The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 74-year-old grandpa, identified as Ikwuakalom Nwakoro Emeka, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, after a large consignment of cocaine was discovered in foil papers and balloons concealed in his luggage.

It was reports that the NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday, disclosed that its operatives at the departure hall of the Abuja airport arrested Emeka while attempting to board a British Airways flight BA082 to Heathrow, London, United Kingdom, on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

During a search of the septuagenarian’s luggage, blocks of cocaine weighing 11 kilograms were discovered concealed inside food items, including ground dry pepper, carefully wrapped in foil papers and balloons.

The statement further disclosed that in Lagos, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence in the early hours of Monday, March 9, arrested a woman, identified as Maryam Olalowo, at Ikad Hotel and Suites, on Etim Inyang Street, Victoria Island, while attempting to sell 89grams of cocaine and 20grams of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis.

“She was found with her three children, including an infant, at the time of the arrest. She confessed the illicit drugs belong to her husband, Ibrahim Olalowo Olatunji, who was later taken into custody same day while his wife was immediately set free.

“Ibrahim confirmed ownership of the illicit drugs in his statement, while further investigation revealed that he had previously been arrested, convicted, and sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment for a similar offence in 2015.”

Also, NDLEA operatives, in another interdiction operation, arrested two suspects: Kalilou Simpara and Saidu Ibrahim at Ebetu Ero, Lagos Island, where they recovered 68,000 pills of tramadol 250mg and 225mg after they had loaded the exhibits into their truck and were preparing to transport them to the Benin Republic on Monday, March 9.

A follow-up operation was conducted on Wednesday, March 11, at the Idumota market on Lagos Island, where the actual owner of the consignment, Nnamdi Cyprian, was arrested.

The statement stressed, “A search of his shop led to the discovery of a parcel already prepared for waybill delivery, containing 1,000 tablets of tramadol 250mg. Another raid at Idumota market on Friday, March 13, led to the arrest of Nwanosike Kelvin and the recovery of 47,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection from his shop.

“While a 42-year-old Magaji Dan Azumi was arrested at Bebeji area of Kano with 386kg skunk on Tuesday, March 10, NDLEA officers in Abuja recovered 282.2kg skunk from a suspect, Isah Wako, 42, in Gwagwalada area of the FCT on Friday, March 13.”

The NDLEA operatives also raided the Egwa forest reserve in Aduan village, Orhionmwon LGA, in Edo State, where a 33-year-old suspect, Chinedo Odalonu, 33, was apprehended and a total of 4,218.96kg of skunk was destroyed on two farms, with 16.5kg of the same substance recovered.

The statement further stated that no fewer than 339,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup were intercepted in two containers at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on Saturday, March 14, during a joint examination of the shipments by NDLEA officers, men of Customs and other security agencies.

The agency noted that the containers had earlier been watch-listed by NDLEA following credible intelligence on concealment of opioids in them.

While commending the officers and men of NAIA, Lagos, Kano, Edo and FCT Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

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The reported killing of a notorious forest bandit commander, Alti, has sparked fresh rivalry and reprisals among armed groups operating across Zamfara and Katsina states, security sources and local informants have revealed.

Alti, who operated mainly in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, was said to have been killed recently in Katsina State after being lured into an ambush by rival fighters before troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA engaged the group.

“Alti and his men were drawn into a trap set by a rival faction. During the confrontation, several of his fighters were killed before troops later engaged the group in the area,” a security source familiar with the development said.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the bandit commander had reportedly risen to prominence following the death of another feared leader, Dan Isihu, who was killed about a year ago during the Islamic fasting period.

Following Dan Isihu’s death, Alti allegedly took control of the faction and vowed to intensify attacks across rural communities in the region.

Security sources said Alti was widely feared across Tsafe LGA and was linked to multiple attacks on villages including Dan Jibga, Kunchin Kalgo and Hayin Kanggana.

“He was responsible for several raids, kidnappings and extortion in those communities. His group had become one of the most violent factions operating around Tsafe,” a local source said.

Authorities also linked the group to the increasing use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by bandit groups in the North-West.

According to local intelligence, Alti had recently travelled to Libya, where he allegedly acquired explosive devices later used along the Zaria–Gusau highway.

“One of the devices exploded near a truck carrying cement along the highway. The explosion caused panic among motorists, allowing the bandits to abduct travellers during the confusion,” the source said.

