A truck, adorned in the brand identities of Nigeria’s state oil major, alleged to be conveying 2,145kg of cannabis arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ondo State has been disowned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd).

The NNPC Ltd, in a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said the intercepted truck was not owned by the company.

The rebuttal, was detailed in a media statement available at the NNPC Ltd’s website has it that Odeh averred that preliminary checks showed that the vehicle, with registration number MKA 960 XC, was neither part of NNPC Ltd.’s official fleet nor that of any of its authorised dealers.

He said the logo displayed on the truck was also inconsistent with NNPC Ltd.’s current official branding and that the vehicle was not listed in the company’s asset database.

“NNPC Ltd. is also engaging with the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to obtain further information and establish the circumstances surrounding the use of the Company’s old branding on the vehicle.

“NNPC Ltd. takes any unauthorised use of its corporate identity seriously, particularly where such use may be associated with unlawful activity,” he said.

Odeh said the company remained committed to protecting its brand and ensuring that its name, trademarks and other corporate identifiers were not misused.

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He said that the NNPC Ltd. would continue to cooperate with the NDLEA and other relevant security agencies to establish the ownership and operation of the vehicle.

The spokesman said the company also supported a thorough investigation into how its markings came to be displayed on the truck.

He added that the NNPC Ltd. was reviewing its brand-protection and asset-monitoring protocols and would take appropriate measures, including legal action where warranted.

Odeh urged members of the public and relevant authorities to verify the ownership or affiliation of vehicles purporting to belong to the NNPC Ltd. through official channels.

He reiterated the company’s commendation of the NDLEA for its vigilance and sustained efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 23-year-old man, Mfon Essien, allegedly found in possession of a loaded locally made shotgun in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state.

Essien, from Ikot Inyang Itak Village in Ikono Local Government Area, was arrested along Ayah Road, off Uyo Road, Ikot Ekpene, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, following credible intelligence received by police operatives.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Monday.

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According to the statement, a search of the suspect led to the recovery of a locally made shotgun loaded with a live cartridge.

The police alleged that the firearm had been concealed under Essien’s clothing at the time of his arrest.

The command described the arrest as a major breakthrough in its ongoing efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms and prevent violent crimes across Akwa Ibom State.

The suspect is currently in police custody as investigators work to determine the source of the firearm, why he was carrying it and whether he has links to other individuals or criminal groups involved in the illegal movement or use of firearms.

The State Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, said the command would continue its efforts to remove illegal weapons from the streets and prevent violent crimes.

“We will continue our efforts to remove illegal weapons from the streets and prevent violent crimes. Those involved in the illegal possession and circulation of firearms should desist because we will continue to use intelligence-led operations, patrols and other lawful measures against them,” Azare stated.

The commissioner also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information about suspicious persons, illegal weapons and criminal activities.

He assured members of the public that the identities of informants would be kept confidential.

“The Police Command remains committed to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace across Akwa Ibom State,” he added.

Crack police operatives at the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos have commenced multiple investigations into massive fraud committed against the Nigerian government in the oil and gas industry running into billions of dollars.

The unit started beaming the searchlight on the monumental fraud following complaints from concerned Nigerians, including intelligence networks which are said to have begun to unearth what might be the biggest scam in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

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It was learned that in one of the cases, the investigation was started through a petition written by an anti-corruption group alleging massive padding of a contract with a sum exceeding $90 million dollars. This, according to sources, caused a lot of discomfort for certain persons who have done everything possible to frustrate the investigation, including writing petitions against the commissioner of police in charge of the unit and his men.

Reliable sources revealed that because of the refusal of the team handling the matter to take bribes from a major participant in the crime, he has resorted to blackmailing the unit before the Police Service Commission (PSC), resulting to the invitation of the commissioner of police in charge of the unit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja to explain what the unit under him is investigating.

According to sources, the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) (name withheld) is furious about this move and has threatened to petition the National Assembly and the American Senate if there is any attempt at scuttling the investigation as the companies involved in this fraud have their roots in the USA.

Informed sources confirmed that the NGO has threatened a showdown with the PSC, stating that its mandate does not allow it to interfere with the operational duties of the police. The rights group advised the commission to focus on their duties of promotion and disciplinary measures for misbehavior by erring officers.

The NGO, it was gathered, believes that it is high time the police were allowed to perform their duties without unnecessary interference. The rights group reportedly stated: “This cannot happen in America. If they dare interfere, we promise to take it to where the commission or anybody else cannot summon any police officer to answer any question.”

It was reliably gathered that the NGO firmly believes that these interferences are responsible for the unfortunate situation where the police have no respect for criminals. The NGO is said to be watching for any further interference on the matter by the commission, insisting they will ensure the matter is investigated to its logical conclusion.

Another matter said to be under investigation by the SFU is a $617 million dollar fraud involving an indigenous oil company. According to our sources, a certain project aimed at boosting crude oil production was awarded to the oil company in 2018. In the same year, an expansion contract for the same project was awarded to the same company even as the original project execution had not commenced.

The shocking revelation coming out of the investigation, according to our sources, is that even the project vendors are companies owned by the prime promoter of the indigenous oil company who contrived the project expansion contract and the company to take this money as part of Cash Call and was allegedly shared amongst the conniving officials and the company. The same company is said to be producing and under-declaring the amount of crude produced, thus effectively stealing from the government.

In the same vein, it was said that another investigation regarding crude oil theft worth over $3 billion is in the offing at the SFU. Our sources could not immediately provide details of the extent of that investigation.

According to sources, there are a whole lot of issues that have been brought to the fraud unit since the assumption of office by CP Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo because of his pedigree.

However, officers that spoke to reporters said the unit remains the star of the police in economic and financial crimes investigations. They declared that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, did not make a mistake in the deployment of a star investigator to head the unit and the results are becoming visible.

They challenged reporters to visit the unit and see the efforts the CP has put in place at progressing the unit to another different level; a determined, people friendly, thorough and proactive and intelligence driven unit.

The IGP and the CP could not be reached for comments on the investigations but sources said the unit got official nods from authorities in Abuja to carry out their investigations in the most effective and result-oriented manner based on the stern directives of the IGP, who was said to have cautioned officers not to sweep fraud and criminal cases underground no matter the temptation by those involved.