NDLEA intercepts ₦10bn worth of cocaine, Loud, opioids in Lagos

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted illicit drugs valued at more than ₦10 billion in a series of coordinated operations at Lagos seaports and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), dealing a significant blow to drug trafficking syndicates operating within and outside Nigeria.

The seizures, which included cocaine, Loud (a potent synthetic strain of cannabis), Tapentadol, tramadol and other controlled substances, were recorded during intelligence-led operations at the MMIA Cargo Terminal, Apapa Seaport and a courier company in Lagos.

The agency announced the development in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who said the successful operations reflected the NDLEA’s intensified efforts to dismantle international drug trafficking networks using Nigeria’s ports and airports as transit routes.

A major breakthrough during the operation led to the arrest of a 55-year-old businessman accused of attempting to export 3.30 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed inside specially modified cartons of food items destined for the United Kingdom.

According to the NDLEA, the suspect, a clothing trader at Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested after operatives intercepted the shipment at the export section of the Lagos airport. The investigation initially resulted in the arrest of three cargo agents linked to the consignment before another suspect who allegedly delivered the shipment was apprehended.

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Babafemi said intelligence gathered from those arrests eventually led operatives to the alleged kingpin of the trafficking syndicate.

“His arrest provided the lead to identifying the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK,” the NDLEA spokesman said.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested a 31-year-old entrepreneur at her residence in Surulere, Lagos, over the alleged importation of 2.80 kilogrammes of Loud, a highly potent synthetic strain of cannabis.

The drug consignment reportedly arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight before being intercepted by NDLEA officers through intelligence-based screening. The agency said the investigation enabled officers to trace the shipment to the suspect, leading to her arrest.

The NDLEA also intercepted 2.2 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, an opioid medication with an estimated street value of more than ₦2.2 billion.

According to the agency, the consignment arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight and was intercepted during a joint cargo examination following credible intelligence. Tapentadol is a prescription opioid used for pain management but is increasingly abused and illegally trafficked because of its addictive effects.

In a separate operation, NDLEA officers intercepted another shipment containing tramadol concealed inside containers of black soap meant for export to the United Kingdom.

The consignment was uncovered at a courier facility in Lagos after officers identified suspicious packaging during routine inspection and intelligence profiling. The agency said traffickers have continued to adopt sophisticated concealment methods in an attempt to evade security checks at airports and seaports.

At the Apapa Seaport, NDLEA operatives discovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud concealed inside three imported vehicles.

The cannabis weighed 2,388.5 kilogrammes and had an estimated street value exceeding ₦7.1 billion, making it one of the agency’s largest recent seizures at the nation’s seaports. Officials said the drugs were uncovered during a joint examination involving the NDLEA and other government agencies responsible for cargo inspection.

The latest seizures underscore the NDLEA’s sustained offensive against local and transnational drug trafficking organisations. The agency said criminal syndicates continue to devise new methods of concealing narcotics in food items, vehicle compartments, courier packages and commercial goods, prompting authorities to strengthen intelligence gathering, cargo profiling and inter-agency collaboration.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), has repeatedly stated that the agency will continue targeting drug cartels while expanding its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, which focuses on prevention, rehabilitation, treatment and public awareness.

The anti-narcotics agency reaffirmed that all suspects arrested in connection with the latest operations would face prosecution under the NDLEA Act, while investigations continue to identify other members of the trafficking networks and trace proceeds generated from the illegal drug trade.

Security experts have described the seizures as another major success in Nigeria’s fight against organised crime, noting that disrupting narcotics supply chains also weakens criminal groups involved in money laundering, arms trafficking and other transnational offences.

The NDLEA urged Nigerians to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains critical to the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

NDLEA intercepts ₦10bn worth of cocaine, Loud, opioids in Lagos

Army arrests wanted soldier over alleged supply of military gear to terrorists

Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a serving Nigerian Army soldier who had been declared wanted for allegedly supplying military accoutrements and other operational items to terrorist groups operating in Nigeria’s North-East.

The suspect, identified as Private Mohammed Yusuf (service number 23NA/84/1939) of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Training Facility (NAOTF), Lagos, was apprehended on July 25, 2026, during an intelligence-led operation carried out by personnel of the 7 Provost Group in Maiduguri, Borno State.

According to security sources, the operation was the culmination of weeks of surveillance after intelligence reports linked the soldier to the alleged diversion of military equipment to terrorist elements.

Investigators said the suspect allegedly abandoned his duty post before travelling to Maiduguri on July 7, shortly after he was declared wanted by military authorities.

Rather than reporting to his assigned unit, he reportedly went into hiding while allegedly maintaining contact with individuals suspected of supporting terrorist logistics networks in the region.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the soldier was allegedly sheltered at Gomari Costain in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State by another serving soldier, Private Baba Kamal Sale (service number 25NA/89/12687) of the Corps of Intelligence.

Military authorities have launched investigations into the second soldier to determine the extent of his alleged involvement in the case.

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Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives of the 7 Provost Group mounted continuous surveillance before intercepting Private Yusuf at Jidari Bus Stop, where he was reportedly attempting to cross into Cameroon.

