The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has recorded seizures worth N93.03 million in Adamawa within six weeks under Operation Whirlwind, Zone ‘D’ Axis.
The National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this at a news conference on Friday in Yola.
Represented by the Comptroller-General, Dr Bashir Adeniyi, Aliyu said the operation supports efforts to safeguard food security, energy supply and national stability, in line with the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.
“Our gathering today is to showcase successes recorded through ongoing intelligence-driven anti-smuggling operations aimed at disrupting syndicates.
“The total Duty Paid Value of the seized items stands at N93,029,800.
“The Items seized include; 64,410 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS popularly called Petrol) concealed in 2,550 Jerry Cans of 25 litres each.
“Also three drums of 220 litres capacity of PMS, intended to be smuggled out of the country with two vehicles used for conveyance,” he said.
He said within six weeks, the operation recorded significant seizures of illegally exported goods across various locations through coordinated intelligence-based enforcement.
Aliyu said the unit recorded 47 seizures across Mubi-Sahuda, Farang-Belel, Gurin-Fufore, Maiha, Mubi and Pariya-Wuro Bokki axis.
He said operatives also intercepted a DAF tanker conveying 50,000 litres of PMS along Mubi-Uba road on April 15 over suspected diversion.
According to him, the tanker will be handed over to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) for further action.
He said the successes followed intelligence-driven operations targeting smuggling syndicates across the state in accordance with enabling laws.
Aliyu said the seizures contravened provisions of section 150, 248 and 250 of the NCS Act, 2023.
He added that the operatives equally acted in accordance with section 226 of NCS Act, 2023 which gave power to patrol freely and apprehend the goods.
Aliyu attributed persistent smuggling to price disparities of petroleum products between Nigeria and neighbouring countries like Cameroon and Benin Republic.
He said the price differences continued to drive illegal exportation of petroleum products for profit by smugglers.
“Despite deregulation, government remains committed to ensuring market stability, national security and curbing illicit exportation of petroleum products,” he said.
Aliyu said the seized PMS would be auctioned in line with the law, with proceeds remitted to the Federation Account.
He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to dismantling smuggling networks and reducing illegal activities to the barest minimum.
Aliyu commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, NMDPRA, other security agencies and stakeholders for their collaboration.
He urged the public to support the fight against smuggling by providing timely and credible information to security agencies.
Aliyu also called on the media to sensitise the public on the negative impact of smuggling on the economy and national security.
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.
