The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said its operatives have arrested a notorious drug kingpin, 36-year-old Sunday Ibigide, in Asaba, Delta State, three years after launching a manhunt for him over drug trafficking offences.
NDLEA said the suspect was arrested while attempting to move 250 blocks of skunk weighing 138 kilograms with his distribution bus.
This was announced on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.
Babafemi disclosed that Ibigide came under searchlight on 19th March 2022 in connection with the seizure of 24.137kg of the same psychoactive substance and 10 grams of molly but thereafter went underground.
However, following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives in Delta State were able to arrest him along with one of his aides, Clement Osuya, 27, while they were trying to move the 250 parcels of skunk for distribution on Sunday, 10th August 2025.
Similarly, Babafemi announced that no fewer than six suspects were arrested on Thursday, 14th and Friday, 15th August when NDLEA operatives, supported by the military and vigilantes, raided three cannabis farms in Enugu Ezike, Enugu State, where a total of 37,500kg of skunk was destroyed on 15 hectares of farmland.
Those arrested include: Ugwuanyi Chinaso, 23; James Negedu, 26; Sopuruchukwu Obido, 22; Ebuka Onu, 30; Ukwueze Sunday, 42; and Oguche Friday; while 74.5kg of the illicit substance was recovered for the prosecution of the suspects.
While 20,700 pills of tramadol and cocodamol were seized from a suspect, Emmanuel Ayogu, 53, by NDLEA officers on patrol along Nsukka Road, 9th Mile, Enugu, on Saturday, 16th August, two other suspects, Nsubechukwu Achidde, 24, and Osiaja Simple Frank, 41, were arrested with 27.6kg of skunk the same day at the New Market, Enugu.
In Lagos, a 52-year-old woman, Muyibat Mumuni, was arrested with her son, Faruk Mumuni, 25, by NDLEA operatives at Ladega Street, Mushin, on Wednesday, 13th August, for storing and distributing 298 blocks of Ghana Loud weighing 149kg, while another suspect, Emmanuel Samuel, was nabbed on Friday, 15th August, in the Ajah area of Lekki, where 8.5kg of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis, was recovered from their apartment.
Not less than 128,000 capsules of tramadol were recovered from a suspect, Sani Mohammed, 32, who was arrested by NDLEA officers at Jauro Jatau, Gombe, Gombe State, on Monday, 11th August, while a total of 337,800 capsules of the same pharmaceutical opioid were seized by operatives on patrol along Okene-Lokoja Highway, Kogi State, from the driver of a commercial bus, Sulaiman Oyedokun, 47, coming from Onitsha, Anambra State, and heading to Kotangora, Niger State.
While a total of 11,250kg of skunk was destroyed on 4.5 hectares of farmland on Tuesday, 12th August, when NDLEA operatives, assisted by Sardauna Emirate Council and the Nigeria Forest Hunters Security Service, raided the Tanmiya Forest in Sardauna LGA, Taraba State, 29,840 capsules of tramadol were seized from a suspect, Saleh Babangida, 20, at a checkpoint in Wukari area of the state on Saturday, 16th August.
In Kaduna, two suspects, Mohammed Amdife, 46, and Sulaiman Mohammed, 22, were arrested in connection with the seizure of 22,640 pills of tramadol and rohypnol at Gwargwaje checkpoint, Zaria, and Tudun Wada area of the state. Two other suspects, Caroline David, 51, and Abdulhadi Umar, 30, were nabbed over the seizure of 111.1kg of skunk intercepted along Zaria-Kano Road.
At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, a total of 875,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth over N6.1 billion in street value and 3,500,000 pills of trodol benzhexol valued at N1.7 billion were recovered from five containers under NDLEA intelligence tracking and watch-list during joint examination with Customs Service and other security agencies on Wednesday, 13th and Thursday, 14th August, at the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) of the Onne Port.
In Edo, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 13th August, recovered 24 bags of skunk weighing 432kg in a bush along Warake-Auchi Road in Etsako West LGA, while 130kg of the same substance was seized at a warehouse in Sobe, Owan West LGA, the following day.
