…as NDLEA intercepts US, Canada, Sweden-bound opioids in black soup containers, designer wears

…uncovers clandestine codeine syrup factory in Abia

…arrests woman, son over 1,187kg skunk seizure in Ondo

Three weeks after escaping arrest at his home in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, Shiroro local government area of Niger state, a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in the area, 33-year-old Mohammed Sani (alias Gamboli), has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at his hideout.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Babafemi said that following credible intelligence about the illicit drug activities of Gamboli, NDLEA operatives had on 20th November 2025 raided his house at Anguwan Makera, Kuta, where they recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

Babafemi said that though he escaped arrest during the raid and has since been in hiding, the manhunt for him eventually paid off on Thursday, 11th December, when NDLEA officers acting on processed intelligence traced and arrested him at one of his drug joints in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta.

Babafemi said intelligence reports had indicated that Gamboli is a major supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro local government area.

He added that, meanwhile, NDLEA officers in Abia on Thursday, 11th December, raided a clandestine codeine syrup-manufacturing factory at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, in Osisioma local government area of the state.

During the operation, he said operatives recovered a total of 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 1,152.2kg.

The statement reads, “In Enugu state, operatives on Thursday, 11th December arrested Ossai Emeka, 45, along Onitsha – Enugu Ezike road with 7.2kg skunk, while Enoje Agada, 40, was nabbed along Enugu-Ezike -Ette road with 94.6kg of the same psychoactive substance.

“A raid carried out by NDLEA operatives at a notorious drug joint known as “Beere the California” at Ido in Oyo state on Thursday, 11th December, led to the seizure of 3.4kg skunk, 1.6kg Colorado, a synthetic cannabis and 400grams of methamphetamine.

“The owner of the drug joint, identified as ‘Idowu the killer, ‘ is currently at large, while a suspect, Ajibade Faruk, was nabbed at the joint. Another operation at Idi Oro, Elekuro, Ibadan on Friday 12th December, led to the arrest of Olusanya Abosede, 35, and the seizure of 238.4kg skunk.”

Babafemi said that while the duo of Bashiru Babalola, 43, and Ugunwale Ranti, 50, were arrested on Wednesday, 10th December at Gbaji checkpoint, Seme road, Badagry, Lagos, with 50,000 pills of tramadol 250mg, NDLEA operatives in Ogun state arrested two suspects: Akinwale Makanjuola and Joseph Owolabi with 73kg skunk at Iperu.

He added that another suspect, Wasiu Lateef, was nabbed with 25kg of the same substance at Oke Agbede, Imeko area of the state on Tuesday, 9th December.

He said, “In Ondo state, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence on Monday, 10th December, raided a compound in Ogbese, Akure North local government area, where they arrested a 55-year-old woman, Veronica Obi and her 29-year-old son, Bright Obi, and recovered 1,187 kilograms of skunk and its seeds from them.

“A suspect, Ohiomah Igbafe, 44, was arrested during a raid operation at Uroe community, Owan East local government area of Edo state, where 461kg skunk and its seeds were recovered on Tuesday, 9th December.

“In Gombe state, a suspect, Muhammed Sani (alias Sha-Mu-Sha), 50, was arrested with 40,000 capsules of tramadol at Tunfure area, Gombe, while two other suspects: Muhammad Abdullahi (a.k.a Sakalala), 52, and Muhammed Hamza (a.k.a Mamman), 32, were nabbed at Ashaka Jalingo, with 56kg skunk on Monday, 8th December.

“No fewer than 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam concealed in containers of local black soap, and designer wears, in six different consignments going to the US, Canada and Sweden were intercepted and seized by NDLEA operatives at two major courier companies in Lagos between Tuesday, 9th and Wednesday, 10th December 2025.”

Babafemi said at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers on Saturday, 13th December, intercepted a consignment of 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579kg during a joint examination of a container with men of the Customs Service and other security agencies.

“In like manner, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places, and communities, among others, in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Community Senior Secondary School, Sheme, Katsina; Government College, Tudun Wada Dankade, Kano; and Methodist High School, Makurdi, Benue, while the Enugu state command of the Agency paid a WADA advocacy visit to HRM Igwe Ikechukwu Samuel Asadu, Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers.

“While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Niger, Abia, Oyo, Enugu, Seme, Ogun, Ondo, Gombe, Apapa, and Edo Commands for the arrests, seizures, and their dexterity, 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 statement reads.

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A local hunters’ group has successfully rescued a kidnapped herder, Alhaji Babawuro, from captivity in Yobe State without payment of ransom, following a coordinated operation with security authorities.

