NEWS
NDLEA Nabs Saudi-bound Widow With Cocaine In Footwears At Lagos Airport
Mrs. Ajisegiri Kehinde Sidika, a 56-year-old widow and mother of four, was apprehended by agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, for attempting to smuggle 400 grams of cocaine hidden in her shoes to Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, November 13, the suspect was detained as she attempted to board a Qatar Airways flight bound for Saudi Arabia via Doha. The suspect, who makes the claim to be a businesswoman trading in adult and children’s clothing on Lagos Island, was apprehended. Two parcels of cocaine totaling 400 grams were discovered after a close inspection of the sandals she was wearing.
Ayoade Kehinde Tayo, a vendor of tricycle parts, attempted to send 1 kg of Tramadol 225mg and Rohypnol to Istanbul, Turkey via Cairo on an Egypt Airline aircraft the same day, but his efforts were thwarted when NDLEA agents detained him. He was at the airport to give Idowu Ayoade, an intended passenger, the drugs that were concealed inside a bag of groceries, but he was detained before he could do so.
Agbamuche Bright Nkeonye, a man planning to travel to Oman on Asky Airlines, and Adeoye Oluwakemi Fatimo, a woman with him, were detained at the airport’s departure hall after they presented a bag containing a variety of foods and body lotion that were used to conceal 1.10kg of marijuana and some Rohypnol capsules.
Agbamuche Bright Nkeonye, an intended traveler to Oman on Asky Airlines, and a woman, Adeoye Oluwakemi Fatimo, who was with him, were detained on Thursday, November 18 at the Lagos airport’s departure hall.
On November 17, anti-drug officers stationed at the airport’s SAHCO export shed successfully thwarted attempts by traffickers to hide cannabis and ecstasy tablets in three tubers of yam headed for Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Inegbu Ugochi Akunna, the freight agent who had offered the yams for shipment, was soon detained, and the consignor Ahmodu Sulaimon was detained as well.
NDLEA agents, working in tandem with Customs, stopped cartons of dangerous drinks in a container with the marking APZU3671697 at the Brawal container shed at the Kirikiri lighter terminal in Lagos.
Despite the fact that the container’s bill of lading stated that it was from Cape Town, South Africa, a review of the shippers’ database revealed that it was actually loaded from Antwerp, Belgium.
On Thursday, November 18th, a thorough check of the container revealed the presence of three cartons of cannabis energy drink and five cartons of beverages branded as Euphoria cannabis beer. Among the other beverages in the container are 139 cartons of champagne fruit, 20 cartons of dead man’s finger, and 21 cartons of a beverage known as monkey shoulder.
In a related development, courier companies in Lagos seized at least 5.6 kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, and tramadol hidden inside items like play stations, bicycles, motor propellers, and local fabrics intended for export to Australia and Cyprus. In a follow-up operation connected to one of the seizures, two suspects, Gabriel Emeka and Vintura Grillo, were taken into custody.
While this was going on, NDLEA agents in Niger state detained two suspects, Ismail Musa and Jidda Abbas, with 10,780 bottles of Akuskura, a brand-new psychoactive narcotic, hidden inside two Toyota Camry saloon cars with the license plates AGL 861 GS Lagos and KMK 118 SC Bayelsa. The shipment was being distributed in Abuja when it was loaded in Ibadan, Oyo state.
While agents seized 25,000 Tramadol capsules in Plateau and detained the owner, Ifeanyi Nweanwe, a beer shop owner, in a follow-up operation in Bauchi, agents also seized pharmaceutical opioids valued more than N30 million on Thursday, November 18th, in a commercial bus in Asaba, Delta state.
In response to the recent arrests and seizures, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, praised the officers and personnel of the MMIA, Tincan, Delta, FCT, Niger, Ondo, and Plateau Commands, as well as those of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations, DOGI, for their zeal, dedication, and outstanding efforts to achieve success in their respective fields of responsibility.
He enjoined them and their compatriots across the country to stay focused.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed Toma Enya as the new Commandant of the Osun State Command.
Enya’s deployment was approved by the NSCDC Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Audi, according to a statement issued by the Corps’ spokesperson, Kehinde Adeleke, on Monday in Osogbo.
The new commandant, who was transferred from the Ekiti State Command, officially assumed office on Monday, taking over from Commandant Igbalawole Sotiyo.
