Crime

NDLEA Busts Brazil Returnee with 1.6kg Cocaine in Private Parts & Shoes at Lagos Airport (Photos)

Published

5 months ago

February 1, 2026

245 Views

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 47-year-old Nigeria businessman based in Brazil, Uche Franklin Onyekwere, for attempting to smuggle 1.60 kilograms of cocaine into the country concealed in his private parts and the soles of his footwear.

The arrest occurred on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos, during the inward clearance of passengers from a South African Airways flight originating in Brazil via Johannesburg.

The operation was based on processed intelligence. Following a full body scan that indicated concealment, a strip search revealed a large parcel of white powdery substance later confirmed as cocaine wrapped around the suspect’s right thigh.

Two additional wraps of the same substance were discovered hidden in the soles of his flat shoes.

In a preliminary interview, Onyekwere, who resides in Rua Ever, Mulariuha, São Paulo, and has lived in Brazil since 2008, stated he purchased the drugs in Brazil intending to resell them in Nigeria to raise capital for his toy business and to fund the naming ceremony for his newborn child.

The seizure forms part of a broader week of intense anti-drug operations by the NDLEA across several states, resulting in the recovery of over 9,939 kilograms of various cannabis strains including Loud, Colorado (Colos), and Skunk along with other illicit substances.

At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, officers on Wednesday, January 28, discovered 1,183 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis hidden inside two vehicles (a Hyundai SUV and a Toyota Matrix) within a container imported from Montreal, Canada.

In Niger State, operatives intercepted a truck along the Dei-Dei Abuja expressway on Tuesday, January 26, arresting Andy Chidogu (49), Kenneth Ogene (45), and Sadiq Olanrewaju (27). The vehicle contained 176 bags of skunk (2,735kg) and 1kg of Colorado concealed among a legitimate flour load originating from Lagos and rerouted via Edo State for a N1.7 million transport fee.

In Edo State, NDLEA teams arrested Shaibu Yusuf on January 27 while he sought transport for 66 bags of skunk (792kg) hidden in charcoal bags bound for Katsina. On January 28, a joint raid with Nigerian Army personnel at Ebora camp, Ilushi, in Esan South East LGA destroyed 4,063.675kg of skunk on a 1.6-hectare farm, recovering 328kg of processed cannabis and seeds.

Four suspects Jeremiah Nwodeh (46), Chukwudi Pius (33), Pius Ogaba (46), and Onora Kwene (35) were arrested.

In Anambra, a cement truck intercepted at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, on January 28 concealed 345.2kg of skunk belonging to Abum Okeke (42), one of three occupants arrested.

Additional seizures included 473kg of skunk from Tunde Ogundele (39) and Soji Elegbelye (46) in Eleyewo community, Akure North, Ondo State, on January 26. In Kano, Abdullahi Usman (45) was nabbed with 12,500 ampoules of pentazocine injection on the same day, while Musa Shuaibu (42) yielded 4,390 tramadol pills on January 27.

Other arrests featured Oragwan Ekene with 15.5kg skunk in Lagos on January 30, and Omang Peter Edward with 3.5kg skunk hidden in a sound system and cereal packets at Seme border from Benin Republic on January 27.

The NDLEA also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization efforts, delivering lectures at schools across Yobe, Abia, Enugu, Lagos, Katsina, Oyo, and other states.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers from the MMIA, Tincan, Niger, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Ondo, and Kano commands for their professionalism and urged sustained balanced efforts in supply and demand reduction.

The statement was issued by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

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Crime

Police arrest 10 suspects over killing of Benue Miyetti Allah’s chairman

The MACBAN chairman and Yakubu Isa were reportedly ambushed and killed at Okudu community in Otukpo LGA on Friday, June 26, 2026 by armed men, while returning from a peace meeting called by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in the Idekpa, Ohimini LGA.

