Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a notorious drug trafficker, Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, previously convicted of dealing in 30.10kg of methamphetamine in 2023, alongside three cargo agents, following the seizure of 75 parcels of cocaine weighing 1.50 kilograms.
According to a Sunday statement signed by the agency’s spokesperson, the suspects concealed the consignments in a factory sealed sachets of cold-water starch heading to the United Kingdom at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The statement reads, “Three cargo agents: Jubrin Firdausi Hassana, Kuku Daniel Oluwasegun, and Igwe Chioma Jane, involved in the attempt to export the consignment to the UK, were swiftly arrested on Saturday, 20th December 2025, before further investigations unravelled 37-year-old Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil as the mastermind.
“He was arrested in a follow-up operation on Sunday, 21st December at a popular relaxation centre in Ikeja, where he went on a date with his girlfriend.”
The statement added, “The Agency’s criminal database revealed that Nwobodo had been arrested in May 2023 in connection with the seizure of 30.10kg methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers as part of a consolidated cargo going to London, United Kingdom, at the export shed of the Lagos airport.
“He was subsequently arraigned at a Federal High Court in charge number: FHC/L/337C/2023, convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of a fine of Seven Million Naira (₦7,000,000.00), along with one-month community service, with effect from 4th December, 2023. He paid the fine and soon after returned to the same crime.”
In another successful operation, NDLEA operatives on Monday, 22nd December, set ablaze tons of skunk, a strain of cannabis and wooden warehouses in Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti, where 638 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance were also recovered.
Also in Edo State, NDLEA operatives recovered no fewer than 1,205 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 883.1kg, from three Toyota Camry vehicles intercepted during patrol along Igara-Auchi road, on Monday, 22nd December.
In a similar operation in Edo state, a 42-year-old lady, Joy Oisamaye, was arrested with 38kg of skunk by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abaji- Abuja expressway on Monday, 22nd December, on her way from Otua in Owan East LGA.
In Cross River state, raid operations conducted on Sunday, 21st December at Agoi-Ibami community, Yakurr LGA, led to the arrest of three suspects and seizure of various quantities of skunk. They include: Freedom Jonah Akpama, 27, with 671kg; David Itam David, 30, with 89kg; and Nelson Arikpo Osam, 26, with 148kg.
While NDLEA operatives in Lagos arrested a female suspect, Ajoke Dauda, with 45.5kg of skunk on Christmas day Thursday, 25th December at Agbara, along Badagry expressway, another suspect, Oluwasegun Felix, was nabbed with 18.5kg of the same substance at Itoga, Badagry, the previous day, Wednesday, 24th December. In the Takum area of Taraba state, two other suspects, Emmanuel Danladi, 39, and John Onoja, 41, were nabbed with 48kg of the same substance on Wednesday, 24th and Tuesday, 23rd December, respectively.
In Gombe state, a 65-year-old driver, Sada’u Mohammed, was arrested while conveying 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection, 27,900 pills of tramadol, and other opioids, along the Gombe-Biu highway, heading to Biu in Borno state.
Meanwhile, a 47-year-old businessman, Ignatius Egbochie (alias Brown), wanted in connection with the seizure of 56 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 26kg at the Tincan seaport in Lagos, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives. The illicit drug consignment was seized on 10th December during a joint examination of a container by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies. A follow-up operation by NDLEA operatives on 19th December led to the arrest of Ignatius in Apapa.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) acknowledged the commitment of the operatives across MMIA, Lagos, Tincan, Seme, Ekiti, Edo, Cross River, FCT, Gombe and Taraba Commands, urging them to remain extra vigilant throughout the festive season and beyond. He charged them to maintain the highest standard of professionalism in all their drug control efforts.
UK police said Tuesday they arrested a 14-year-old schoolgirl in the northwestern English city of Manchester after two students and a staff member were wounded in a school stabbing.
The girl was arrested on suspicion of assault and was in custody for questioning, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
Three people were injured — a 14-year-old schoolgirl, a 14-year-old schoolboy and a 27-year-old man who is a member of staff — with what were believed to be stab wounds.
“All were taken to hospital; however, injuries are thankfully not believed to be serious, and all are stable at this time,” police said following the incident at the Co-op Academy north of central Manchester.
The school decided to go into lockdown following the attack, as emergency vehicles surrounded the building, the Manchester Evening News reported.
“Officers will remain at the school and within the area to provide a visible presence and community reassurance,” police chief inspector Jon Shilvock said.
The UK government is trying to clamp down on youth knife crime and the sale of banned knives and machetes, including on online platforms.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested and charged in February over the suspected stabbing of two boys at a London school.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC) Kwara State Command, has arrested a 34-year-old man, Akinola Tosin, for allegedly defrauding a Point-of-Sale (PoS) operator using a fake bank transfer alert while also impersonating a member of the Nigerian Army.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASC 1 Ayoola Michael, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday, June 8, 2026 said the suspect was apprehended following a complaint from a POS operator in the state.
According to the statement, the suspect allegedly obtained N40,600 from the operator after presenting a fake debit alert as proof of payment.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect collected the sum of Forty Thousand Six Hundred Naira (#40,600) after presenting a fake debit alert to the POS operator, deceiving the victim into believing a successful transfer had been made,” the statement read.
“Further investigations revealed that the suspect had been impersonating a member of the Nigerian Army using a fake military identity card bearing his name, alongside military-related paraphernalia, which he allegedly used to gain public trust and facilitate his criminal activities.
“The suspect also confessed to previous fraudulent activities involving multiple victims, while further investigation uncovered a suspected accomplice, identified as one Feranmi Idoko Godwin, who is currently at large.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and conclude investigations.
“Items recovered from the suspect include, 2 Opay ATM cards, 2 UBA ATM cards, 2 First Bank ATM cards, 1 PalmPay ATM card and 1 National Identity Card.
“The suspect will be prosecuted in accordance with the law upon the conclusion of investigations.
“The NSCDC Kwara State Commandant, Commandant Abbas Ndah Mohammed, reaffirmed the Corps’ unwavering commitment to combating crime and other forms of criminality, while urging members of the public to remain vigilant and verify electronic transactions before releasing cash, goods or other valuables.”
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, for an alleged contract scam to the tune of N1,098,961,500 (One Billion, Ninety Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only).
The couple were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering of obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime contrary to Section 17(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Taiwo and Omotola were arrested when a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a proprietor of a private school in Delta State, petitioned the EFCC alleging that the first defendant, Taiwo, approached her to finance a road construction contract purportedly awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
Kenechukwu further alleged that a total sum of N1,980,000,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Naira Only) was paid into Taiwo’s account domiciled with Access Bank Plc.
Investigation further revealed that the couple invested the proceeds of the illicit activities in the acquisition of two properties in Ado-Ekiti, namely: Town Tavern Lounge, located at No. 1, Ikere Road, off Florence Court School, Ado-Ekiti, and a four-bedroom bungalow located on Florence Court, Irewolede Estate, Ado-Ekiti
The Commission had on Monday, May 25, 2026 secured the interim attachment of the two properties.
Count 2 of the charge reads:
“That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500.00 (One Billion, Ninety-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) from one Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, which was paid to you through Olorunbukunmi Taiwo’s account number 0027303340 domiciled with Access Bank Plc, by falsely representing that same would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded to you by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
When the charges were read to them The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, prayed the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants.
Justice Usman adjourned the matter until Thursday, June 11, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, and commencement of trial. The judge also ordered the remand of the defendants in the EFCC holding facility.
