– N4.4bn worth of Loud seized at Apapa, Lekki ports; recovers consignments of meth, skunk, opioids in sweeps across Seme, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Abia and FCT
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have recorded significant breakthroughs across the country’s land and maritime borders, including the arrest of a 101-year-old great grandmother for dealing in illicit drug, the interception of cocaine concealed in edible cassava flour popularly known as fufu, and the seizure of large consignments of Loud, a synthetic cannabis valued at over N4.4 billion at the Apapa and Lekki ports in Lagos.
In a rare and startling development, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 15th August 2026, arrested a 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, in Ilisan, Ogun state, with retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 90 grams, which she claims she sells to locals.
The centenarian told operatives that she resorted to the illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was razed by fire, adding that one of her daughters, who resides in Lagos, arranges the supply of the substance to her every four days, which she in turn sold in bits.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has however directed that the suspect be granted bail and placed on counselling because of her advanced age, while her daughter has been arrested.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Akwa Ibom state acting on credible intelligence, on Friday, 21st August intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas conveying illicit drugs to fishing settlements in the Republic of Cameroon. Three suspects who were arrested on board the boat, which was heading to Ine Isu, Ine Mbah and Ine Ikot Itie Udung fishing ports in Cameroon, include: Etima Effiong Eekpo, 29, caught with 1.120kg skunk; Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, 33, who had 42.060kg of skunk in his possession; and 27-year-old Kingsley Effiong John, who was found with 20grams of cocaine cleverly concealed inside a large wrap of edible cassava fufu, alongside 435grams of skunk. A total of 42.622kg of narcotics was recovered from the trio.
In the nation’s maritime space, the Agency recorded its first-ever seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through the maritime corridor, following the interception of two containers of cannabis indica, also known as Loud, at the Apapa and Lekki ports, with a combined street value put at over N4.4 billion.
Both containers were loaded at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, underscoring the emergence of a new trafficking route being exploited by drug syndicates to smuggle synthetic cannabis into the country.
At the Apapa Port, a container, declared to be conveying dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap and inverter batteries, was found, during a joint examination of the shipment on Friday 21st August by NDLEA, Customs and others, to contain 1,090.5kg of Thai Loud packed in 54 cartons comprising 2,181 sachets of 500 grams each.
At the Lekki Deep Sea Port, a similar container, which had been placed on the Agency’s watchlist and monitored by its Marine Special Operations Unit, was jointly examined on Wednesday, 19th August. Of the seven pallets found in the container wrapped in black nylon, four were confirmed to be laced with Thai Loud, yielding 96 cartons made up of 400 parcels weighing a total of 400kg. The remaining three pallets contained 798 rims of A4 paper, which had been used as cover for the consignment.
In the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 22nd August intercepted three waybill packages containing 24,410 pills of tramadol capsules inside a hummer bus travelling from Enugu to Zuba. A follow-up operation conducted in Niger State led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Sunday Eze, 28, in Kontagora, after which he was transferred to Abuja.
Operatives in Ondo State on Wednesday 19th August raided a cannabis farm at Ijare forest, Ifedore Local Government Area, following the earlier arrest of three suspected cannabis planters at the same location on 16th August. The team destroyed a total of 10,000kg of skunk cultivated across four hectares of the forest. In a separate operation in the state, operatives same day at Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North LGA, recovered 210kg skunk and a Toyota Camry car with registration number AGL 223 JH belonging to Sylvester Dibiagu Anthony, who is currently at large.
In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Ogbomosho-Ilorin expressway, Ilorin on Friday 21st August intercepted a Toyota Starlet car without a registration number. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 1.325kg of methamphetamine, wrapped in black nylon bags, alongside quantities of cannabis sativa. One suspect, Muhammadu Usman, 22, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
A 65-year-old woman, Adebayo Kaosarat, was arrested at Akobo-Ojuirin area of Ibadan, Oyo state on Friday 21st August with a cocktail of substances comprising 1.795kg of Scottish Loud, 1.66kg of tramadol, 600g of codeine syrup, 125g of diazepam and 50g of flunitrazepam, totalling 4.68kg.
A raid at Hadeija road, Kano, on Monday 17th August led to the arrest of Chibuzor Madueke, 31, with 98 blocks of skunk weighing 73.3kg recovered from him, while a similar operation by NDLEA operatives at Seme, Badagry area of Lagos led to the arrest of three family members: Nasiru Tijjani, 52; Moshood Tijjani, 27; and Salami Tijjani, 27, at Ashipa area, near the Seme border, with 48kg of skunk.
