Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Onyekwere, 47, was apprehended on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the arrival hall of the airport during the inward clearance of passengers on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg, following what the agency described as “processed intelligence.”
NDLEA operatives said the suspect was subjected to a full-body scan, which confirmed the concealment of illicit drugs.
A subsequent strip search led to the discovery of a large parcel of white powdery substance, later confirmed to be cocaine, wrapped around the suspect’s right thigh.
Further search also revealed two additional wraps of the same substance concealed in the soles of a pair of flat shoes worn by the suspect.
“In all, three large wraps of cocaine, with a gross weight of 1.60 kilograms, were recovered from his body and footwear,” the agency disclosed.
During preliminary interrogation, Onyekwere confessed that he purchased the cocaine consignment in Brazil with the intention of reselling it in Nigeria.
According to him, the proceeds were meant to raise capital to boost his business and also finance the naming ceremony of his newly born child.
The suspect, who resides at Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, told investigators that he has lived in Brazil since 2008 and has been operating a toy business for about nine years.
In a related development, the NDLEA intercepted a massive consignment of cannabis at the Tincan seaport in Lagos.
A statement issued on Sunday, February 1, by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said 55 jumbo bags of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 1,183 kilograms, were discovered in a container imported from Montreal, Canada.
The seizure was made on Wednesday, January 28, during a joint examination by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies.
“The illicit consignments were concealed inside two vehicles, a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix car,” Babafemi said.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a long truck marked T 31589 LA along the Dei-Dei–Abuja Expressway in the early hours of Tuesday, January 26.
Three suspects, Andy Chidogu, 49; Kenneth Ogene, 45; and Sadiq Olanrewaju, 27, were arrested for conveying 176 bags of skunk weighing 2,735 kilograms and one kilogram of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis.
Investigations revealed that Ogene, the driver, had earlier transported 800 bags of flour from Lagos to Ekpoma, Edo State, before negotiating to transport the drugs to another destination for N1.7 million.
Multiple Seizures, Arrests Across Edo, Anambra, Ondo, Kano
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested Shaibu Yusuf on Tuesday, January 27, along the Auchi–Abuja Expressway while attempting to transport 66 bags of skunk concealed in charcoal bags to Katsina.
Also in Edo, NDLEA operatives, supported by personnel of the Nigerian Army, raided a cannabis farm at Ebora Camp, Ilushi, in Esan South East Local Government Area, where 4,063.675 kilograms of skunk were destroyed across over 1.6 hectares of farmland.
Recovered at the camp were 328 kilograms of processed cannabis and seeds, while suspects arrested include Jeremiah Nwodeh, 46; Chukwudi Pius, 33; Pius Ogaba, 46; and Onora Kwene, 35.
In Anambra State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a cement truck at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, on Wednesday, January 28. A search revealed 345.2 kilograms of skunk concealed with bags of cement. One of the occupants, Abum Okeke, 42, was arrested.
In Ondo State, two suspects, Tunde Ogundele, 39, and Soji Elegbelye, 46, were arrested at Eleyewo community in Akure North in connection with the seizure of 473 kilograms of skunk.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested Abdullahi Usman, 45, along Murtala Mohammed Way with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection, while 4,390 pills of tramadol were recovered from Musa Shuaibu, 42, in the Gaya area of the state.
More Arrests At Lagos, Seme Border
In Lagos, Oragwan Ekene was arrested on Friday, January 30, at Okeyson Park, Alaba, with 15.5 kilograms of skunk heading to Onitsha, Anambra State.
Similarly, 3.5 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a sound system and cereal packs in the luggage of Omang Peter Edward at the Seme border, Badagry, on Tuesday, January 27, as he attempted to enter Nigeria from Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Babafemi said NDLEA officers across commands also intensified the War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities nationwide.
While commending officers of the MMIA, Tincan, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Ondo and Kano commands for their professionalism, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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.
