Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kano State Command, have arrested four suspected illicit drug dealers in Gaida, Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were apprehended during a covert operation conducted by operatives of the Counter-Terrorism Unit, based at Dorayi Babba in Gwale Local Government Area.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Monday.
According to the statement, the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence on their alleged involvement in the illicit drug trade.
The suspects were identified as Abubakar Abdullahi, 35; Rabiu Baffa, 25; Aminu Lawan, 35; and Ibrahim Idris, 33, all residents of Gaida, Kumbotso LGA.
The NSCDC said items recovered from them included four sachets of Pregabalin 300mg capsules, popularly known as “PG”; dozens of Diazepam tablets, locally referred to as “Fara”; three tubes of Oshin Solution, also known as “Sholisho”; and three big packs and 20 parcels of suspected marijuana.
The State Commandant, Mohammed Agalama, cautioned members of the public, particularly youths, against the illegal sale, distribution and abuse of illicit drugs.
Agalama described drug abuse as a serious threat to public safety, security and the wellbeing of society, particularly among young people.
He said the suspects and the recovered exhibits would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano State Command, after preliminary investigation by the NSCDC.
He added that the handover was to enable the NDLEA to conduct further investigation and take necessary legal action.
The commandant reiterated the commitment of the NSCDC to working with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to tackle drug-related offences and other activities capable of undermining peace and security in the state.
He also urged members of the public to provide security agencies with credible information on suspected illicit drug activities, assuring them that such information would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 17 suspects over an alleged violent attack on a family following accusations of witchcraft in Gobirawa Village, Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were arrested in connection with alleged criminal conspiracy, defamation of character, house trespass, intimidation, attempted culpable homicide and mischief.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement made available on Monday, stating that the incident occurred at about 1 am on October 18, 2026, in Gobirawa Village, Gwana District, Alkaleri Local Government Area.
According to the statement, the suspects allegedly conspired with three others, identified as Maharazu Isah, Babangida Kadamaje and Yakubu Umaru, who are currently at large, to invade the residence of a 60-year-old man.
The statement read, “The suspects conspired with three others now at large, Maharazu Isah, Babangida Kadamaje and Yakubu Umaru. They criminally trespassed into the house and premises of a 60-year-old man of the same address, armed with machetes and sticks.”
The police said the attackers allegedly assaulted the victim’s son, Abubakar, whose other names were withheld, inflicting multiple fractures on his left hand and leg, alongside other injuries.
The victim’s 30-year-old son also sustained injuries, while two motorcycles belonging to the family were reportedly damaged during the attack.
The police explained that preliminary investigations linked the attack to the death of a 20-year-old man, Halilu Ahmad, on October 16, 2026.
The statement added, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the attack was allegedly triggered by the death of one Halilu Ahmad, male, 20 years old, of the same address, on October 16, 2026, which the suspects attributed to witchcraft or wizardry by the son of the victim.”
Following the incident, detectives attached to the Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters arrested the 17 suspects at about 3pm on October 18.
The suspects were identified as Dayyabu Umar, 18; Malam Sule Muhammadu, 50; Usman Dabo, 20; Umar Suleiman, 22; Aminu Ahmad, 18; Bello Umar, 20; Sani Ibrahim, 18; Abubakar Ayuba, 25; Auwal Abdullahi, 22; Ayuba Ahmad, 30; Halilu Ahmad, 22; Umar Rabi’u, 18; Dauda Rabi’u, 20; Ashiru Alhaji Abdulkarim, 20; Abubakar Lamiru, 25; Adamu Ibrahim, 22; and Bashiru Rabi’u, 20.
The police spokesperson said the victim was initially taken to the General Hospital, Alkaleri, but was later referred to Ihsan Hospital, Bauchi, after his health condition deteriorated.
The statement noted that “the case now borders on attempted culpable homicide.”
It further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, had directed the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Bauchi, for further investigation.
According to the statement, the directive was intended to ensure that the fleeing suspects were apprehended and all those found culpable were diligently prosecuted.
The commissioner condemned resorting to self-help and jungle justice based on unverified superstitious beliefs.
He warned that the command “will not tolerate any act capable of causing a breakdown of law and order,” while assuring the victims and members of the public that justice would be served.
