Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday raided Sahad store, a popular supermarket in Abuja, for selling some counterfeit products.

The agency also raided H-Medix outlets located in Wuse 2, Gwarinpa, and Utako market, in the nation’s capital.

Speaking with journalists during the exercise, Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, the NAFDAC head of investigation and enforcement in Abuja, said the team had also raided markets in Nyanya and Mararaba axis on Tuesday.

He said the team equally raided Wuse market on Wednesday and seized goods worth millions of naira.

Godiya said the three-day operation was carried out based on intelligent reports the agency gathered from well-meaning Nigerians.

“We have been able to successfully recover some of the counterfeit products, and evacuate them for destruction. Our concern is one of the products, purported to be Nivea NAFDAC regulated product, but it is not,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“The most shocking to me is that such substandard Nivea cream and other cosmetics are even more expensive than the ones approved by NAFDAC. This is criminal.

“The market value of what we have seen so far for drug hawking is N5 million, and for the NIVEA products, other cosmetics and other products, including Jik bleach, Harpic toilet cleaner and Airwick room freshener, all counterfeit in large quantity, valued at N45 million.

“The total value of all the goods seized during the operation is N50 million.”

He said the agency has zero tolerance for compromised standards, adding that “NAFDAC will arrest whosoever is involved in this crime”.

“NAFDAC enforcement will make sure it gets to the root of the syndicate that imports these products,” he said.

He called on Nigerians to be careful with the kind of products they buy, and always watch out for the NAFDAC registration number before they buy.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has placed Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, on a watchlist.

The police headquarters in Abuja has also “ordered the withdrawal of all men attached to his excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, former executive governor of Kogi state”.

Bello was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 18 after his absence from the federal high court in Abuja “stalled his arraignment”.

The anti-graft agency alleges that Bello, alongside Alli Bello, chief of staff to Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi; and one Daudu Suleiman, diverted about N80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi government.

In a statement signed by DS Umar, assistant comptroller of immigration, on behalf of Kemi Nandap, comptroller-general of the NIS, the agency said “the above named person has been placed on watch list”.

“The subject is being prosecuted for breach of trust and money laundering. If seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation for further action,” the statement reads.

On April 17, the EFCC ended its siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja after Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at the house and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.

Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), has warned against obstructing the EFCC “in the discharge of its duty”.

Francis Ogolla, Kenyan chief of defence forces, and nine members of the military have died in a helicopter crash in the western part of the country.

President William Ruto announced the tragic incident in a press briefing on Thursday.

Ruto said the crash happened on Thursday afternoon shortly after take-off, noting that two people survived the incident.

The Star, a local media, quoted witnesses as saying the chopper burst into flames after crashing.

Ruto said he was deeply saddened by the incident and announced that a team of investigators had been dispatched to the site of the crash to determine the cause of the accident.

The president said Ogolla had departed Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, to visit troops in the North Rift region of the country and to inspect ongoing school renovations.

“For me, as the commander in chief of the Kenya defence forces, it is a tragic moment for the Kenya defence forces fraternity and it is a most unfortunate day for the nation at large,” he said.

“Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals. We have also lost gallant officers, servicemen, and women.

“The demise of General Ogolla is a painful loss to me, and certainly, the sorrow we all feel about his passing is shared by all the people of Kenya.”

Ogolla, who was previously the head of the Kenyan Air Force, before rising to deputy military chief, was promoted by Ruto on April 28, 2023, to head the military.

The late defence chief joined the Kenya forces in 1984, where he trained as a fighter pilot with the United States Air Force.

He was also an instructor pilot at the Kenya Air Force (KAF).

Ruto declared three days of national mourning beginning on Friday.