As Operatives Recover Illicit Arms, Ammunition.

The Nigeria Police Force as part of its efforts to ensure the safety and security of all Nigerians by employing proactive, intelligence-driven strategies to combat crime have evolved improved strategies to combat crimes and criminality.

These efforts have led to the disruption of criminal networks and a notable decrease in incidents of organized and violent crime, enhancing the overall security situation in the country.

On the 1st of November 2024, operatives of the FID-IRT arrested one Ogaga Dickson ‘m’ 35 years, a member of a notorious armed robbery syndicate responsible for the death of CSP Hassan Jega, the DPO Agbarho Division, Delta State, who was killed on the 14th of October 2024, during a fierce gun battle between a team of police officers led by the deceased DPO and the assailants, after the team of police men had foiled one of their robbery operations.

The operatives had earlier stormed the gang’s den and engaged them in a fierce gun duel leading to the neutralization of 4 of the gang members. Upon Ogaga’s arrest, the police recovered one Ak 47 rifle, one English pistol, one locally made pistol, ammunition of various calibres and six exotic vehicles.

Similarly, police operatives apprehended a child-trafficking syndicate led by one Pastor Dayo Bernard ‘m’ of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Plateau State on the 2nd of December 2024.

The operation led to the rescue of five children between the ages of 2-4, abducted from various homes in Jos, Plateau State, and the arrest of other members of the syndicate identified as Rita Agboeze ‘f’, Victoria Ugwu ‘f’, Nanman Puntel ‘f’, and Peter Ukwuani ‘m’. Upon interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to having abducted and sold 13 children at varying prices, all of whom have been recovered by the police and reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Furthermore, In line with the IGP’s directive to all police detectives to mop up every illicit arms and ammunition in circulation, operatives of the FID-IRT have successfully recovered 14 Ak-47 Rifles.

These operations exemplify the unwavering resolve of the Nigeria Police Force and highlight the effectiveness of our efforts to combat crime and enhance national security.

ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.

6th January 2025.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested one Emeka Emmanuel Mbadiwe, a US-trained Nigerian filmmaker, over alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

The NDLEA, in a statement on Sunday, said the filmmaker was apprehended at a hotel in Lekki, Lagos, on December 27, 2024.

It said the arrest came shortly after one Uzoekwe Ugochukwu James, identified as an associate of his, was apprehended earlier the same day at Ajao Estate, Ikeja.

The operatives revealed that James was intercepted at a warehouse retrieving a shipment of 33 parcels of “loud”, a potent strain of cannabis.

The shipment, weighing 17.30 kilograms, had arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on December 24 via a Delta Airlines flight.

The substance was concealed in “large wooden crates”.

The NDLEA disclosed a series of other arrests and drug seizures across the country.

Among them was Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, a 61-year-old Lagos socialite, who was apprehended at her mansion in Okota after operatives intercepted a truck loaded with over 1,500 kilograms of cannabis.

In Kwara state, two young women were arrested for producing drug-laced cupcakes allegedly targeted at students.

Similarly, in Rivers state, a joint operation at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex uncovered more than 300,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup.

In Kano, a separate raid led to the seizure of over 149,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5.

Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, said the agency is abiding by a “balanced approach to drug supply reduction and demand reduction”.

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.