Crime
PHOTOS: NDLEA arrests two grandpas for drug trafficking in Abia, Ekiti
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested two elderly men, aged 83 and 78, in separate operations in Abia and Ekiti states as part of a nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.
The arrests were announced on Sunday in a statement by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, the 83-year-old suspect, Pa John Ofiel, was apprehended on April 28 during a raid at Samek area by Powerline in Aba, Abia State, following credible intelligence.
Officers reportedly recovered 700 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets. The suspect claimed he was previously a shoemaker before engaging in the drug trade.
In a similar operation, NDLEA operatives in Ekiti State arrested a 78-year-old man, Ogunjobi Samuel, on April 30 at his residence on Owode Street, Ilupeju-Ekiti. About 350 grams of skunk were allegedly recovered from him.
In Oyo State, two women — Rebecca King, 24, and Olaniyan Opeyemi, 31 — were arrested in connection with the seizure of 1.925 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis. King was intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on April 29, while Opeyemi was arrested in a follow-up operation at Iwo Road, Ibadan, as she attempted to receive the consignment.
Also in Ibadan, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspected drug dealer, Taofik Adeyemi, 49, alongside his associate, Mustapha Oyerinde, 28, on May 2 at Erunmu after months of evading arrest. Recovered from them were 3.085 kilograms of skunk and a Toyota Camry car.
Two of Adeyemi’s alleged accomplices had earlier been arrested in December 2025 and are currently facing prosecution at the Federal High Court in Ibadan.
In Osun State, a 65-year-old driver, Oladayo Awoyemi, was arrested on April 30 at Ile-Ife toll gate along the Ibadan-Ilesha Expressway with a carton containing 7 kilograms of skunk and 15 grams of methamphetamine.
A subsequent operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the drugs, Ifedayo Babalola, 40, in Ilesha.
In Borno State, NDLEA officers arrested a 27-year-old suspect, Yahaya Shehu, on April 29 along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road, recovering 76,440 pills of Tramadol (225mg).
In a separate operation, a truck driver, Magaji Isa, 30, was apprehended with 14,000 capsules of Tramadol, while a follow-up raid in Biu led to the arrest of the alleged owner, Abdulhamid Mahmud, 28.
Further interceptions included the seizure of 290 kilograms of skunk from two suspects, Ojo Major Ebose, 36, and Chika Obiechefula, 32, along the Abuja-Jos highway in Kaduna State.
In Jigawa State, NDLEA operatives recovered 49,800 capsules of Tramadol from two suspects arrested along Bauchi Road in Hadejia.
In Lagos State, a raid at Awolowo Market in Mushin on May 2 led to the recovery of 740 kilograms of skunk. Meanwhile, in Edo State, a suspect identified as Godstime Godspower, 25, was arrested in Idogbo community, Benin City, with various illicit drugs including Loud, Colorado, Tramadol, Swinol, and methamphetamine.
The agency also said its commands nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, workplaces, and communities.
Reacting to the development, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across affected states for their efforts, urging them to maintain the momentum in both enforcement and public awareness initiatives.
The NDLEA has made great strides in apprehending drug pushers in Nigeria since Buba Marwa was first appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2021. He has since been reappointed by the incumbent, President Tinubu.
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Crime
PHOTOS: Kebbi man arrested over alleged ritual desecration of Qur’an after burying it in pit with s€men to make woman more submissive to her husband
The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 29-year-old man, Abubakar Musa, over alleged ritual desecration of the Holy Qur’an in Zuru Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesperson for the command, SP Bashir Usman, who disclosed this in a statement on 14th August 2026, said the suspect was arrested in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of religious books, use of spells and hypnosis, and inciting disturbance.
According to the PPRO, on August 9, 2026, Musa and two other suspects, Rabi’u Tela and Hamza Zango, allegedly dug a pit and buried a copy of the Holy Qur’an, together with semen, white and red kolanuts, underwear, d3ad animals, and other fetish items.
The police spokesperson said the act was allegedly intended to make Rabi’u Tela’s wife Zarau Hassan more submissive to him.
“The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested Abubakar Musa, male, 29, of Rafin Mose Village, Zuru LGA, in connection with a case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of religious books, use of spells and hypnosis, and inciting disturbance,” the statement read.
“The incident occurred on 9th August 2026, at about 1900hrs, at Zango Area, Zuru. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly conspired with two others; Rabi’u Tela, husband of Zarau Hassan, and Hamza Zango, both now at large, to dig a pit inside Zarau Hassan’s room and bury therein a copy of the Holy Qur’an, together with semen, white and red kolanuts, underwear, dead animals, and other fetish items.
“The act was allegedly intended to make Zarau Hassan more submissive to her husband, Rabi’u Tela, and was carried out in circumstances capable of provoking a breach of the peace among the Muslim faithful in the community.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the two fleeing suspects, while Abubakar Musa remains in police custody and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Umar M. Hadejia, psc, MNIM, strongly condemns the alleged act and warns that the Command will deal decisively, within the law, with individuals whose actions threaten religious harmony, public order, and peaceful coexistence.
“Members of the public are urged to promptly report suspicious activities to the Police through 09039911876 or 07081074395. All information will be treated with utmost confidentiality.”
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Gunmen have abducted 14 passengers travelling along the Otukpo–Adoka road in Benue State.
The incident occurred on Thursday night, August 13, 2026 when an 18-seater commercial bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja was reportedly ambushed along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area.
A resident, Ochai, who spoke with punch on Friday, said the gunmen forced all the passengers into the surrounding forest.
“Some gunmen ambushed an 18-seater bus heading to Abuja between Omutele and Ankpechi along Otukpo -Adola road yesterday (Thursday) night. All the passengers in the vehicle were whisked away by the gunmen,” he said.
The spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, who confirmed the incident in a statement said five of the victims have so far been rescued.
According to the PPRO, the police launched a coordinated rescue operation early Friday.
Aondongu said the operation involved an exchange of gunfire between the security operatives and the kidnappers.
“The Benue State Police Command has confirmed a kidnapping incident involving a commercial passenger bus travelling from Enugu State to Abuja along the Ankpechi–Omutele axis of Ohimini Local Government Area on the night of 13 August 2026,” the statement read
“Following the incident, operatives of the command commenced a coordinated rescue operation early this (Friday) morning. The operation, which involved an exchange of gunfire, has so far resulted in the successful rescue of five victims, including a four-year-old boy, while nine others remain in the custody of the suspected kidnappers.”
The police spokesperson disclosed that one of the rescued victims sustained a gunshot injury during the operation and was taken to a medical facility in Otukpo for treatment.
He said the police, working with other security agencies, had intensified efforts to secure the release of the remaining nine victims.
According to Aondongu, the operation was being conducted cautiously, with the safety of the abducted passengers prioritised.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Cletus Nwadiogbu, also assured the victims’ families and members of the public that efforts would continue until the remaining passengers were rescued.
He urged residents of the affected communities to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information that could aid the rescue operation.
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