Published

1 day ago

June 28, 2026

OCHEFA

22 Views

The Benue State Police Command has declared that it arrested 10 suspects in connection with the killing of the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Benue State, Ardo Risku Mohammed, and one Yakubu Isa.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Udeme Edet, confirmed the arrest, emphasing that the arrests marked significant progress in the investigation into the attack.

The suspects were apprehended on the night of June 27, 2026, during a coordinated operation by the Command’s tactical teams in Otukpo Local Government Area, following what police described as intensive intelligence gathering and tactical operations.

According to him, the suspects arrested were 25-year-old Titus Thyodenda, 20-year-old Utibe Sam, 18-year-old Owoicho Ameh, 21-year-old Sunday Useni, 46-year-old Sunday Useni, 46-year-old Sunday Ogbanje, 23-year-old Daniel Raphael, 24-year-old Adokole John, 32-year-old Samuel Ogazi, 25-year-old Agbo Daniel, and 30-year-old Onazi James.

Crime

Operation Whirl Stroke Troops Foil Terrorist Attack at Tor Donga Yam Market (Images)

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2026

Charles Flames

34 Views

……Recover Arms and Ammunition

Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke, in collaboration with operatives of the Benue State Civil Protection Guard, on Sunday, 28 June 2026, neutralised two suspects and recovered their weapons at Tor Donga Yam Market in Benue State

A statement by the Acting Media Information Officer
HQ JTF Operation Whirl Stroke Lieutenant Ahmad Zubairu said the team received a distress call from the area.

He said on arrival, the troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them decisively.

He named the two terrorists,as Dantaraba and Golozo who were neutralised.

Following the operation, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, one damaged pistol, one pistol magazine, six rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition, nine rounds of 9 mm pistol ammunition, one ATM card, one Moniepoint ATM card amongst other sundry items.

The successful operation ensured the continued safety of traders and residents, allowing socio-economic activities at Tor Donga Yam Market to proceed without disruption or fear of terrorist attacks.

The Force Commander, Joint Task Force Operation WHIRL STROKE, Major General Moses Gara, commended the troops for their professionalism, resilience and swift response, which prevented what could have resulted in significant civilian casualties and disruption of commercial activities. The cooperation of the Civil Protection Guards was also commended in ridding Benue State of criminality.

Major General Gara also expressed appreciation to members of the public for promptly providing credible information. He urged residents to sustain the cooperation with security agencies, stressing that security remains a collective responsibility.

Crime

Benue Governor Alia Condemns Killing of MACBAN Chairman, Orders Immediate Investigation

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2026

Charles Flames

54 Views

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has expressed deep shock and sadness over the killing of Alhaji Ardo Risku, the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), and his friend.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, the Governor described the incident as a heinous act that occurred at a critical time when the state is making significant progress toward peace and stability across various local government areas.

Governor Alia views the killing not merely as a personal tragedy but as a deliberate attempt to undermine the hard-earned peace and ongoing reconciliation efforts his administration has been fostering.

“It is deeply regrettable that this unfortunate incident occurred shortly after a security meeting,” the Governor noted. He emphasized that the murder of any community leader or peace advocate represents a serious setback to the dialogue between various stakeholders in the state.

In response, Governor Alia issued firm directives to all relevant security agencies:

To immediately launch a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing.
To leave no stone unturned in identifying and apprehending the perpetrators, bringing them to justice swiftly to deter others seeking to destabilize the state.
To enhance security measures to better protect community leaders involved in security and peace-building initiatives.

The Governor urged members of MACBAN and the general public to remain calm and law-abiding, warning against allowing agents of chaos to incite further violence.

“We must not allow those who profit from chaos to succeed in inciting further violence or disrupting the peace we have taken time to build,” Alia said.

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Alhaji Ardo Risku and the entire MACBAN community.

“Our administration remains resolute: Benue is a home for peace, and we will not allow the shadows of the past to eclipse the bright future we are currently building,” the statement concluded.