Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted multiple consignments of illicit drugs concealed in frozen snails, electrical bulbs, and female clothing destined for the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the seizures were made at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) and a courier company in Lagos. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the operations.

On October 7, 2025, a cargo agent, Boladale Riliwan, was arrested after authorities discovered 15 parcels of skunk cannabis hidden inside 10 giant rechargeable electrical bulbs in a carton prepared for airfreight to the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Lagos airport export shed.

On October 12, Olawale Hakeemot, a 48-year-old UK-based public health assistant, was detained at MMIA’s Terminal 2 departure hall. She was found with 2,300 tramadol 225mg pills concealed in frozen snails while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to Manchester, United Kingdom.

Additionally, NDLEA officers thwarted another attempt by a syndicate to export 810 bromazepam pills hidden in female clothes bound for the United States at a Lagos courier company on October 16.

In Adamawa State, a suspect identified as Bello Buba was intercepted at an NDLEA checkpoint in Namtari, Yola South Local Government Area, on October 12. Authorities recovered 38,270 tramadol pills hidden in the spare tire, boot, and door compartments of his Honda Civic, which he reportedly drove from the Benin Republic to smuggle the drugs into Nigeria.

In a separate operation in Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 53,250 kilograms of cannabis cultivated over 21.3 hectares of farmland in Ilawe-Ekiti, recovering an additional 1,140 kilograms packed in 70 bags. Three suspects—Matthew Emmanuel (26), James Moses (27), and Israel Samuel (20)—were arrested during the October 12–13 operation.

Similarly, 17,400 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed on 6.96 hectares of farmland in the Aponmu forest reserve, Akure, Ondo State, on October 12.

In Oyo State, several arrests were made on October 16, including Aliyu Muhammed (50), Babarinde Segun (32), Ogunbiyi Sanjo (30), and Ajani Oluro (30), who were caught with 596 kilograms of skunk cannabis at Apata-Ako, Igboora. Additionally, Jacob Afolabi (30) and Salako Oluwatobi (25) were arrested with 273 kilograms of skunk at Odo-Oyan, Igangan.

In Ogun State, Joseph Andrew was arrested with 88 kilograms of cannabis at Ona-Imeko on October 15, while in Imo State, 42-year-old Festus Udoh was caught with 13,000 opioid pills along the Onitsha-Owerri Road.

Enugu authorities recovered 74.5 kilograms of cannabis from the store of Joseph Chukwujamaa at Umuogbo-Agu village on October 18. In Lagos, 11 bags of cannabis weighing 117 kilograms were seized from the residence of Ramoni Olukowi in Mushin on the same day.

Furthermore, NDLEA intercepted 80,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup in a container arriving from India during a joint examination with Customs and other security agencies at Apapa port on October 14.

Also notable was the arrest of Ejiofor, who operates boutiques in Lagos and Onitsha, Anambra State. He was detained upon arrival from Bangkok, Thailand, on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 941 on October 8, 2025, following credible intelligence.

The NDLEA continues its crackdown on drug trafficking networks to safeguard public health and security.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets across all 50 US states on Saturday, rallying under the banner of “No Kings” to express their opposition to President Donald Trump’s hardline policies. Organizers claimed that seven million people participated in demonstrations ranging from major cities like New York and Los Angeles to small towns in the heartland, including areas near Trump’s Florida residence.

In Washington, D.C., thousands gathered near the US Capitol—closed for a third consecutive week due to a government shutdown—chanting, “This is what democracy looks like!” Demonstrators carried colorful signs demanding protection of democratic values and called for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, a focal point of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda.

Many protesters criticized what they described as the president’s authoritarian tactics, including attacks on the media, political opponents, and undocumented immigrants. “I never thought I would live to see the death of my country as a democracy,” said 69-year-old retiree Colleen Hoffman, marching in New York. “The cruelty of this regime, the authoritarianism—I just can’t stay home and do nothing.”

Creative and symbolic protests included a giant balloon of Trump depicted in a diaper in Los Angeles, while in Houston, signs called to “Fight Ignorance, not migrants,” highlighting the city’s large immigrant population. Some protesters even waved flags inspired by the pirate-themed anime “One Piece,” whose skull logo has become a global symbol in anti-government protests.

Though largely peaceful, clashes occurred in downtown Los Angeles late Saturday, where police used tear gas and nonlethal rounds to disperse a group of about a hundred agitators who employed lasers and bright flashing lights against officers. The Los Angeles Police Department said a dispersal order was issued and did not report any arrests.

Trump responded to the protests with a series of provocative AI-generated videos posted on his Truth Social platform, showing himself as a king piloting a fighter jet that drops what appeared to be feces on anti-Trump protesters. His allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, dismissed the rallies as “Hate America” protests, accusing participants of aligning with Marxists, socialists, anarchists, and extremist left-wing groups—a characterization protesters and observers mocked.

“Look around! If this is hate, someone needs to go back to grade school,” said Paolo, a 63-year-old protester in Washington, amid chants and songs. Others acknowledged the deep divisions within American politics. “Right-wingers say they hate us. I don’t care,” said Tony, a 34-year-old software engineer.

Civil rights advocates emphasized the protesters’ core message. Deirdre Schifeling of the American Civil Liberties Union said, “We are a country of equals, governed by laws that apply to everyone, and we will not be silenced.” Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the Indivisible Project, condemned the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to Democratic-led cities including Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis, viewing it as an intimidation tactic against peaceful demonstrators.

While official attendance numbers varied, with New York authorities estimating over 100,000 at one protest and Washington’s crowds numbered between 8,000 and 10,000, the widespread turnout underscored growing public frustration with the current administration and the country’s political polarization.

The leadership of the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has strongly criticised a police invitation issued to its leader, Barrister Ralph Uwazuruike, calling it a violation of democratic principles and an attempt to unlawfully detain him.

In a statement released on Sunday and signed by the groups’ media aide, Mazi Chris Mocha, the pro-Biafra organisations described the summons as a deliberate plot to silence Uwazuruike. According to the statement, the invitation directed the BIM–MASSOB leader to report to the police “Tiger Base” in Owerri, Imo State, on Monday, October 20, over alleged charges including criminal invasion, forgery, and willful damage.

Rejecting the accusations, the groups maintained that Uwazuruike had committed no crime and was being targeted for his decision to participate in a nationwide peaceful protest calling for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

“This police summons is nothing but a ploy to arrest and possibly detain our leader, the Ijele Ndigbo, Ralph Uwazuruike,” the statement said. “He has never committed any offence by supporting or joining a peaceful protest for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.”

The development comes after Uwazuruike filed a fundamental human rights suit at the High Court in Owerri over the weekend, challenging the police action. In the suit, he is seeking ₦100 million in damages for alleged violations of his rights and is asking the court to restrain the police and seven others from arresting or detaining him over his planned protest participation.

BIM–MASSOB defended Uwazuruike’s record as a non-violent advocate of Biafran self-determination, noting that for over 26 years he has pursued the cause through peaceful means and lawful channels.

“Chief Ralph Uwazuruike is a peace-loving leader who has always chosen dialogue over violence,” the statement added. “There is absolutely no justification for summoning him to the Tiger Base for questioning. This action undermines the democratic rights of individuals to protest peacefully and must be condemned.”

The groups concluded by warning against any attempt to arrest their leader, declaring, “Don’t touch Ralph Uwazuruike,” and urging the authorities to respect his constitutional rights.