Security analysts say the use of IEDs represents a worrying shift in tactics among bandit groups, reflecting methods commonly associated with insurgent warfare.

Investigations further indicate that the ambush that led to Alti’s death was allegedly orchestrated by a rival faction linked to another bandit commander known as Isiya Kwashen Garwa.

The killing has since triggered reprisal attacks among the rival groups.
Sources disclosed that fighters loyal to the notorious bandit kingpin, Ado Aleiro, who is believed to be related to Alti, carried out a retaliatory attack in which the father of Kwashen Garwa was reportedly killed.

“The killing appears to be part of a revenge cycle between the rival groups competing for control of territories and criminal routes across the Zamfara–Katsina forest belt,” a security official said.

Despite Alti’s death, several fighters who previously served under him are believed to remain active in the forests around Tsafe.
One of them, identified as Umar Kachalla, is reportedly coordinating remnants of the faction.

Meanwhile, another bandit figure known as Babalo was also recently killed after sustaining injuries during a confrontation with security forces.

Local sources said Babalo had been receiving treatment for a gunshot wound in the Marde area after being injured during an earlier clash.

However, troops reportedly tracked him to the location and killed him alongside four of his associates.

Residents in several communities across Tsafe LGA say the deaths of key bandit commanders have brought a sense of relief after years of violent attacks, kidnappings and extortion.

“For the first time in a long while, people are beginning to feel some relief,” a resident of one affected community said. “But many of these fighters are still in the forests, so the fear has not completely gone away.”

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An Ibadan-based cleric, Kayode Amusan, popularly known as Agbala Gabriel, has been accused of sexual misconduct and mishandling donations raised for sick individuals.

The allegations have triggered intense debate on social media, where the pastor had built a reputation as a compassionate cleric known for mobilising financial support for vulnerable people.

For years, the cleric cultivated an online image as a pastor committed to charity and humanitarian work.

Videos of him praying for struggling families and appealing for donations to support the sick frequently circulated across social media platforms, earning him admiration from many Nigerians.

However, that reputation has recently come under scrutiny following a series of allegations circulating on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.

One of the controversies involves a woman identified as Morenikeji, who reportedly suffered from a spinal condition and whose medical case had previously attracted public donations.

In a viral video, Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola, said she had earlier helped raise funds for the woman’s surgery before learning that the family later approached the cleric for assistance.

According to her, she withdrew from the fundraising effort after discovering the new arrangement.

Daramola said, “I initially raised money for the woman’s surgery, which wasn’t enough. But as soon as the family took her to Agbala Gabriel’s care, I withdrew.

“Later, I got to know that Gabriel abandoned them and failed to provide the support of a good accommodation and surgery he promised.”

The woman’s daughter also alleged in the same video that she eventually removed her mother from the cleric’s care due to concerns about how the situation was being handled.

Blogger Alleges Sexual Relationship

While the controversy surrounding the medical fundraiser was still gaining attention online, another allegation surfaced.

A blogger known as Iyalaje Courtroom claimed during a live broadcast that the cleric had mismanaged donations and engaged in sexual relationships with women in his church.

According to the blogger, one of the women identified as Bolu, who was reportedly a former backup singer in the church, became pregnant for the pastor and later gave birth to twins.

The blogger alleged, “She was about 23 when the relationship started and she is now 25.

“Agbala Gabriel initially denied the pregnancy, but after pressure, he later accepted responsibility and rented a house for the lady and the twins.”

A charity advocate, Princess Adeyinka, also claimed that she intervened when the matter first surfaced. She alleged that the cleric initially refused to accept responsibility for the pregnancy.

“Agbala Gabriel impregnated Bolu and refused to take full responsibility initially. I went to him myself to beg him to take responsibility when I first heard about it, which he denied initially but later took responsibility,” she said.

As the accusations continued to spread across social media, supporters and critics of the cleric clashed online. While some defended his years of charity work, others demanded greater transparency regarding the allegations.

Responding to the claims, Agbala Gabriel denied wrongdoing.

He told Saturday Punch, “This is how they try to bring ministers of God down.

“All ministers who became famous faced this kind of lies. We see men of God like Pastor Adeboye, and other famous pastors being dragged on social media every day. This is just how they do on social media, making false allegations.”

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