Crime
Brutality: Lagos Estate Petitions Marwa To Relocate NDLEA Office
There’s an ongoing imbroglio between residents of the Gbagada Phase 11 Resident’s Association and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over accusations of brutality and incessant harassment.
Consequently, the residents have petitioned the Chairman, NDLEA, Buba Marwa, alleging that officials of the agency were riding on the location of their office within the estate to indulge in unruly behavior and brutalise them.
President and Vice President of the Association, Manso Odusanya, and Adebiyi Mabadeje, in a petition to Marwa, dated May 6, 2024, alleged that the NDLEA officials had been in the habit of harassing young ladies and causing trouble at the estate’s gates.
In the petition, they chronicled their relationship with the NDLEA, including how they objected to the siting the Lagos State Command of the agency within the estate, and how it was resolved with assurances from the then Chairman that stay would be temporary and conduct professional.
The petition read in part, “About two years ago, we noticed some unusual movements and developments going on in a property within the estate. The developer was invited for discussion and we came to understand that the NDLEA is the project owner and they were moving their state command to the estate.
“The association protested immediately and wrote protest letters to the government agency in charge of physical planning, which came into the estate to stop the construction of the cell, this area being strictly residential.
“The press came into the estate to investigate this and their findings were publicised. This resulted in a series of meetings between the association and the officials of the agency, including a meeting with the agency’s chairman in their office within the estate.
“The chairman promised that our objection was noted and that their stay would be temporary while they would do all within themselves to ensure their staff and operatives respect the rules of the estate and avoid frictions that may cause embarrassment.”
They residents are now lamenting that in spite of the assurances, the estate had been distressed by security breaches with attendant bodily harm to members of the community and its security staff.
“The estate invested in its private security team that is responsible for maintaining security and order. On many occasions, the NDLEA operatives have brutalised our team members just because they insist they must stay within the rules.
“In one instance, one of our security operatives was brutalised and on another occasion, our security gate was broken by the NDLEA operatives just because they wanted to force themselves in at odd hours. It is significant to note that in all instances, the officers involved were drunk, therefore acting under the influence of alcohol.
“We received complaints from our members of instances where their staff or even members of their families were harassed or approached by the NDLEA officials while walking around the estate. Many of our streets now witness indiscriminate parking resulting from activities of the NDLEA officials and their visitors who troop into the estate, at times in search of their detained relatives.”
The association also complained about the NDLEA official’s attitude to waste management, and expressed worry that it might endanger the health of residents in the estate.
It decried the unprofessional conduct of officials of the agency, including drunkenness and flagrant abuse of laid down security procedures in the estate.
“The presence of the NDLEA in an estate like ours, which is supposed to be residential, has compromised the security of our estate in many ways and made it more challenging for us to screen visitors coming into our estate, particularly at odd hours.
“We have regularly received complaints from those residing around the NDLEA office about the traumatising effects of the sound emanating from the NDLEA office when they are carrying out their usual military exercise and at times guns were shot as part of the exercise.
“In view of the above-stated facts, we are using this medium to request that the NDLEA office be relocated out of our estate so that the peace normally associated with our estate can be restored,” it stated.
On his part, the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, affirmed that the issues raised were being jointly looked into to address them.
He added, “Indeed, a meeting was held just earlier today between a delegation from the estate and our team, meaning we’re responsive. Our presence in the community has largely enhanced the security of the neighbourhood, as was obvious during instances when there had been attempts to breach the security of the estate, especially during the last general elections.
“So, if there are areas of concern, we’re working with those concerned to address them and I can assure them that concrete actions are being taken as already directed by the leadership of the agency from Abuja.”
A man identified as Jacob Irewa has been arrested by the Kogi State Police Command for allegedly setting his wife, Berida Irawo, ablaze following a domestic disagreement in Lokoja.
The incident occurred on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Oworo Estate, Felele, Lokoja.
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According to the state police spokesperson, ASP Salisu Afusat, the B Division Surveillance Team, Felele, received a report of the incident at about 8:30pm and immediately mobilised to the scene, where the suspect was arrested.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the dispute started after the victim allegedly burnt some of her husband’s clothes which she believed he was no longer using, without his permission.
The police said the suspect subsequently threatened his wife, fetched petrol from his motorcycle and allegedly set her ablaze.
The victim survived the attack and is currently receiving treatment at Honey Gold Hospital, Felele.
Afusat said the suspect, during interrogation, admitted to setting his wife ablaze, adding that the command had commenced a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, condemned the alleged attack and reiterated the command’s zero tolerance for violence, particularly domestic violence.
He urged members of the public to resolve domestic disputes through lawful means and avoid actions capable of endangering lives.
The police said Irewa would be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
Three suspected members of a notorious kidnapping gang allegedly linked to the August 2 attack on St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Inoyi-Affa, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, have been arrested by security operatives.
The suspects were apprehended during a joint operation involving the Department of State Services, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Enugu State Forest Guard and other security personnel.
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One suspected kidnapper was reportedly killed during a gun battle with the security forces, while four AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered from the gang.
The development was disclosed on Monday night when Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, visited the state DSS headquarters to inspect the arrested suspects.
Representing the governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said two of the three victims abducted during the August 2 attack had regained their freedom.
The victims, identified as Seminarian Lawrence Igbo and Emmanuel Onwudi, reportedly identified the arrested suspects as the individuals who abducted them.
“There was one fatality in this process. It was one of the criminals that died in the process of apprehending them,” Onyia said.
He added that the arrested suspects would face the full weight of the law.
The SSG said the state government would continue to strengthen its security architecture and collaborate with security agencies to prevent criminal activities across Enugu State.
He warned criminal elements that the state would not provide a safe haven for their activities.
Onyia also cautioned residents against assisting or providing information to criminal groups, stressing that anyone found collaborating with such groups would be investigated and prosecuted.
“We will find you also, just as we have found these people, and we will prosecute you as part of this evil operation and this evil syndicate,” he warned.
The SSG commended the DSS, Nigerian Army, Police, Enugu State Forest Guard and other security agencies for their efforts in apprehending the suspects and recovering the weapons.
He further assured residents that investigations were ongoing and that the government would continue to pursue those involved in criminal activities in the state.
The Osun State Police Command has released the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Anjorin, on bail following his arrest over an alleged shooting incident during a political procession in Ilesa.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the commissioner’s release to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
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Ojelabi said Anjorin was released at about 1:00 p.m. after being granted bail.
“The commissioner has been released. He was released around 1.00 p.m on bail,” the police spokesperson said.
He, however, disclosed that an Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner remains in police custody.
“The Amotekun operative arrested alongside the commissioner and the gun found with him (the Amotekun operative) are still with us,” Ojelabi added.
He stressed that investigations into the incident were still ongoing.
The commissioner’s arrest followed an alleged shooting during a political procession in Ilesa on Saturday.
According to the police, suspected armed men allegedly arrived in a government vehicle, alighted and fired into the vicinity of the ongoing political procession.
The suspects were reportedly dressed as personnel of the Osun State Security Network Agency, popularly known as the Amotekun Corps.
The incident reportedly left three people with gunshot injuries. The victims were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the police said investigations would continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the roles of those arrested.
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