The command urged residents to report grievances and suspected criminal activities to law enforcement agencies rather than taking the law into their own hands.
Two senior police officers attached to the Abia State Command were murdered and three others were injured after gunmen attacked the Uratta Divisional Headquarters in Aba, Abia State at about 2am on Saturday, October 17.
According to reports, the gunmen used explosives to destroy part of the building.
The hoodlums were also said to have burnt the station’s patrol van and operated for close to an hour without any challenge.
Unconfirmed report has it that the gunmen were at the scene in search of guns and ammunition, but that they were unable to get any.
Confirming the incident, the police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, Maureen Chinaka, said at about 02:26hrs, the hoodlums attacked the division with explosives, resulting in a fire that damaged part of the building and the divisional patrol van.
She said two senior police officers lost their lives, while three inspectors sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.
The Command further clarified that no firearms or ammunition were carted away by the attackers during the incident.
According to the PPRO, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, personally led an operational team comprising tactical units of the Command to the area.
The team combed the surrounding environment and restored calm, while intensified security operations and monitoring are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators. she said
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State, with a gallon of palm oil containing parcels of cannabis weighing 511.75 grammes.
She was arrested during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 16, 2026, when Fatimah told operatives that the gallon was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was promptly arrested at the airport car park.
The NDLEA operatives also discovered 8,725kg of powdered tramadol worth over N6.98 billion in street value during a search of a shipment at the Apapa Port in Lagos State, according to the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday.
“At the Kano airport, NDLEA officers on Friday, 16th October 2026, intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, with a gallon of palm oil containing parcels of cannabis weighing 511.75 grammes during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa. Fatimah told operatives the gallon was given to her by her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, who was promptly arrested at the airport car park,” the agency stated.
In a series of operations across the country, the agency also seized thousands of kilogrammes of cannabis and large quantities of opioids in Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna states, arresting dozens of suspects.
“Following a joint examination with the Customs Service and other agencies at the APM terminals in Apapa, Lagos, NDLEA operatives on 2nd October uncovered a large shipment of powdered tramadol from India, declared as maize starch.
“A confirmatory test at the NDLEA forensic laboratory showed the cargo to be tramadol hydrochloride powder. When it was separated from its concealment on Wednesday, 14th October, it came to 349 bags with a gross weight of 8,725kg, worth over N6.98 billion.
“In a separate operation at the Tincan port in Lagos on Monday, 12th October, NDLEA officers, in the course of a joint examination of a container with Customs and others, discovered 55kg of Canadian Loud worth N165 million. The drugs were packed in brown cartons and hidden inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle conveyed in the 40-foot container.
“Elsewhere in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 14th October, raided Idumota market where they arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, and recovered 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store. The following day, Thursday 15th October, two 35-year-old men were arrested in the Mushin area of the state: Idowu Daudu, with 59.95kg of skunk, and Ahmed Oniyinde, with 61.23kg of the same substance.
“In another interdiction operation in Lagos, operatives acting on credible intelligence on Thursday, 15th October intercepted a truck coming from Trade Fair market with illicit drug consignments along Iyana Oba. Two suspects: Tajudeen Adeduntan, the loading manager and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg, concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide,” the statement partly read.
In Edo, NDLEA operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East LGA between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects.
“They include 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, arrested with 179kg of skunk at Warake; Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8kg at Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852kg; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100g; Musa Mubid, 35, with 2kg of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grams of loud.”
On Saturday, October 17, 2026, the agency said its operatives “raided a cannabis farm in Okemoro Isinbode camp forest, Ondo State, and destroyed 7,500kg skunk on three hectares”, where five suspects were arrested.
Exhibits recovered included 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267kg, 11kg of cannabis seeds and 3kg of fresh stems, a total of 1, 281kg.
“In the Owo area of the state, operatives on Friday, 16th October, trailed 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to his hideout in Ameyinti, where they recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375kg.
“Not less than 894,800 tramadol capsules and exol-5 tablets were recovered from Shamsu Garba, 35, at Ragwam village, Katagum LGA, Bauchi State, when NDLEA officers intercepted his Volkswagen Golf wagon car on Wednesday, 14th October.
“The same day, operatives on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265kg from an abandoned car at Tudun Natsira village,” among other operations.
