The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, said it had seized 13 containers of hard drugs and expired goods with a total duty-paid value of N43.58bn.

Addressing journalists at the command while showcasing the seized containers, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, explained that the contents fell into three categories: “narcotics and controlled pharmaceuticals, security-sensitive equipment, and expired goods intended for human use.”

“The total duty-paid value of the seizures is N43.58bn,” Adeniyi said.

Giving details of the seizure, he said a 40-foot container with registration number HAMU 3086682 was carrying 4,777 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 2,388.5kg, packed in two cartons, 48 jumbo bags and 40 drums, alongside assorted automobile spare parts, one carton of coffee mix, eight cartons of oats and three vehicles.

He added that another 40ft container with registration number FANU 1933352 was carrying 8,287 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 4,145kg, packed in 162 bags and three vehicles.

The CGC pointed out that a 20ft container with registration number MSKU 3941778 was intercepted with 2,181 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 1,090.5kg, packed in five cartons, 148 bags of foreign parboiled rice, assorted automobile spare parts, two boxes of lithium batteries, one carton of PV combiner box, 19 cartons of turmeric, 33 cartons of mangala fish and 11 cartons of butterfly fish.

“Others include a 40ft container with registration number TCKU 7653306 carrying 1,700 cartons containing 169,998 bottles of codeine syrup, concealed under household items.

“Another container with registration number MSKU 9282528 was carrying two cartons containing 108 units of high-definition dual-camera drones, extracted from the container. A 40ft container with registration number MRKU 6185100 conveying 425 bales of used clothing. A 40ft container with registration number SEKU 4685299 was carrying 422 bales of used clothing,” he said.

Adeniyi said the command also intercepted five containers loaded with expired tomato ketchup, antiseptic liquid, vaginal tablets and disposable nappies.

He emphasised that the three narcotics containers together were carrying 15,245 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 7,624kg, while the used clothing amounted to 1,282 bales.

Adeniyi warned that the abuse of prohibited substances like codeine among young Nigerians had been a national concern for years, adding that its connection to violent conduct, family breakdown and the loss of productive lives was well documented.

According to him, a single container of this size would have supplied the trade for a considerable period. He said the cannabis interceptions resulted from inter-agency work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, supported by intelligence from international security partners.

Adeniyi added that the service also extracted 108 units of high-definition dual-camera drones from an intercepted container.

“Drones have lawful uses, and the service has no quarrel with them. But equipment of this kind, in the wrong hands, becomes a means of surveillance, of reconnaissance and of delivery, and our security agencies have already met it in that role in the field,” he stressed.

He maintained that consignments of security-sensitive equipment arriving without necessary documents would be detained. “Our ports will not be a route through which capability reaches those who are working against the security of this country,” Adeniyi warned.

He disclosed that the seized items would be handed over to the relevant narcotics agencies for further action and closure.

Source: punchng.com

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The family of the late Chiamaka Chilaka, a student of the College of Nursing Sciences, Alor, Anambra State, has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to order a fresh investigation into her death, alleging foul play.

Chilaka reportedly died on June 14, 2026, in circumstances the family believes may have involved murder at a compound where she lived in Anambra State.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the family’s legal representative, Euphemia Eleonu, expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the investigation by the Anambra State Police Command.

Eleonu particularly faulted the release from detention of a prime suspect in the case, Ogochukwu Ugoeze, while, according to her, the investigation had yet to be concluded.

The family also alleged bias and compromise on the part of the investigating police officer, Supol Nwaije Francis of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, and his immediate superior, CSP Ayorinde David, who is in charge of the Homicide Section of the SCID.

The allegations have not been independently verified.

The family further expressed concern that the police had not invited them to brief them on the progress of the investigation since Chilaka’s death.

Eleonu called for the two officers to recuse themselves from the case and for a new investigation team to be constituted.

She said, “In the interest of justice and to preserve the integrity of the investigation, we respectfully request that the following steps be taken: That in reference to the letter dated July 21, 2026, to the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, and duly acknowledged on July 27, 2026, the Investigating Police Officer, Supol Francis, based on shown bias and interest in the matter in favour of the suspect, Mr Ogochukwu Ugoeze, should recuse himself and the case be reassigned to another IPO/team.”