The suspect was arrested without incident and is currently being held in military custody.

According to security sources, investigators are interrogating the soldier over allegations that he supplied military accoutrements, uniforms and other operational materials to terrorist groups, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram.

The ongoing investigation is also focused on identifying possible collaborators within and outside the military, uncovering financial transactions linked to the alleged activities and dismantling any logistics networks supporting insurgent operations.

Military officials believe intelligence obtained from the suspect could help expose supply routes used to move military materials to terrorists and reveal individuals facilitating such operations.

The arrest comes as Operation HADIN KAI intensifies coordinated land and air offensives across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, targeting terrorist enclaves and disrupting insurgent activities.

In recent months, troops have recorded significant operational successes, including the neutralisation of terrorist commanders, destruction of camps, recovery of arms and ammunition, rescue of kidnapped victims and the surrender of dozens of insurgents and their family members.

Security experts have consistently warned that insider collaboration remains one of the major threats to counter-insurgency operations, noting that the diversion of military equipment can significantly enhance the operational capabilities of terrorist groups.

They say identifying and dismantling insider networks is critical to protecting military personnel, safeguarding operational intelligence and weakening terrorist logistics.

Military authorities reiterated that the Nigerian Army maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward personnel involved in misconduct, corruption or collaboration with criminal and terrorist organisations.

They stressed that any officer or soldier found undermining national security would face disciplinary measures and prosecution in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable laws.

The Army also appealed to members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies, saying community support remains vital to ongoing counter-terrorism efforts across the North-East.

Investigations into the case are continuing as security agencies work to determine the full extent of the alleged network and ensure that all individuals connected to the diversion of military materials are brought to justice.

Army arrests wanted soldier over alleged supply of military gear to terrorists

BREAKING: Bandits Abduct Kebbi High Court Judge in Midnight Residence Attack

Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria – In a brazen attack that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s judicial community, suspected bandits have abducted a High Court judge from his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, a judge of the Kebbi State High Court, was seized from his home along Zogirma Road in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto State. The abduction is the latest in a growing wave of kidnapping of prominent Nigerians in the country’s troubled North-West region.

According to multiple sources familiar with the incident, the armed men stormed the judge’s residence around midnight, firing several gunshots to intimidate residents and security personnel before whisking their victim away to an unknown destination. “He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen stormed his residence and took him away,” a source close to the family told Daily Trust. The assailants were reportedly shouting during the operation, which alerted neighbors in the area, but the swift and aggressive nature of the raid prevented any immediate intervention.

In a small relief, no member of the judge’s household sustained physical injuries during the attack. The gunmen focused solely on abducting the judge and made no attempt to harm his family or domestic staff. “Immediately the incident occurred, we reported to the appropriate authorities, including the leadership of the High Court,” the source added.

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Confirming the abduction, the Kebbi State Police Command spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said security operatives had launched a full-scale rescue mission. “I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight,” Usman stated. The Police Commissioner, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, immediately deployed tactical teams and intelligence personnel to track the abductors, according to the spokesperson. “As we speak, our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” the PPRO said. Security sources indicate that the operation involves collaboration with local vigilantes and military units stationed in the region, as bandits often flee into dense forest corridors spanning Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto states.

A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, described the incident as a painful and disturbing development for the judiciary. “I am not authorized to speak formally, but this is a painful moment for us. To hear that one of our judges was abducted at his residence is very disturbing,” the official said. The official revealed that the management of the High Court had already held emergency meetings with heads of security agencies in Kebbi State to coordinate efforts aimed at securing the judge’s immediate and safe release. “Justice Bunza is a dedicated judicial officer. His abduction is not just an attack on him personally, but an attack on the rule of law and the entire justice system,” the official added.

As of the time of filing this report, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of Justice Bunza. However, banditry and mass abductions for ransom have become rampant across Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions, with judicial officers, politicians, and traditional rulers increasingly becoming targets.

The abduction of Justice Bunza comes amid a troubling rise in kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria. Just days earlier, suspected bandits reportedly abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area in neighbouring Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, in a late-night raid that left four security personnel dead. In May 2015, Justice Samuel Obayomi of the Kogi State High Court was also kidnapped on his way to work, with his police orderly shot dead during the attack. He was released after 34 days in captivity. The judiciary in Nigeria has repeatedly called for enhanced protection for judicial officers, many of whom carry out their duties in volatile regions without adequate security coverage.

Security analysts believe the bandits may soon make contact with the judge’s family or the authorities to demand a ransom, though police have not confirmed any communication with the abductors. The Kebbi State Government has yet to issue an official statement, but sources say Governor Nasir Idris has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely. The National Judicial Council (NJC) is also expected to weigh in on the matter, as the abduction of a sitting High Court judge raises serious questions about the safety of judicial officers across the country.

This is a developing story. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available on the rescue operation for Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza and the broader security situation in Kebbi State. If you have any information that could assist in the safe rescue of Justice Bunza, please contact the Kebbi State Police Command or the nearest security agency.

BREAKING: Bandits Abduct Kebbi High Court Judge in Midnight Residence Attack