News
Indian Police Nab Nigerian With N1.8m Cocaine …As NDLEA Intercepts 12,385kg Drugs In Lagos
Another Nigerian, Kehinde Sadiq Idris, 26, has been arrested by the Prune City Police in India for alleged possession of cocaine worth Rs3.46 lakh (N1.9million).
It was gathered that a patrolling team of the Anti-Narcotics Cell and Uttamnagar police station intercepted a two-wheeler at Kutje around 2am, last Saturday.
The two-wheeler rider tried to escape from the spot, cops nabbed him.
It said during searches, they recovered 23.9grammes of cocaine worth Rs3,46,350 from his possession.
Police also seized his vehicle, two cell phones and cash of Rs6,000 from him.
The online portal said an offence was lodged against him at the Uttamnagar police station under sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Police Inspector VinayakGaikwad said the accused has been arrested earlier in a case of illegal drugs trade.
Similarly, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the seizure of 12,385kilogrammes of Loud Cannabis, a strong variant of the illicit weed imported from a neighbouring country and smuggled into Lagos through the waterways.
The seizure, which took place at the weekend, according to the agency, was based on credible intelligence that 12, 385 pellets of Loud Cannabis were brought in from the West African country through the ocean and ferried with boats to the Eko Atlantic Beach, Victoria Island from where they would be distributed to drug hot spots such as Island, Peti Alagba and others across Lagos and other states.
A statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, yesterday, said over 50 narcotic officers stormed the beach on Saturday, November 27, 2021, recovered the consignments along with two long trucks, a Toyota Sienna bus and arrested three suspects.
“Those arrested include: AbdulkadriZakari, 24; Ka’abuSausu, 45 and Lawrence Adie, 27.
“In the same vein, a 70-year-old woman, Mrs. Beatrice Aigbedion was among suspects arrested in parts of Edo in connection with the seizure of over 5,000kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs across the state.
“After days of surveillance, NDLEA operatives, last Wednesday, stormed a warehouse at Uhiere, Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state, where they recovered a total of 4,261.5kg of cannabis sativa and a suspect, Ikong Stanley, arrested.
“The previous day, 1,240kg was equally seized at a warehouse in Uzebba, Owan West LGA of the state.
“At the point of her arrest in Irrua, last Wednesday, Mrs.Aigbedion was caught with different quantities of Codeine cough syrup, Swinol and Rohypnol while another dealer, Joseph Onyemaechi, 50, was also nabbed at IkpobaOkha, Upper Sakponba-Benin City, last Friday, with different types of psychotropic substances weighing 2.055kg.
“Similarly, Gabriel Akioya and Isa Salihu were arrested, last Thursday, at Irrua, Esan Central LGA with various quantities of Codeine, Tramadol, Swinol and Rohypnol.
“In Delta State, operatives raided Hampton Towers and Spa Hotel, OkpanamRoad, Asaba where DobedientEtumudor and Thompson Chukwuemeka were arrested with different quantities of psychoactive substances, while another dealer, Emeka Ben was nabbed with 4.7grammes of Methamphetamine along Asaba – IbusaRoad.
“Other suspects arrested, last Thursday, in the state for dealing in Meth, Cannabis, Cocaine, and Heroin include IfeanyiOdibe, UcheOnwurah, and Justice Obika.
“In Kano, a drug dealer, AlhajiBukar Malan Abdu, was arrested and 143kilogrammes of cannabis recovered from him while 466kg of same drug was seized in the home of one Bashir Shuaibu, an indigene of Edo State but resident in Kano, who deals in Cannabis sativa.
“On Thursday, a drug dealer in Maiduguri, BornoState, Chima Obi was arrested in a follow up operation following the seizure of his drug consignment, 73.2kg codeine, at an NDLEA checkpoint in Postiskum, YobeState same day”.
In his reaction to the arrests and huge seizures in Lagos, Edo, Delta, Kano and Yobe states, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed BubaMarwa (rtd) commended the officers and men involved in the operations, and urged them along with their compatriots in other commands not to rest on their oars.
He charged them to always strive to record greater feats until the drug supply and drug demand reduction targets of the agency are fully achieved.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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