The Nigerian Navy’s forward operating base (FOB) in Badagry, Lagos, says it has handed over six suspected smugglers and 126 bags of foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Linus Osuman, the commanding officer of FOB, who handed over the suspects and the seized bags of rice on Thursday, said they were intercepted on December 27 with three fibre boats at the Akere creek in Badagry.

Osuman added that the command acted on an intelligence report about some bags of rice being smuggled into the Akere community.

Upon receiving this information, the base promptly deployed its quick response team to the location. As a result, 126 bags of foreign rice were seized, and six suspects were apprehended. Nearby communities were also searched, but no additional contraband or suspects were found,” he stated.

The suspects and confiscated items were handed over to the Semé command of the NSC for further investigation and legal action.

He added that the navy, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, would ensure that the country’s waterways are free from smuggling activities.

“As we all know, smuggling is detrimental to the nation’s economy, and it leads to loss of revenue and harms local production capabilities,” he added.

“These sustained efforts of the FOB Badagry demonstrate its unwavering commitment to maritime security within its area of operations,” the FOB commander said.

“These efforts are all geared towards complying with the chief of naval staff, vice-admiral Emmanuel Ogalla’s strategic directive 2023-6, which is to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.”

Imam Shehu, the NCS officer in charge of enforcement at the Semé area command, said the suspects would be charged in court while the seized goods would be auctioned to the public.

Shehu commended the navy for their effort towards protecting the country’s waterways, noting that the two agencies would ensure continued collaboration.

A chief magistrate court in Kaduna has ordered the remand of Shehu Mahdi, a public affairs and political commentator, in a correctional facility.

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Madhi in Kaduna over the weekend after he posted inciting content, including a video online claiming that President Bola Tinubu granted France the approval to set up a military base in northern Nigeria.

The now-deleted post was uploaded on December 14 and accompanied by a video of a Nigerian Army officer speaking Hausa while the background showed a foreign soldier.

Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), and Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, have since debunked the claims as baseless.

Findings by CableCheck revealed that the claim that the French military has been deployed in Maiduguri, Borno state capital, to establish a military base in Nigeria is false.

At the court session on Tuesday, the DSS arraigned Mahdi before Abubakar Lamido, the presiding magistrate, on a two-count charge of conspiracy, aiding, and abetting terrorism.

The offences are said to be contrary to section 26(2)(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022, and inciting public disturbances is contrary to section 78 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna state, 2017.

“In his ruling, Magistrate Lamido held that Mahdi remains in a correctional facility in Kaduna until January 14, 2025, for further hearing on the matter,” a statement by DSS said.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of cannabis in Lagos state.

A statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson, said the boats were blocked at the Eleko beach in Lekki area of the state.

He said six foreign nationals were detained in connection to the shipment, which was allegedly brought in from Ghana.

Babafemi said the suspects include two Ghanaians and four Beninese.

“Operatives of the Marine Command of NDLEA at 2:30 am on Christmas eve, Tuesday, December 24, intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis at the Eleko beach in Lekki area of Lagos,” the statement reads.

“Six foreign nationals who brought the consignments from Ghana were arrested during the operation. They include two Ghanaians: Godsway John, 38; and Freedom Kelvin, 33; as well as four Beninese: Chegoun Hounsou, 23; Gadabor Nyameto, 47; Adantg Sasa, 34; and Ayao Kayivi, 21.”

Babafemi said operatives of the agency also arrested a 48-year-old businessman identified as Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur for allegedly ingesting 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine while attempting to board a Paris-bound flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

He said Orizu was arrested at the boarding gate of the Abuja airport last Sunday during the outward clearance of passengers on Air France.

“When he was pulled aside for a body scan, he turned down the request, claiming his medical condition won’t allow him,” the statement added.

“He was thereafter taken into custody for excretion observation during which he excreted a total of 74 wraps of the Class A drugs over a period of seven days.”

Orizu, a shop owner at Balogun Market in Lagos, reportedly said he was promised €3,000 for successfully delivering the goods to Paris.