Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a 42-year-old Indian lady, Ms Neetu Neetu, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 72 parcels of heroin factory sealed in wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates.

The illicit drug consignment, weighing a total of 11 kilograms, was discovered in her luggage following a thorough search based on credible intelligence.

A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said  Neetu was apprehended on Friday, March 14, 2025, during an inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431, which arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha.

“The arrest of Neetu signifies a growing attempt by drug trafficking organisations to hire white ladies and foreign nationals to move illicit drugs through the Nigerian borders, a bid that vigilant NDLEA operatives have consistently frustrated with the aid of modern technological tools and proactive intelligence, says Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), in his immediate reaction to Neetu’s arrest, “ he added.

Babafemi also said in another operation in Kano, the NDLEA officers on March 20 arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Michael Ogundele, with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder at Gadar Tamburawa, along Zaria-Kano Road.

“Based on credible intelligence, welding tools were later used to cut the giant cylinder after which 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in it were extracted,” he added.

In yet another operation in Kano, Babafemi said 40-year-old Sunday Ogar was arrested with 27kg skunk.

He said, “Sunday Ogar, 40, was nabbed at Gunduwawa area of Kano on Wednesday 19th March with 27kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, a female suspect Khadijah Abdullahi, 40, was arrested with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Lungun Bulala Yalwa area of the state on Tuesday, March 18.”

In Lagos, Babafemi said the duo of Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa were nabbed with 67.5kg skunk in Mushin.

“100.8kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered from the store of two fleeing suspects in Anifowoshe area of Mushin while Isah Idris was arrested in Apapa with 4.5kg skunk; 600grams of tramadol 225mg and 30 litres of codeine syrup on Tuesday, March 18.

“Another suspect, Yahaya Mohamed, was arrested the same day in the Ikotun area of the state with different quantities of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine,” he added.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad has arrested 17 suspects linked to a recent attack on oil and gas installations in the Niger Delta.

The arrest was stated in a statement signed by the corps spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, on Monday.

According to the statement, the operation, which took place in the early hours of March 6, 2025, led to the apprehension of individuals believed to be responsible for the murder of Assistant Superintendent Umar Aliyu with Service number 6363 and the theft of a speedboat from Tantita Security Services.

The Head of the Squad, Commandant Apollos Dandaura, noted that the coordinated operation, carried out in synergy with other security agencies, targeted the suspects in the Ekeremo Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

“Earlier in January 21st, 2025, there was an attack against the Joint Task Force combining operatives of the NSCDC and Tantita Security Services at their Base in Torugbene II unit at Ekeremo LGA in Bayelsa State by suspected vandals and Sea pirates who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons.

“Upon arrival at the base, they shot sporadically at the officers and innocent civilians which led to the killing of ASC Umar Aliyu, his Ak 47 official Riffle was carted away, Ebikame Seimeneyefa of Tantita Security was shot and Tantita Speed Boat was also hijacked and stolen,” Dandaura was quoted saying.

After an intensive undercover investigation, the CG’s SIS team tracked down and apprehended the criminals, including the notorious leader Ziakede Amatu.

“We mounted a round-the-clock and relentless onslaught against the suspects in collaboration with sisters security agencies and the Tantita Security and succeeded in smashing the 17 deadly Sea pirates led by a notorious vandal, kidnapper and armed robber called Ziakede Amatu, who hails from Norgbene community in Ekeremo, Bayelsa State and has been terrorizing the community and all neighbouring states,” the statement added.

The statement noted that Amatu, originally from the Norgbene community in Bayelsa, had been terrorising the region and had even previously attempted to infiltrate the Tantita Security Services.

Authorities revealed that Amatu and his group were behind multiple criminal activities, including illegal refining and attacks on oil installations.

Further investigation revealed that Amatu’s group had planned the attack on the NSCDC and Tantita operatives as part of a larger effort to disrupt the security operations and gain control over oil facilities.

They reportedly sought to destroy the reputation of Tantita Security Services and disrupt the progress made by the organization in securing oil and gas pipelines in the region.

The suspects confessed to their involvement in illegal refining activities in Abonima, Rivers State, in 2023. They also admitted to stealing sophisticated firearms and using them to protect their illegal operations.