A suspect, Tahiru Madu Manga, 25, was nabbed by NDLEA officers along Zaria-Kano Road with 16kg of skunk, and another suspect, Ibrahim Audu, 47, was arrested with 76kg of the same psychoactive substance at Gadar Tamburawa along Zaria-Kano Road, Kano State, on Wednesday, 13th August.
No fewer than 4,320 ampoules of ketamine injection were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Lagos Highway on Monday, 11th August, with a suspect, Akeem Adegun, arrested.
While commending the officers and men of PHPC, Gombe, Kogi, Lagos, Edo, Kano, Delta, Taraba, and Seme Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.
The Federal Government has secured approximately 150 convictions within the first two days of its latest phase of mass terrorism trials, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), disclosed on Tuesday.
Fagbemi made the disclosure while speaking with journalists at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the trials are being conducted simultaneously before 10 judges of the court.
The AGF said the current phase, which commenced on Monday, had already recorded about 160 trials leading to roughly 150 convictions on its first day alone.
“Yesterday, we had about 160 trials. I think about 150 convictions,” Fagbemi told reporters.
He added that proceedings on Tuesday brought approximately 300 cases before the courts, with another 84 cases expected to be concluded before the close of the day.
“Whatever we can do, or wherever we stop today, we’ll continue tomorrow and also on Thursday. So it’s still ongoing,” the minister said.
Fagbemi appealed for patience from members of the public as the exercise continued, stressing that the initiative reflected the government’s commitment to justice, accountability and the rule of law.
On Monday, the AGF had said the ongoing phase marked the fourth round of mass terrorism trials conducted since the inception of the current administration, describing the exercise as a clear signal that the government would not tolerate terrorism in any form.
“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity. And that is why you see ongoing trials.
“Since the inception of this administration, this is about the fourth phase that we are undertaking. So the message is that let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated,” Fagbemi added.
The prosecution is being led by the AGF himself, while the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, heads the defence team.
Among the judges handling the cases are Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu and Ekerete Akpan, with proceedings taking place across several courtrooms simultaneously.
The current phase of trials is expected to run through Thursday, with the overall exercise scheduled to last one week.
The latest phase follows a previous round conducted between April 7 and April 10, during which no fewer than 500 alleged terrorists were tried before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested a man, Sunday Olawale, over allegedly spreading fake news of bandits’ attack on Are Ekiti in the Irepodun Ifelodun Local Government area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, said in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday that the suspect, who confessed to the crime, had been unable to give a reason for the false information.
Abutu stated, “The Police Command wishes to reiterate that there was no bandit invasion in Are Ekiti or any part of the Ekiti State”.
The statement reads in part: “On 14th of June, 2026, the Command Rapid Response Squad trailed and arrested one Sunday Olawale at Ekute area of Ado Ekiti for cyberstalking and giving of false information intended to cause breakdown of law and order.
“It would be recalled that on the 12th of June 2026, a video was circulating on social media claiming that bandits had invaded Are Ekiti. The video was later confirmed to be false.
“During the investigation, the suspect confessed to having peddled the false information on social media and was unable to give any satisfactory reason for his action.
“The State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, while warning that the Command will not tolerate any act of fake news peddling or content capable of initiating panic among members of the public, advises members of the public to always verify information they believe or share on social media,” the PPRO stated.
The Plateau State Police Command has confirmed that three security operatives were killed in an attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, in the early hours of Monday.
In an information update in Jos on Tuesday, signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Alfred Alabo, the command said, “The Plateau State Police Command, on a very sad note, wishes to confirm the incident that occurred in the early hours of today, 16th June 2026, involving security personnel on duty at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru.
“Regrettably, three security personnel lost their lives during the incident.”
The command disclosed that security has been beefed up around the facility following the attack.
“Security reinforcements have been deployed, and patrols have been intensified around the general area by the Commissioner of Police, CP Bassey Ewah,” SP Alabo stated.
The police also assured residents that calm has returned to the area.
“The situation is under control and normal activities have resumed,” the statement added.
On the next steps, the command said, “Investigation is ongoing. The command urges members of the public to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses.”
The PPRO concluded that “Further updates will be communicated in due course.”
NIPSS Kuru is Nigeria’s premier policy training institution for senior public officials.
The attack marks one of the most serious security breaches at the facility in recent years.