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Following the handing-over ceremony at the command headquarters, Sotiyo led Enya to the Government Office in Abere, where they were received on behalf of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, by the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi.
Speaking during the visit, Enya pledged to strengthen intelligence gathering and information sharing under his leadership.
He also assured that the command would remain committed to ensuring adequate protection of lives and property across the state.
Adewusi welcomed the new commandant to Osun and assured him of the state government’s support to enable the NSCDC to effectively discharge its statutory mandates and contribute to the security and development of the state.
Enya becomes the 18th NSCDC commandant in Osun State.
He hails from Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Enya has served the Corps in various operational, investigative and administrative capacities, gaining extensive experience in security operations and management.
The NSCDC said he has also attended several professional courses within and outside Nigeria, further enhancing his expertise in security architecture, leadership and administration.
The Federal Government is committed to completing the the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre (OMRC) by 2028.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, made the disclosure during an inspection of the project in Otuabagi, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Lokpobiri expressed pleasure with the pace of construction, adding that the facility would preserve the history of Nigeria’s petroleum industry while serving as a major centre for research, tourism and industry events.
“I am very happy that I came today to see what is going on here. This is a masterpiece. The main building itself is over 10,000 square metres,” the minister said, noting that the museum and research centre would provide Nigerians and international visitors with a better understanding of the origins and evolution of the nation’s oil and gas industry, including its achievements, challenges and prospects.
The facility, he further said, will also create opportunities for conferences, exhibitions, retreats and research activities in the petroleum sector, even as he praised the quality of the work done so far and Julius Berger’s pace of work at the site.
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The minister also emphasised that the Federal Government will continue to give financial support to the project to ensure seamless execution while pledging to maintain close oversight of the project through regular visits, including unscheduled inspections, and praised Julius Berger for the quality of work completed so far, just as he appealed to the host community to sustain their cooperation with the contractors and other stakeholders to guarantee the successful delivery of the project.
Speaking on behalf of the contractor, the Project Manager, Engr. Botha de Bruyn, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering the project in line with approved specifications and timelines.
He said Julius Berger recognised the historical significance of the facility and would continue to work closely with the Federal Government, the project management team and the host community to ensure its successful completion.
De Bruyn also reiterated the company’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety and professionalism throughout the construction process.
Providing an update on the development, the Project Director of the Oloibiri Museum and Research Centre, Architect Ladipo Lewis, said the project was conceived to recognise Otuabagi as the birthplace of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
He explained that the facility would document and preserve the history, culture, environment and technological evolution of the oil and gas sector, while also serving as a hub for research, training and knowledge sharing.
Lewis disclosed that the project had attained over 15 per cent completion, with significant infrastructure works already executed.
Tanzania is mourning following the death of Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who died on Monday while receiving treatment at a hospital in Zanzibar.
The death of Tanzania’s First Gentleman was officially announced by Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi, according to the BBC.
Ndejembi said Ameir had been suffering from a heart condition and died at about 8am local time at the Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital in Zanzibar.
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He added that funeral arrangements were underway in Kizimkazi, a village on Zanzibar.
Ameir, an agricultural academic, largely kept a low public profile and rarely appeared alongside his wife at official events.
He became Tanzania’s first First Gentleman after Samia assumed the presidency in March 2021.
The couple married in 1978, before Samia entered national politics, and had four children — three sons and a daughter.
Their daughter, Wanu Hafidh Ameir, is a politician and serves in Zanzibar’s House of Representatives.
Ruto, AU mourn First Gentleman
Kenyan President William Ruto expressed his condolences to President Samia and her family following the death.
In a message posted on X on Monday, Ruto said, “I have received with deep sorrow the news of the passing of Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of Her Excellency Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania.”
He added, “President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father, and Tanzania a distinguished son.”
Ruto further said, “Kenya stands with our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in this moment of grief,” while praying for the bereaved family.
The African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, also extended his condolences to President Samia, her family and the people of Tanzania.
In a statement issued on Monday, Youssouf said the AU conveyed its “deepest condolences” over the passing of Hafidh Ameir Hassan and wished the bereaved family “strength, courage and solace.”
The AU Chairperson also prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased, concluding, “Inalilahi wainailehi rajiun.”
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