The stolen rifles were hidden in a forest and later brought out by Amatu after he received advice from local elders to use them for community protection.

In a bid to disguise their true intentions, the group procured uniforms from Tantita Security Services, attempting to mislead the public and law enforcement during their attacks.

“Further confession revealed that the suspects embarked on this mischievous blackmail against the Tantita Security Chairman, Ekpemupolo Owiezide Government aka Tompolo since they could not infiltrate and get some Surveillance contracts sublet to them; hence the move to vandalise Oil and Gas Installations and this culminated to the attack on NSCDC and Tantita Operatives, leading to the killing of the late officer,” the statement revealed.

Among the suspects arrested were individuals identified as Aaron Ekogbene, Ebimene Adeseotu, Toukekenme Emmanuel Police, Ken David, Timiprey Ekogbene, and Isaac Pius, among others. During the operation, investigators recovered an AK-47 rifle, several empty magazines, and multiple Tantita Security uniforms, including boots and shirts.

The statement added that Dandaura commended the support of NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, for “enabling the Squad to carry out her responsibilities with necessary logistic support which has engendered its remarkable achievements in fighting crimes and criminalities, combating illegal bunkering activities in the Niger Delta, carrying out Investigative operations and dislodging criminal-minded persons from their hideouts.”

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Sokoto State Command, has apprehended three suspects connected to the abduction and gang rape of a 15-year-old girl, Amina Abdullahi, in Gantsare village, Wammako Local Government Area of the state.

This is according to a press statement by the command’s spokesman, DSC Mohammad Zayyanu, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday.

The statement said, “The suspects identified included one Halidu Shehu,  male, 20 years, who is the principal suspect.

“Others are Jamilu Umar, male, 20 years, and Usama Bello, male, 24 years, who were all arrested on January 23, 2025, after a report was filed by the victim’s parents, who had been searching for their missing daughter.

“The suspects held the victim captive for over three days in the principal suspect’s room, subjecting her to repeated sexual assaults.”

The statement further said preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was drugged and lured by one Rabia’tu, who remains at large.

“Efforts are underway to apprehend her. The victim has received medical attention, and results from the examination are awaited to aid in the ongoing investigation.

“The commandant, Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, through his aide, CSC Aliyu Jamilu, strongly condemned the act, describing it as horrific and inhumane. He assured the public of the command’s commitment to ensuring that the suspects face the full weight of the law.

“This tragic incident reminds us of the need for parents and guardians to remain vigilant and protective of their children. It also highlights the importance of community involvement in promptly reporting suspicious activities to security agencies,” the commandant stated.

Meanwhile, the NSCDC Sokoto Command is calling on all stakeholders, including religious and community leaders, to work together in building a society free from such heinous crimes.

“Protecting our children is a collective responsibility, and we must remain united in this fight against all forms of criminality,” the commandant added.

He said the command remained committed to safeguarding the lives and rights of all residents and encouraged the public to continue providing credible and timely information to assist in fighting crimes.

The operatives of the South-West security outfit, Amotekun Corps, have rescued a teenage survivor from rape in Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti State and apprehended 21 suspected criminals across various locations in Ondo State.

The Head of Communications for Ekiti Amotekun Corps, Abiodun Adeleye, stated in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday that the 19-year-old survivor was rescued from the crime by a 25-year-old suspect named Ojo Adewunmi on Tuesday.

He explained that the girl, who was screaming for help, was saved from being raped by the suspect when Amotekun operatives arrived at the scene.

Adeleye stated, “The Amotekun officials who arrested the suspect stated that the victim (girl) was locked indoors by the suspect with a dastardly mission to copulate with her. But it became futile on the arrival of the officers of the corps.

“The girl, however, narrated her experience at the scene, pointing out how she remained helpless and hopeless after screaming until the arrival of the officers of the corps for necessary assistance” he stated.

Adeleye stated, “The suspect has since been handed over to the Police Division in llawe Ekiti for further investigation and possible prosecution.”

Meanwhile, the corps in Ondo State reported that the 21 suspects were allegedly involved in various crimes, including kidnapping, theft, attempted murder, and more.