In Abia state, NDLEA officers on Thursday 20th August raided the residence of Ikechukwu Anthony Iwuno, 36, at Umuobia Olokoro area of Umuahia South LGA, where 14.4kg Loud, 2.3kg Colorado, 386grams of tramadol and 134grams of rohypnol were recovered.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Umar Bn Khattab College for Islamic Studies, Ungogo LGA, Kano; Markaz Al-Furqan Centre of Islamic and Arabic Teaching, Kishi, Oyo state; School of Nursing and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state; Mu’assasah Tahfizui Qur’an Islamiya School, Ibi, Taraba; and members of the Scout Association of Nigeria at the first National Youth Camp held in Benin City, Edo state, while the Idiroko Special Area Command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the Chairman of Ipokia LGA, Ogun state Hon. Johnson Avoseh, among others.
While commending the officers and men of Ogun, Apapa, Lekki, Seme, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Abia and FCT Commands for the various successful operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Marwa (rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the current balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.
The Nigerian Correctional Service has said that two inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Okene, Kogi State, on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections Jane Osuji, said the NCoS had begun working with other security agencies to recapture the fugitives.
She said, “The NCoS confirms that two inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Okene, Kogi State, on Sunday, 8th November, 2026.
“The service has commenced necessary actions in collaboration with relevant security agencies to ensure the prompt recapture of the fleeing inmates.”
Osuji said a full report on the incident was being awaited to establish how the inmates escaped.
“A comprehensive report on the incident is being awaited to establish the circumstances surrounding the escape,” she said.
Osuji said the Controller-General of Corrections had ordered a thorough investigation into the incident.
According to her, the directive was aimed at identifying any lapses and taking appropriate action where necessary.
“The Controller-General of Corrections has also directed that the incident be thoroughly investigated, with a view to identifying any lapses and taking appropriate action where necessary,” she said.
Osuji assured the public that the matter was receiving attention and that all appropriate measures were being taken to rearrest the inmates.
“The service assures members of the public that the situation is being given the necessary attention and that all appropriate measures are being taken to rearrest the fleeing inmates,” Osuji said.
She added that the service would provide updates once verified information became available and thanked the public for its understanding and cooperation.
The Okene escape follows that of an awaiting-trial inmate from the Auchi centre in Edo State in October 2026. The Edo State Command of the NCoS confirmed that the inmate, identified as Thomas, escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Auchi, where he was being held over conspiracy and stealing.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 54-year-old woman for allegedly faking her kidnapping to extort N15m from her younger brother.
The woman reportedly claimed that she had been abducted and taken to the bush by some men, who demanded N15m ransom for her release.
The police public relations officer of the command disclosed this in a video showing the woman confessing to the alleged crime.
The police spokesperson said the case was reported at the Ogwashi-Uku Divisional Police Headquarters on October 23, 2026, prompting the Commissioner of Police to direct the Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Obu-Luku, Aniocha South Local Government Area, to investigate.
He said the operatives launched an intelligence-led investigation which exposed the alleged plot and led to the woman’s arrest.
The spokesperson said, “On October 23, 2026, a case of suspected kidnapping was reported at Oguachukwu Division, and the Commissioner of Police, in his wisdom, directed the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of Obu-Luku to investigate.
“They started the investigation, and the result was alarming. In the past, we have heard of cases of self-kidnapping and fake kidnappings involving underage persons or teenagers aged 15, 16, 17 or 18 to 20.
“But we have never had a case involving a 54-year-old woman. It is quite unfortunate that she faked her own kidnapping because she wanted to extort N15m from her younger brother.
“We embarked on an intelligence-led investigation, which led to the eventual discovery that the kidnapping was fake. She was arrested before she started opening up.”
In a confessional statement contained in the video, the suspect admitted to staging her abduction and demanding the money from her brother.
She said, “I kidnapped myself. I told my brother I had been kidnapped when I went out to buy medicine, and it took me to the bush. I called my brother and told him.
“I told him they wanted N15m and that if he didn’t pay the money, they would kill me. It was the devil’s work. I want forgiveness. It was the devil’s work.”
The police spokesperson said the woman claimed to have been held for 12 days before her arrest.
