande, also known as Olori Esho, was on Tuesday remanded in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre by an Ikeja Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos State, over allegations of multiple murder.
Magistrate, Mobolaji Tanimola, ordered his remand for the first 30 days, pending the legal advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
Esho was charged with an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, membership of an unlawful society, possession of a poisonous dagger, grievous bodily harm, threat to life, and possession of other arms.
The charges were preferred against the defendant by the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the police prosecuting counsel, Nosa Uhumwangho, the defendant and others still at large allegedly committed the offences on various dates between December 9, 2010, and April 5, 2025, at different locations within Lagos State, including Mushin, Idi-Araba, Surulere, and Fadeyi.
Uhumwangho told the court that the defendant, while allegedly in unlawful possession of an AK-47 rifle, shot and killed one Yusuf Bolakale (30) and one Yusuf Ramadan (23) at No. 11 Mosalashi Street, Mushin, Lagos.
He was said to have fled to the Alagbado area, where he was eventually apprehended.
The prosecutor further alleged that on December 9, 2010, at Tiamiyu Street, Fadeyi, the defendant shot and killed a 10-year-old girl, Aminat Lateef, while she was running an errand.
Similarly, on July 31, 2024, the defendant allegedly killed six other persons, identified as Anyila (surname unknown), Ojajo (surname unknown), and four others, during a violent clash between rival factions of an unlawful society at Idi-Araba.
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The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives have arrested seven cultists linked to the murder of a lawyer, Bright Owhor, along Market Road in Rumuomasi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
Owhor, a Port Harcourt-based lawyer, was murdered on July 5, 2025, by persons the police described then as ‘unknown gunmen’.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Iringe-Koko said it took the commands Anti-Kidnapping Unit 10 days of discreet intelligence and technical surveillance to track the culprits and have them apprehended.
The spokesperson said the suspects confessed to the crime and the withdrawal of funds from the late 46-year-old deceased’s account.
She further revealed that the suspects also owned up to responsibility for the recent cult attacks in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The statement partly reads, “Following the tragic killing of Barrister Bright Owhor, 46 years, m’ of No. 40C Market Road, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt, by unidentified gunmen on July 6, 2025, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit were deployed to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“He was shot on 5/7/2025 at about 21:30hrs, rushed to the hospital and gave up the ghost at about 02:00hrs of 6/7/2025.
“Through meticulous intelligence work and technical surveillance over 10 days, all individuals involved in the crime were identified and apprehended.
“They (the suspects) include Prince Samuel “m’ 30 years armed operative, Daniel Godwin ‘m’ 25 years – driver of the getaway vehicle, Henry Peter ‘m’ 24 years, arm supplier, the one that shot the victim”.
Others, the statement revealed, are Godfrey Emmanuel ‘m’ a.k.a. Ibu 30 years – gang leader, Chukwu Nneji ‘m’ 34 years, Justice Dimkpa ‘m’ 27 years and Promise Wikere ‘m’ 22 years, the handler of stolen vehicles.
“During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being members of the Deygbam Secret Cult Group.
“They admitted to their roles in the murder, the withdrawal of funds from the victim’s bank account, and involvement in recent cult-related violence between BS and G12 Deygbam factions in Diobu, Port Harcourt,” Iringe-Koko stated.
The PPRO listed the arms and other items recovered from the suspects, which include one SIM card, four locally made pistols, and seven rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Other recovered items listed by Iringe-Koko include two live cartridges, one mini bus and one Toyota Camry car
The Rivers Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, also commended the operational prowess of his men, which he said underscores the commitment of the command to the safety and security of all residents.
“These operations reflect a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and ensure public confidence in law enforcement”, Adepoju stated.
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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.
NDLEA Sustains WADA Campaign Nationwide
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.
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