Nation
NDLEA Nabs Two Pregnant Women, Barber In Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two pregnant women and a barber at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to import and export illicit drugs.
The NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
Babafemi said the first to enter the agency’s dragnet was a Brazilian returnee, Nworie Chikwendu, who was arrested on May 3.
He said the suspect was arrested during an inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, enroute Doha to Lagos.
He said during a search of his luggage, two parcels of cocaine were discovered in a pair of slippers hidden in his backpack.He added that a further search of the pair of black slippers worn by the suspect also led to the recovery of additional two parcels of cocaine.
These, he said, were built into the soles of his foot wears, bringing the total to four parcels weighing 800grams.
According to Babafemi, when undergoing preliminary interview, Chikwendu, who claimed to be a barber in Sao Paulo, said he came to Nigeria for the burial of his father.
“He confessed he decided to get into the criminal act because his trip was sponsored by his Brazil-based friend who gave him the drug to deliver in Lagos for a fee of N2, 000, 000.
“The following day, May 4, NDLEA operatives at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) export shed of the airport intercepted some cartons of alcoholic drinks suspected to contain illicit drugs,” Babafemi said.
The Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi, has granted bail to 91 inmates.
He also completely discharged four others during the first-quarter jail delivery exercise for 2025 at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Katsina.
Speaking at the event yesterday, Justice Danladi explained that the Sub-Committee on Decongestion of Correctional Centres carefully assessed the cases before recommending the inmates for release.
Factors considered included age, length of time spent in custody, and medical conditions.
He further announced that going forward, the personal details and photographs of released inmates would be officially recorded to ensure proper documentation and accountability.
Addressing the freed individuals, he urged them to stay on the right side of the law, emphasising that another chance at clemency might not be available if they reoffend.
The Katsina State Controller of Corrections, CC Umar Baba, praised the initiative, stating that such interventions ease congestion, improve prison conditions, and support rehabilitation efforts.
He also called on judges and magistrates to consider alternative sentencing options to prevent unnecessary detentions and allow correctional facilities to focus on reforming and reintegrating offenders into society.
The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has struck out murder charges against Ooni of Ife’s ex-wife, Queen Naomi Silekunola; the owner of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat; and principal of Islamic High School, Abdullahi Fasasi.
The Tide’s source recalls that the trio have been facing murder charges following the December 2024 children’s event stampede that led to the death of 35 children.
Justice B. K. Olawoyin delivering judgment yesterday, ruled that holding the defendants liable could discourage the public from engaging in humanitarian activities.
The court dismissed the four count charge, which included acceleration of death, conspiracy, negligent acts causing harm and failure to provide adequate medical facilities and security.
The Nigerian Military high command has stated that it is unaware of any community in the Northwest negotiating or entering peace agreements with bandits and terrorists for protection.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Markus Kangye, dismissed reports suggesting such peace deals.
He questioned why any community would resort to negotiations, given the sustained military offensives against terrorist groups.
“The military is carrying out its operations in line with established protocols for internal security. If any community claims to be seeking peace with bandits, the military does not support that,” Kangye asserted.
He further emphasised that joint military operations, in collaboration with hybrid forces and other security agencies, have remained relentless in tackling terrorism and organised crime.
Throughout the past week, troops conducted a series of combat patrols, raids, ambushes, clearance operations, and search-and-rescue missions, resulting in significant successes.
According to Kangye, several terrorists were neutralised, their collaborators were captured, and kidnapped victims were successfully rescued.
