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Shock in Abia as NDLEA Arrests Two Grandfathers for Selling Drugs to Secondary Students

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly men aged 84 and 75 for allegedly supplying illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State, in a shocking case that has stirred public concern.

The suspects, identified as Godfrey Orji (84) and Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora (75), were arrested in separate intelligence-led operations by NDLEA operatives over their alleged involvement in drug distribution within school communities.

Drugs hidden in patent medicine shop

According to the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Obiora was arrested on June 19, 2026, after credible intelligence linked him to selling illicit substances to students from his patent medicine store located at 4 Club Road, Umuahia.

SEE MORE: ‘They Beat Me Like a Criminal’— Ex-BBN Housemate Opens Up On NDLEA Nightclub Raid Ordeal

A search of the premises reportedly led to the recovery of 4.64 kilograms of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.
Babafemi stated: “Pa Obiora was arrested by NDLEA operatives following credible intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to young students and others in his patent medicine store.”

Arrest at school exposes second suspect

In a separate operation, Godfrey Orji, a pensioner, was apprehended after he was allegedly caught supplying drugs to students of Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia.

Security guards at the school reportedly intercepted him and handed him over to the police, who later transferred him to the NDLEA.

One of the teenage students, a 15-year-old SS2 pupil, allegedly confessed during interrogation that the suspect regularly supplied him with drugs, which he also sold to other students.

Students moved to rehabilitation

The NDLEA confirmed that while the two suspects will face prosecution, the affected students have been placed under counselling and rehabilitation programmes as part of efforts to curb drug abuse in schools.

Nationwide crackdown continues

The Abia arrests come amid ongoing nationwide operations by the NDLEA, which also recorded major drug seizures across the country In Lagos, operatives intercepted 9.5kg of ADB-Chminaca, a synthetic cannabinoid concealed in a shipment from China.

Another raid uncovered 300 grams of cannabis (“Loud”) hidden in handbags at a logistics facility.

A drug dealer’s home in Ajah was raided, with codeine syrup and cannabis recovered.
In Kogi State, a suspect was arrested with 1.030kg of methamphetamine hidden in custard containers.

In Oyo State, operatives recovered 1,416kg of skunk during a major raid.

In Edo State, large cannabis farms were destroyed, with over 4,000kg of cannabis recovered or eradicated.

NDLEA vows stronger enforcement

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended operatives across multiple states for their coordinated operations and urged them to sustain the momentum.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to both enforcement and public sensitisation under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

The NDLEA says it will continue its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks, especially those targeting vulnerable young people in school environments, as investigations and prosecutions continue in the Abia case.

Crime

Edo Police Probe Officer Seen Firing Rifle During Clash With Traffic Officials

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The Edo State Police Command has launched an investigation into an altercation involving officers of the Police Intelligence Response Team and officials of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency.

The development followed the emergence of a video on social media showing personnel from the two agencies involved in a confrontation.

In the footage, an officer identified as a member of the Intelligence Response Team was seen firing his rifle into the air during the incident.

SEE MORE: Edo Queens Make History, Book Spot In CAF Women’s Champions League Finals

Reacting to the development on Thursday, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, ordered a discreet investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed in a statement that the commissioner had already interviewed representatives of both parties as part of efforts to establish what transpired.

The command also ordered that the conduct of the officer captured firing the rifle be subjected to an appropriate disciplinary review.

The police authorities said they would not tolerate indiscipline, unprofessional conduct or abuse of police powers by any of their personnel.

The command stated that any officer or official found culpable after the investigation would be appropriately sanctioned in accordance with existing laws and regulations.

The Edo Police Command also emphasised the importance of inter-agency cooperation and mutual respect among security and government agencies.

According to the command, effective public safety depends on agencies working together professionally towards a common objective.

“The incident is therefore being treated with the seriousness it deserves,” the command said, while noting that the development would not prejudice its established working relationship with the Edo State Traffic Management Agency.

The police further urged members of the public not to take the law into their own hands, advising anyone with complaints about police misconduct to use the appropriate complaint channels, including the Police Complaint Response Unit.

