The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 62-year-old Lagos-based auto parts dealer, Nwabueze Nicholas Izueke, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for attempting to smuggle 1.589kg of cocaine to China by ingesting 95 wraps concealed in his stomach.

Izueke was nabbed on January 31, 2026, during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to China via Addis Ababa. A body scan confirmed ingestion, and he excreted the 95 pellets over seven sessions under observation. He claimed the act was to fund his village home construction in Iwollo, Enugu State.

In related operations, NDLEA foiled methamphetamine smuggling attempts: 1.8kg hidden in Hollandia yogurt packs intercepted in Taraba State on February 6 en route to Adamawa; and consignments concealed in MP3 speakers from Enugu, leading to arrests of Ebube Okeke in Abuja and three others in Kaduna.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, operatives raided a “Colorado” (synthetic cannabis) production facility on February 7, arresting kingpin Jimoh Nurudeen, 40, and accomplice Ogundipe Yusuf, 27. Seizures included precursor chemicals, 14g skunk, production tools, ₦7.4 million cash, and two vehicles.

Other busts included 395,400 tramadol capsules in a petrol tanker in Kwara State; 149.6kg skunk in Oyo; large skunk recoveries in Imo and Ondo; 31 cocaine wraps from a boat arrival in Lagos; and various drugs plus cash from dealers in Enugu and Lagos.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended operatives across commands for the seizures and urged sustained professionalism in supply and demand reduction efforts, including ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitizations in schools and communities.

*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday held a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, days after a brutal terrorist attack claimed over 160 lives in the Worro community of Kaiama Local Government Area.

The encounter follows President Tinubu’s swift directive on Wednesday for the deployment of an army battalion to the troubled region and the launch of Operation Savannah Shield, a dedicated military initiative to combat terrorist elements, secure vulnerable communities, and prevent further violence in the border area near Niger State.

Authorities, including the Kwara State government and security sources, have attributed the Tuesday night assault on Worro (also spelled Woro) and nearby Nuku communities to suspected jihadist fighters, possibly linked to groups like Boko Haram or affiliates of Islamic State West Africa Province. Gunmen reportedly rounded up residents, bound some victims, and opened fire after locals rejected demands to abandon allegiance to the Nigerian state in favor of Sharia law.

Homes, shops, and the traditional ruler’s palace were set ablaze during the hours-long raid, with the death toll rising to at least 162 according to the Nigerian Red Cross and local lawmakers, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent times.

President Tinubu strongly condemned the killings as “cowardly and inhumane,” expressing particular outrage that victims were targeted for upholding peaceful Islamic practices over extremist ideology.

He emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration between federal and state security agencies to support affected communities, pursue justice against perpetrators, and restore peace.

After the meeting, Governor AbdulRazaq briefed State House correspondents, expressing appreciation for the President’s rapid response. He voiced confidence that the troop deployment and Operation Savannah Shield would deter future attacks, bring calm to Kaiama, and help rebuild security in the area.

The President also called for sustained efforts to address the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria’s North-Central and border regions, where armed groups have increasingly carried out village raids, mass killings, and kidnappings.

Other high-profile figures present at the Presidential Villa included the Senate President, the Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and governors from Imo, Kebbi, and Cross River states, though their attendance appeared unrelated to the Kwara discussions.

The meeting underscores the federal government’s intensified focus on curbing the spread of terrorism into previously less-affected areas like Kwara, amid ongoing nationwide security challenges. Search and recovery operations continue in the affected communities, with many residents still reported missing.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State in response to a brutal overnight terrorist attack on the Worro community that claimed numerous lives.

The assault, attributed to Boko Haram terrorists, targeted defenseless villagers who reportedly resisted attempts at extremist indoctrination.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu condemned the incident as a “cowardly and beastly” act, describing the perpetrators as heartless for deliberately selecting soft civilian targets in their failing terror campaign.

The President highlighted the victims’ refusal to embrace a violent and extreme ideology, praising the community predominantly Muslim for upholding a peaceful practice of Islam that prioritizes peace and dialogue over coercion and bloodshed.

“It’s commendable that the community members, even though Muslims, refused to be conscripted into a weird belief that promoted violence over peace and dialogue,” the statement quoted the President as saying.

00To counter the threat and safeguard vulnerable populations, the newly deployed military unit will lead Operation Savannah Shield, aimed at neutralizing the terrorists, preventing further incursions, and restoring security in the affected areas.

President Tinubu expressed deep outrage over the killings and called for enhanced coordination between federal and state authorities to deliver immediate relief to survivors, support affected families, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice without delay.

The President offered prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the people of Worro, Kaiama, and Kwara State as a whole, as well as the state government.

The attack on Worro and nearby Nuku communities has been widely reported as one of the deadliest in the region recently, with varying accounts of the casualty figures ranging from dozens to over 160, amid ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s north-central zone.