The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested several suspected sea pirates in a swift operation that successfully thwarted a planned hijack of a crude oil vessel off the Nigerian coast.

According to security sources, the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence that indicated an imminent attack on the vessel transporting crude oil.

The operation, carried out by DSS operatives in collaboration with other security agencies, prevented what could have been a major maritime incident in Nigeria’s territorial waters.

The arrested individuals are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to uncover possible accomplices, sponsors, and details of the foiled plot. Authorities have not yet released the exact number of suspects or their identities, citing ongoing investigations.

This latest crackdown highlights the persistent threat of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, where armed groups target oil vessels for ransom, theft of cargo, or both.

The DSS emphasized its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime economy and critical energy infrastructure.

No injuries or damage to the vessel were reported, and normal operations have resumed.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported a series of significant operations across the country, including the interception of 30.09 kilograms of heroin concealed in coffee packs, valued at over N3 billion in street value, smuggled by a Brazilian national at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) in Abuja.

In a statement released on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, a 30-year-old Brazilian woman, Ms. Ingrid Rosa Benevides, who works as a private security officer in Brazil, was arrested on Friday, January 23, 2026, upon arrival from a Qatar Airways flight QR1431.

Acting on intelligence, operatives searched her two checked-in bags and discovered 21 factory-sealed packets of Brazilian coffee. Instead of the beverage, the packets contained white heroin totaling 30.09kg – marking the largest single heroin seizure at the Abuja airport.

The suspect claimed she intended the trip as a holiday.

The agency also highlighted efforts to disrupt illicit supply chains linked to potential security threats. On Friday, January 23, operatives arrested two suspects, Aminu Ali Baba, 20, and Abdulrasheed Abubakar, 28, in connection with two bags containing 140 packets of explosives intended for Kano and Kaduna.

The bags were intercepted in a commercial bus along the Kaduna-Zaria highway in Zaria, with follow-up arrests made at Karota park in Kano and Mando park in Kaduna.

Additional raids yielded substantial drug recoveries:- At Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Tuesday, January 20, two passengers bound for Istanbul, Turkey, were intercepted with 3,990 pills of tapentadol and tramaking concealed in food items.

– Marine Command operatives seized 1,848kg of Ghana Loud cannabis (in 44 jumbo bags) from a wooden boat at Jakande beach, Lekki, Lagos, early Thursday, January 22.

– In Borno State on Wednesday, January 21, 179,590 pills of tramadol and diazepam hidden in charcoal and animal feed sacks were recovered from a public transport vehicle from Potiskum, Yobe, leading to the arrest of Rabiu Imam, 32, in Maiduguri.

– In Niger State, Mrs. Eze Cynthia Chioma was arrested in Mokwa on Friday, January 23, following the seizure of 78,500 tramadol pills in Kwara State; her husband is already facing trial for similar offenses.

– In Ekiti State on Saturday, January 24, operatives arrested 72-year-old Afolalu Joseph and Abu Bunmi (alias Go Slow), 45, recovering 62kg of skunk.

– In Edo State, village head Chief James Abamu and Aboy Egah Abamu were taken into custody after soldiers transferred them following a raid at Lagos camp, Ilushi, on Wednesday, January 21, where 681kg skunk and 181kg cannabis seeds were recovered.

– Other seizures included 210kg skunk in Benue, 254.5kg in FCT, 39,800 tramadol pills in Lagos, 30,003 opioid pills and 20 liters of codeine in Delta, and 1,500kg skunk in Ondo.

The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts in schools and communities across states like Taraba, Osun, Imo, Benue, and Katsina.

Commending officers from various commands for their professionalism, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged all personnel to sustain high standards in supply and demand reduction activities nationwide.

• Photo: Fatima and her children

Malam Auwal, father of the prime suspect arrested for the murder of seven family members in Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano metropolis, has called on authorities to swiftly punish his son, Umar Auwal, without delay.

Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her children were reportedly murdered by assailants, allegedly led by Umar who broke into their residence at Dorayi Gidan Kwari, sparking outrage across Kano and beyond.

Umar, who is currently in police custody, is accused of murdering his aunt, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children in broad daylight on Saturday.

The victims include Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7) and Abdussalam (one-and-a-half years old).

Police confirmed that the suspect has confessed to the killings, as well as a recent attack in Tudun Yola where two housewives were murdered and their home set ablaze.

In an interview with Freedom Radio, Malam Auwal distanced himself from his son, describing him as “useless to society” and insisting that he should be executed rather than kept in prison.

“What he committed against my younger sister and her six children, my wife’s younger sister and her co-wife is condemnable. I distance myself from him,” Auwal said.

He further alleged that Umar had killed his younger sister some years ago and plucked out her eyes.“I don’t even want them to waste time on prosecution. Umar and his likes are supposed to be eliminated. They are not supposed to be remanded and fed with taxpayers’ money,” he added.

The grieving father commended the police for their handling of the case, saying he had already “sacrificed” his son, and vowed that neither him nor his wife (Umar’s mother), would attend any court proceedings during the trials.