 

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Crime

₦432bn Debt Scandal: Reps Summon NNPCL, 146 Oil Companies

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10th NASS: 359 Reps, 109 Senators To Swear- Into Office Tuesday

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has launched a probe into billions of naira in outstanding regulatory debts owed to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and oil companies.

The liabilities under investigation have risen to ₦432.07bn, according to findings contained in reports by the Auditor-General of the Federation.

The committee’s investigation follows concerns over petroleum-related obligations that have remained unpaid for several years, with some debts reportedly dating back to 2017.

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The Auditor-General’s 2023 report had put the combined indebtedness of NNPCL and oil companies at ₦392.73bn. NNPCL accounted for ₦162.46bn, while oil companies operating under industry associations including DAPPMAN, MEMAN and MOMAN were responsible for ₦230.27bn.

Further submissions by the NMDPRA revealed that 146 oil companies owed the authority ₦327.53bn as of 2025.

The outstanding liabilities are linked to various petroleum-sector obligations, including Balancing Allowance, National Transport Average and the one per cent Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund. Some legacy debts are also connected to petroleum importation, coastal transactions and credit arrangements.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Bamidele Salam, said the lawmakers were determined to establish how the debts accumulated, what amounts had been recovered and how much remained outstanding.

Salam warned companies summoned by the committee to appear with the appropriate representatives and provide all relevant documents.

He stressed that the investigation was not intended to witch-hunt any company but to ensure that government revenue was properly accounted for and recovered.

The committee is expected to examine the basis for the assessments, the periods covered by the debts, payments made by the affected companies and the enforcement actions taken by the NMDPRA against defaulting entities.

Lawmakers will also investigate why some liabilities have remained outstanding for years and whether the regulatory authority deployed sufficient measures to recover the funds.

The probe comes amid growing scrutiny of revenue collection and accountability in Nigeria’s petroleum industry following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

The NMDPRA, established under the PIA, regulates Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, including petroleum processing, transportation, distribution, domestic gas activities and related infrastructure.

The committee said the investigation forms part of the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight responsibility and would require both the affected companies and the regulatory authority to provide documents needed to establish the true position of the outstanding debts.

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How Police Used Intelligence To Foil Kidnap Operation In Akwa Ibom

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Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have foiled a planned kidnapping operation in Oron Local Government Area of the state, recovering a pump-action gun, cartridges, a rope, speedboats and outboard engines.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday.

According to John, the operation followed credible intelligence provided by members of the public concerning a suspected plan to carry out a kidnapping operation around the Oron axis.

SEE MORE: VDM Fires Back at Police, Releases First ‘Evidence’ Over Kidnap Claims

She said the information prompted the command to deploy operatives on a joint, intelligence-led operation targeting a suspected criminal camp along the Calabar-Oron channel.

During the operation, the police recovered one pump-action gun, two cartridges and a white rope suspected to have been intended for criminal activities.

The operatives also recovered two speedboats, three 200-horsepower outboard engines and one 15-horsepower outboard engine.

John said all the recovered items had been properly documented and kept in safe custody as investigations continue.
She explained that the operation was part of the command’s sustained intelligence-led and proactive policing strategy designed to identify and disrupt criminal networks before they can execute their plans.

“The strategy is aimed at identifying, disrupting and dismantling criminal networks before they are able to implement their plans.”

The police spokesperson further said the command remained committed to preventing criminals from turning waterways in Cross River into operational corridors, hideouts or escape routes.

She added that the Marine Police Unit had continued to maintain heightened vigilance across strategic waterways and coastal communities in the state.

According to her, the heightened security presence is intended to protect residents of coastal communities, boat operators, fishermen and other users of the waterways.

John also disclosed that the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State, CP Baba Azare, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the officers involved in the operation.

She quoted the commissioner as commending the personnel for their professionalism, courage and effective use of actionable intelligence.

“The commissioner of police is happy; the men are working gallantly. He is happy at their display of professionalism, courage and actionable intelligence,” she said.

The police command said it would sustain intelligence-driven operations and heightened surveillance across the state’s waterways to prevent criminal activities and protect lives and property.

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