Parading the suspects at the headquarters of the corps in Akure, the state capital on Wednesday, the state Commander of Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye explained that four were arrested for alleged kidnapping, five were arrested for violating the anti-grazing law, while the rest were arrested on various crimes including stealing, destruction of property, attempted murder among others.

He said “Today (Wednesday) we are parading 21 suspects that have breached peace in the last fortnight in the state. Across the board, we have Moses, Lucky, Yakubu and Muhammed as suspected kidnappers, five that violated the anti-open grazing law, and others.

“The implications of these are that the state is relatively peaceful. The security breaches range from suspected kidnappers, fighting and civil disorder, anti-grazing, stealing of phones and attempted murder, destruction of properties, conspiracy and stealing of motorcycle.”

Adeleye also stated that the corps had reached an agreement with the herders and farmers to strike a balance against the anti-grazing law.

He stated, “There have been increased rates of violation of anti-grazing activities. We had a series of meetings with the herders and farmers, and we were able to strike a balance where the herders have been informed that they don’t have the right to destroy farmlands, and farmers will not kill their cows.

The Amotekun boss who affirmed that the corps in the South-West had raised 2000 men to prevent the bandits influx into the region, reiterated that the Amotekun Rangers established by the corps in the state were already in the forests to tackle any bandit in the forests.

“The breaches at borders have reduced due to Amotekun rangers. The rangers are also in the forests across the state to tackle any bandits. We want to thank the public for always giving us timely information. We want to ask for their support in providing more actionable information,” he stressed.

In a resolute crackdown on criminal operations targeting commuters, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), on Tuesday, apprehended a notorious ‘One-Chance’ syndicate that deployed a painted commercial bus to rob unsuspecting passengers of their valuables.

 

The arrest was made near a Conoil Filling Station along Funsho Williams Avenue in Surulere, Lagos, following a distressing incident involving a female passenger, Miss Bibian Emelifonwu, who fell victim to the syndicate’s treachery while on her way to work earlier in the morning.

 

Recounting her ordeal, Miss Emelifonwu disclosed that she boarded the bus and sat beside a male passenger holding a nylon bag in the front seat next to the driver. Under the pretext of opening the front door beside her, the man surreptitiously leaned on her and deftly removed her phone from her bag.

 

Having successfully executed the theft, the criminals heartlessly ejected her from the moving vehicle onto the highway. Fortunately, a vigilant team of LASTMA officers overseeing traffic in the area witnessed the incident. They swiftly pursued the fleeing bus, and ultimately apprehended the driver, identified as Toyib Ogunjobi, while his accomplices, the ‘conductor’ and another ‘passenger’, managed to escape.

 

During interrogation, Ogunjobi admitted to leading a three-man syndicate, which included the owner of the bus. He revealed that their modus operandi involved enticing passengers with low fares on the Costain-Ojota route in Lagos, stealing their belongings, and forcibly ejecting them from the vehicle while in motion.

 

Ogunjobi further confessed that the syndicate generated between ₦250,000 and ₦300,000 daily by selling stolen phones and valuables. He also disclosed that many similar One-Chance syndicates are operating across Lagos State, illustrating the pervasive nature of the criminal enterprise.

 

Seven stolen phones, comprising models such as Techno Pop, Samsung AZZ, Intel A623, Techno Spark, Techno Pounoir, and Samsung devices, were recovered from Ogunjobi during his arrest. He also admitted that the vehicle’s owner was actively involved in the operation.

 

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, lauded the officers for their swift and commendable action, which prevented further harm to innocent commuters. He urged Lagos residents to exercise heightened vigilance when boarding vehicles, emphasising the need for caution not only with commercial buses but also with private vehicles that may harbour ill intent.

 

Bakare-Oki also reiterated the availability of the recently launched LASTMA toll-free hotline, 0800-005-27862, enabling the public to report traffic-related issues, including emergencies, vehicle breakdowns, and obstructions to the agency.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has arrested the driver of a notorious one-chance syndicate that uses a commercial bus with number plate KSF 56 XL to rob unsuspecting passengers of their valuables.

The agency’s Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on X.com on Tuesday.