The lawyer also asked the police to give the deceased’s immediate family a briefing on the status of the investigation, subject to legitimate investigative confidentiality.

She further urged the authorities to preserve all physical, forensic, documentary and electronic evidence relating to Chilaka’s death in accordance with proper chain-of-custody procedures.

Eleonu stressed that the determination of criminal responsibility should ultimately be made by a competent court based on admissible evidence.

She said, “Ultimately, the question whether any person is criminally responsible for Chiamaka’s death should be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction on admissible evidence and in accordance with the Constitution and not by media trial or administrative body.”

She also called for Ugoeze to be rearrested, arguing that suspects should not be treated as guilty or innocent outside the judicial process.

The lawyer said the family had suffered a devastating loss and deserved answers about the circumstances surrounding Chilaka’s death.

Eleonu said the family wanted to know what happened to their daughter, how she died, who was responsible and whether every reasonable line of investigation had been pursued.

“For this reason, we respectfully urge the Nigeria Police Force, the Anambra State Government, the relevant prosecutorial authorities and the media to approach this matter with restraint, utmost professionalism and humanity,” she said.

Eleonu expressed confidence that the Inspector-General of Police would intervene and direct a fresh investigation.

“We have 99 per cent confidence in the IG to direct that the Police Commissioner of Anambra State Command directs that the IPO recuse himself and disband the entire team investigating this case,” she said.

The deceased’s elder brother, Ikenna Chilaka, said the family had been devastated since her death and appealed to the IGP to intervene and help them secure justice.

He said, “I call on the Inspector-General of Police to come to our aid, to help us find justice for my sister. All suspects should be re-arrested. Every suspect should be in custody.

“The court is the only one that has the authority to exonerate or release anybody. I am not happy with the way the investigation has been going.”

Source: punchng.com

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The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has arrested a 27-year-old woman, Hafsat Abubakar, over the creation and circulation of a forged document falsely suggesting that fintech company OPay Nigeria Limited was shutting down its operations.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC in Abuja on Wednesday.

Iniedu said the arrest followed a formal petition received from OPay Digital Services Limited on August 31, 2026, requesting an urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of those responsible for creating and circulating the fraudulent document.

He said the petition was submitted through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja.

According to him, the document was falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited.

“On the 31st of August 2026, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, received a formal petition from OPAY Digital Services Limited through the office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, requesting urgent investigation, tracing and apprehension of persons responsible for the creation and simulation of a fraudulent document falsely presented as an official communication issued by OPay Nigeria Limited,” Iniedu said.

The FPRO said the NCCC immediately deployed digital forensic tools to examine the document and trace its origin.

“Upon receipt of the approved petition, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NCCC, deployed digital forensic tools to analyse the content, which was traced to a post on the X handle, @haifah_er_abba, registered and operated by one Hafsat Abubakar,” he said.

Iniedu said police operatives subsequently arrested Abubakar on September 4, 2026.

“On the 4th of September 2026, police operatives of the NCCC arrested one Hafsat Abubakar, a 27-year-old female graduate of Library and Information Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,” he said.

He said the incident demonstrated the dangers posed by digitally fabricated information, particularly when such content could trigger public panic, financial disruption and reputational damage.

The police spokesman also warned members of the public against sharing sensitive information without first verifying it through official channels.

He said the investigation was ongoing and assured that suspects found culpable would face prosecution after the conclusion of the investigation.

PUNCH Online had reported that OPay denied a viral claim that it would shut down operations from September 1, 2026, describing the notice as false and urging customers to rely on its official communication channels.

A fabricated document titled “Official Note” had circulated on social media, claiming that OPay would stop processing transactions and account services indefinitely from September 1.

OPay’s Head of Corporate Communications, Folayemi Joshua, described the notice as “completely false” and said the company remained fully operational.

The company also pointed out inconsistencies in the document, including an outdated logo, a misspelt brand name and a layout that differed from its official communications.

OPay’s Chief Legal Counsel, Akinfolabi Rokosu, had also confirmed that the company was working with the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the source of the false information.

The company warned that individuals deliberately spreading false information about its operations could face legal action.

Source: punchng.com

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