Crime
PHOTOS: NDLEA Nabs Brazil-Based Nigerian With Cocaine Hidden In Private Parts, Shoes
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, for attempting to smuggle cocaine into the country through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Onyekwere, 47, was apprehended on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the arrival hall of the airport during the inward clearance of passengers on a South African Airways flight from Brazil via Johannesburg, following what the agency described as “processed intelligence.”
NDLEA operatives said the suspect was subjected to a full-body scan, which confirmed the concealment of illicit drugs.
A subsequent strip search led to the discovery of a large parcel of white powdery substance, later confirmed to be cocaine, wrapped around the suspect’s right thigh.
Further search also revealed two additional wraps of the same substance concealed in the soles of a pair of flat shoes worn by the suspect.
“In all, three large wraps of cocaine, with a gross weight of 1.60 kilograms, were recovered from his body and footwear,” the agency disclosed.
During preliminary interrogation, Onyekwere confessed that he purchased the cocaine consignment in Brazil with the intention of reselling it in Nigeria.
According to him, the proceeds were meant to raise capital to boost his business and also finance the naming ceremony of his newly born child.
The suspect, who resides at Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, told investigators that he has lived in Brazil since 2008 and has been operating a toy business for about nine years.
In a related development, the NDLEA intercepted a massive consignment of cannabis at the Tincan seaport in Lagos.
A statement issued on Sunday, February 1, by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said 55 jumbo bags of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 1,183 kilograms, were discovered in a container imported from Montreal, Canada.
The seizure was made on Wednesday, January 28, during a joint examination by NDLEA officers, Customs and other security agencies.
“The illicit consignments were concealed inside two vehicles, a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix car,” Babafemi said.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a long truck marked T 31589 LA along the Dei-Dei–Abuja Expressway in the early hours of Tuesday, January 26.
Three suspects, Andy Chidogu, 49; Kenneth Ogene, 45; and Sadiq Olanrewaju, 27, were arrested for conveying 176 bags of skunk weighing 2,735 kilograms and one kilogram of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis.
Investigations revealed that Ogene, the driver, had earlier transported 800 bags of flour from Lagos to Ekpoma, Edo State, before negotiating to transport the drugs to another destination for N1.7 million.
Multiple Seizures, Arrests Across Edo, Anambra, Ondo, Kano
In Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested Shaibu Yusuf on Tuesday, January 27, along the Auchi–Abuja Expressway while attempting to transport 66 bags of skunk concealed in charcoal bags to Katsina.
Also in Edo, NDLEA operatives, supported by personnel of the Nigerian Army, raided a cannabis farm at Ebora Camp, Ilushi, in Esan South East Local Government Area, where 4,063.675 kilograms of skunk were destroyed across over 1.6 hectares of farmland.
Recovered at the camp were 328 kilograms of processed cannabis and seeds, while suspects arrested include Jeremiah Nwodeh, 46; Chukwudi Pius, 33; Pius Ogaba, 46; and Onora Kwene, 35.
In Anambra State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a cement truck at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, on Wednesday, January 28. A search revealed 345.2 kilograms of skunk concealed with bags of cement. One of the occupants, Abum Okeke, 42, was arrested.
In Ondo State, two suspects, Tunde Ogundele, 39, and Soji Elegbelye, 46, were arrested at Eleyewo community in Akure North in connection with the seizure of 473 kilograms of skunk.
In Kano, NDLEA operatives arrested Abdullahi Usman, 45, along Murtala Mohammed Way with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection, while 4,390 pills of tramadol were recovered from Musa Shuaibu, 42, in the Gaya area of the state.
More Arrests At Lagos, Seme Border
In Lagos, Oragwan Ekene was arrested on Friday, January 30, at Okeyson Park, Alaba, with 15.5 kilograms of skunk heading to Onitsha, Anambra State.
Similarly, 3.5 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a sound system and cereal packs in the luggage of Omang Peter Edward at the Seme border, Badagry, on Tuesday, January 27, as he attempted to enter Nigeria from Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Babafemi said NDLEA officers across commands also intensified the War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities nationwide.
While commending officers of the MMIA, Tincan, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Ondo and Kano commands for their professionalism, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
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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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