He added that the investigation had revealed that she did not act alone, as some people were allegedly involved in the plot.
He said, “She claimed that she was kidnapped on October 23 and remained in captivity for 12 days, all in a bid to extort N15m from her brother.
“But thanks to the intelligence of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit here in Obu-Luku, she was eventually arrested, and the cat was let out of the bag.
“Some of the people she conspired with are being tracked, and we are definitely going to arrest them.”
A United Kingdom court has convicted a 66-year-old Sunderland councillor, Glenn Gibbins, over “grossly offensive” comments he made about the city’s Nigerian community.
According to a report published by UK news outlet Chronicle Live on Monday, the former Reform UK councillor, who was elected in May, was found guilty after a three-hour trial at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
District Judge Zoe Passfield, the report said, sentenced him to a 12-month community order with 150 hours of unpaid work.
Gibbins was said to have admitted that his comments were offensive but denied that they were grossly so. He made the remarks in a Facebook post in March 2024.
The report said the suspended councillor told the court that his comment, which suggested that Nigerians should be melted down and used to fill potholes, was “naughty” but was not meant to be taken literally.
The post reportedly came to light after the group Hope Not Hate reviewed his social media posts when Gibbins was announced as a Reform UK candidate for Sunderland City Council.
Chronicle Live reported that the authorities were alerted to the post after he was elected.
In the post, Gibbins wrote, “Can’t believe the amount of Nigerians in town… should melt them all down and fill in the potholes!!”
The report quoted the prosecuting counsel, Emma Dowling, as saying, “The comment about melting them down conjures up despicable images.”
She said the remark implied that Nigerians were “somewhat less than human, stripping people in that group of humanity”.
Giving evidence in court, a Nigerian community leader in Sunderland, Godwin Ejeh, said he led a protest outside the City Hall building on the day Gibbins was expected to be sworn in, hoping that the councillor would apologise.
However, Gibbins had already been suspended by Reform UK after the post emerged and did not attend the ceremony.
Ejeh, who stood as a Liberal Democrat councillor in the May elections, denied trying to make political capital out of the situation, telling the court, “We are talking about humanity here; it’s way beyond politics.”
In his defence, Gibbins said, “I thought it was a tongue-in-cheek joke. It was an unreal scenario. No one took it literally.”
He explained that he had set up his business in the Bridges shopping centre and recalled that, on the day he made the post, some Nigerians had approached him about buying some of his printing equipment.
Gibbins said he had exchanged banter with the Nigerians at his stall and that the conversation had been good-natured.
The report said he told the court that, later that night, after “a couple of cans of beer”, he saw a Facebook post about Nigerians which he tried unsuccessfully to share. He then typed out the message himself and published it on his public Facebook profile.
When Dowling asked what reaction he intended to provoke, he said, “It was tongue-in-cheek, a bit naughty, but I thought it was fun.”
Speaking about his earlier interaction with the Nigerians at his stall, he said, “They had done my head in, in a funny way, not a bad way.”
Asked what was funny about the post, Gibbins replied, “It’s an unreal scenario; you cannot melt people down. Anyone who takes that literally… you cannot do that. I wouldn’t dream of joking about killing people.”
He told the court that he was not particularly political and that, when Reform UK approached him about becoming a councillor in March, he considered the position a source of income “to tide me over” during the quieter summer period for his business.
He also said he enjoyed helping residents during the brief period before his suspension.
Summarising the prosecution’s case, Dowling said the post was grossly offensive and dehumanising. She said it was shared “for no reason whatsoever other than to offend and humiliate people from Nigeria who live in Sunderland”.
Defence counsel Adam King described the post as “unfunny” and “an unpleasant joke/non-joke”.
He cited professional comedians such as Jo Brand, who had joked about throwing acid on Nigel Farage, and Jimmy Carr, who had made jokes about gipsies and the Holocaust, arguing that they had not been prosecuted.
The court found that the nature of Gibbins’ remarks had crossed the threshold of being “grossly offensive” to reasonable members of the public.
Christopher Atkinson of the Crown Prosecution Service in the North East said, “Racially charged and grossly offensive comments like this cross the line between free speech and criminal behaviour. They can be particularly upsetting and dehumanising for those in affected communities.
“I would remind anyone using social media that grossly offensive commentary of the type used by Glenn Gibbins is a criminal offence, and those posting similar material could face prosecution as a result of their actions.”