It revealed that the arrest occurred along Funsho Williams Avenue in the Surulere area of the state following an incident involving a female passenger, Bibian Emelifonwu, who was a victim of the syndicate while commuting to work on Tuesday morning.

The statement partly read, “Recounting her ordeal, Miss Emelifonwu disclosed that she boarded the bus and sat beside a male passenger holding a nylon bag in the front seat next to the driver. Under the pretext of opening the front door beside her, the man surreptitiously leaned on her and deftly removed her phone from her bag.

“Having successfully executed the theft, the criminals heartlessly ejected her from the moving vehicle onto the highway.”

A team of LASTMA officers in the area who witnessed the incident were said to have immediately pursued the fleeing bus, ultimately apprehending the driver, identified as Toyib Ogunjobi, while his accomplices—the conductor and another passenger—managed to escape.

During interrogation, Ogunjobi reportedly admitted to leading a three-man syndicate, which included the owner of the bus, whom he said was actively involved in their operations.

“He revealed that their modus operandi involved enticing passengers with low fares on the Costain-Ojota route, stealing their belongings, and forcibly ejecting them from the vehicle while in motion,” the statement disclosed.

The suspect was said to have further confessed that the syndicate generated between ₦250,000 and ₦300,000 daily by selling stolen phones and valuables.

He reportedly disclosed that similar one-chance operations are proliferating across Lagos State, illustrating the pervasive nature of this criminal enterprise.

Seven stolen phones, which comprised models such as Techno Pop, Samsung AZZ, Intel A623, Techno Spark, Techno Pounoir, and Samsung devices, were said to have been recovered during the arrest.

In the statement, LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, was said to have lauded the officers for their swift and commendable action, noting that the apprehended driver would be handed over to law enforcement agencies for thorough investigation and prosecution.

He also urged Lagos residents to exercise heightened vigilance when boarding vehicles, emphasising the need for caution not only with commercial buses but also with private vehicles that may harbour ill intent.

Operatives of the Ekiti State Command of Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps have arrested a 19-year-old man, simply identified as Samuel at Oye Ekiti, Oye Local Government area headquarters, over alleged phone snatching.

On interrogation upon arrest, the suspect named two alleged collaborators – Garuba and Tosin – who were consequently nabbed by Amotekun operatives in the community.

The Head of Communications, Ekiti Amotekun Corps, Abiodun Adeleye, disclosed this in a statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Monday.

Adeleye said, “The arresting Amotekun officers at Oye Ekiti stated that the suspect, Samuel, upon interrogation, confessed his involvement in such stealing act.

“He alleged that he was involved in phone snatching and connived with a syndicate, 20 years old Sanusi Garuba, 20 years old. He further mentioned another co-suspect, Tosin, who he said lured him into theft to have become an expert at phone snatching.

“The principal suspect and the two others have been handed over to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Oye Ekiti for necessary action and further interrogation,” Adeleye stated.

The spokesperson reiterated the agency led by its Corps Commander, Brig. Gen. Olu Adewa’s commitment, to flush out criminals and their activities in the state.

A 19-year-old man, simply identified as Samuel has been arrested by the operatives of the Ekiti State Command of Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, at Oye Ekiti, Oye Local Government area headquarters, over alleged phone snatching.

On interrogation upon arrest, the suspect named two alleged collaborators, Sanusi Garuba and Tosin, who were consequently nabbed by Amotekun operatives in the community.

The Head of Communications, Ekiti Amotekun corps, Abiodun Adeleye, who made the disclosure in a statement on Monday, said, “The arresting Amotekun officers at Oye Ekiti stated that the suspect, Samuel, upon interrogation, confessed his incessant involvements in such stealing act.

“He alleged that he was involved in phone snatching and connived with a syndicate, 20-year-old Sanusi Garuba.

“He further mentioned another co-suspect, Tosin, who he claimed lured him into theft to have become an expert at phone snatching.

“The principal suspect and the two others have been handed over to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Oye Ekiti for necessary action and further interrogation,” Adeleye stated.

The Ekiti Amotekun spokesperson reiterated the commitment of the agency led by its corps commander, Brig. Gen. Olu Adewa (retd.), to flush out criminals and their activities in the state.

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