Sources told security analyst Zagazola Makama that the Babawuro, a resident of Kurbunga village under Shamka District of the Ngelzarma Emirate in Fune Local Government Area, was abducted at about 2:00 a.m. on November 29, 2025, and taken to an unknown location.

The incident was reported to the Damagum Police Division on November 30, after which the kidnappers contacted the victim’s family and demanded a ransom of N50 million.

“It was the fifth time the victim had been kidnapped, apparently due to his status as a wealthy herder,” the sources said.

They explained that while negotiations were ongoing and the police were making arrangements to transfer the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, the Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Yobe State Governor and the Emir of Ngelzarma held consultations with the Commissioner of Police.

According to the sources, it was agreed that a hunters’ group with proven expertise in kidnap rescue operations should be engaged to assist the police.

“The hunters subsequently took over negotiations, which were reduced to N7 million, while efforts were intensified to trace the kidnappers,” the sources said.

“They added that the hunters traced the victim and the kidnappers to Sandi village in Gulani Local Government Area.

“At about 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 11, the hunters stormed the hideout and successfully rescued the victim without paying any ransom,” the sources said.

During the operation, the leader of the kidnap gang, identified as Ahmadu Shuwa, also known as “Sumo,” was neutralised, while another suspect, Mohammed Bello, sustained gunshot injuries.

Two other members of the gang were arrested and have confessed to the crime.

The rescued victim, who has since reunited with his family, was treated at the State Specialist Hospital, Damaturu, and later reported the incident at the Damagum Police Station.

Efforts are ongoing to recover the weapons used by the kidnappers ahead of handing over the suspects and exhibits to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and prosecution.

The hunters’ group were commended for their role in the successful rescue operation.

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A Nigerian man and a woman are in federal custody after being accused of abducting a federal agent in Minnesota, United States.

Oluwadamilola Bamigboye, 24, and Rekeya Frazier, 23, allegedly trapped the federal agent in a car on Wednesday and dropped him off at the New Hope Police Department.

Bamigboye, and Frazier, each face one count of assaulting a Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent in connection with the incident.

According to an FBI affidavit, HSI agents were surveilling an apartment parking lot in Plymouth in search of Bamigboye, who had allegedly overstayed a student visa.

The three agents — two in plain clothes and another wearing a vest that said “POLICE” and “HSI” — approached Bamigboye when they saw him get out of a Jeep SUV driven by Frazier. The affidavit claims the agents displayed their badges and identified themselves as law enforcement

Bamigboye, who had moved to the back seat of the Jeep, asked what kind of law enforcement they were, and when they answered that they wanted to talk about his immigration status, he allegedly told Frazier to get back in the car and drive.

One agent got into the front passenger’s seat in an attempt to stop Frazier from driving off, and another got into the backseat to pull Bamigboye from the Jeep, the filing states.

Bamigboye pushed one agent out of the backseat, and Frazier put the car in drive. The vehicle’s motion caused the passenger’s side door to close, trapping the second agent inside.

“The agent told Frazier to stop the car, warning her “she was making a very bad decision and making the situation worse.”

The agent allegedly fought to shift the Jeep into park while it was still moving, and Frazier told the agent she might crash the car if he didn’t stop and said they were taking him to the police department.

According to the complaint, the agent, who “is on temporary detail for an operation,” was unfamiliar with the Twin Cities and feared he “was being abducted” because he “had no idea where they were going.”

In the backseat, Bamigboye called 911, and the agent yelled to tell the dispatcher who he was.

In a statement, the Plymouth Police Department said Bamigboye told dispatch they were taking the agent to the Plymouth police station, but they ended up going to New Hope instead.

While the car was still moving, the agent pulled out his gun and told Frazier to stop, but she kept driving.

HSI agents in a Ford Explorer had followed the Jeep from the apartments in Plymouth, “at one point inadvertently hitting it from behind in the snow.”

Once at the New Hope Police Department, HSI agents parked in front of the Jeep “to pin it in,” but Bamigboye hopped out and ran to a nearby Hy-Vee, where he was eventually arrested, the affidavit states. Police eventually arrested Frazier after she initially refused to leave her car.

Bamigboye agreed to speak with law enforcement about what happened. He denied that any agents had presented their badges or credentials and admitted to trying to push an agent out of the car and telling Frazier to drive awa

In his statement, Bamigboye said his response to the situation was “because he had PTSD from having been previously kidnapped” in his home country.

Both Bamigboye and Frazier are in custody at the Sherburne County Jail.

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