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NDLEA Arrests Fugitive Drug Queen, Recovers ₦5bn Cocaine in Lagos Children’s Room
NDLEA Arrests Fugitive Drug Queen, Recovers ₦5bn Cocaine in Lagos Children’s Room
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a fugitive drug syndicate leader, Shodunke Yetunde Simbiat, and recovered 23.5 kilograms of cocaine worth over ₦5 billion from her Lagos residence, intensifying Nigeria’s war against illicit drugs.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said Simbiat had been on the run since May 2024 following the dismantling of a major cocaine trafficking cartel operating across Lagos, Ogun and Ghana.
Babafemi explained that the cartel, led by a couple — Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda — was smashed about 20 months ago by operatives of a special NDLEA operations unit.
According to him, Lookman and Toheebat were arrested on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Ibiye along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, while attempting to cross the land border into Ghana to deliver a cocaine consignment.
“At the point of arrest, 42 blocks of cocaine weighing 47.5 kilograms were recovered from them,” Babafemi said.
He added that a follow-up raid on their residence at Plot 24/25 OPIC Extension, Petedo Road, Agbara, Ogun State, led to the seizure of eight additional blocks weighing 10 kilograms, bringing the total to 57.5 kilograms of cocaine.
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Babafemi said NDLEA operatives sustained intelligence-led surveillance to dismantle the entire trans-border drug trafficking organisation (DTO), leading to the identification of Simbiat, a 39-year-old female stash keeper, as a key member.
“As a result, she was trailed to her residence at 31 Onasanya Street, Surulere, Lagos, where she was arrested on Tuesday, December 9, 2025,” he said.
The statement added: “A thorough search of her home led to the discovery of 23.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a black suitcase recovered from her children’s room. She admitted ownership of the drug consignment, valued at over ₦5 billion in street value.”
Meanwhile, Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, December 18, intercepted a 36-year-old businessman, Nwanwene Robinson Destiny, with 1,020 pills of tramadol (225mg) and tapentadol (200mg) hidden in his luggage while attempting to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.
He said the suspect claimed the drugs would have earned him €200 upon delivery in Italy.
In another operation at the Seme border, Badagry, NDLEA officers arrested a 48-year-old Beninoise, Leocardi Josu, with 3,400 tablets of tramadol 225mg on the same day.
Also, a suspect, Abdullahi Adamu (30), was arrested along the Okene–Lokoja highway with 28.4kg of skunk and Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, on Friday, December 19.
In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives recovered 125,000 capsules of tramadol and 1,800 ampoules of pentazocine injections from a Toyota Hiace bus along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, while two suspects — Ogunlade Kazeem (54) and Adeleke Ismail (30) — were arrested with 185.4kg of skunk at Challenge Motor Park, Ibadan.
Similarly, a raid on the Owena/Ijesha forest in Osun State yielded 405kg of skunk, with a suspect, Charles James (45), arrested. Another suspect, Jamilu Zakari (42), was nabbed with 14,960 tramadol pills concealed in kolanut sacks along the Abuja–Kaduna highway.
Babafemi said NDLEA commands nationwide also sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
Commending the officers involved, the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged personnel to remain vigilant during the festive season and maintain the highest standards of professionalism in all drug supply and demand reduction efforts.
NDLEA Arrests Fugitive Drug Queen, Recovers ₦5bn Cocaine in Lagos Children’s Room
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Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead
Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead
Suspected gunmen have launched a deadly attack on Gebbe community in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, leaving an undisclosed number of people feared dead and several others injured.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants struck suddenly, firing sporadic gunshots that threw the community into panic, forcing residents to flee to neighbouring villages and nearby bushes for safety.
Local sources disclosed that the exact number of casualties could not be immediately ascertained due to the scale of the attack and the displacement of residents. The incident has reportedly left the community, which has not experienced such violence in years, in a state of shock and trauma.
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Confirming the incident, the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, said police operatives have been deployed to the area to assess the situation.
“The police are currently on ground to determine the number of casualties and injured persons. An official statement will be issued as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.
Some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that security agencies have mobilised to restore calm in the area.
Meanwhile, community members have appealed to the Kebbi State Government and security agencies to provide urgent intervention, describing the attack as unprecedented in the history of Gebbe community.
Gunmen Attack Gebbe Community in Kebbi, Many Feared Dead
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Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina Youths–Police Clash
Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina Youths–Police Clash
No fewer than three persons were killed and several others injured following violent clashes between youths and security operatives in Katsina metropolis, Katsina State.
The unrest reportedly began late on Friday, December 27, around 10:00 p.m., when police operatives raided suspected criminal hideouts in Sabuwar Unguwa Quarters in an attempt to arrest a suspected drug dealer identified as Uzairu, popularly known as Kuda.
According to the Katsina State Police Command, the suspect resisted arrest and raised an alarm that attracted suspected gang members, who attacked the officers in a bid to free him. During the ensuing struggle, a firearm was discharged, hitting Uzairu. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.
Tension escalated the following day during Uzairu’s funeral procession, as youths allegedly clashed again with security personnel at the graveyard. Two persons were reportedly hit by stray bullets during the confrontation.
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Police authorities confirmed that one of the victims died on arrival at the hospital, while the second is currently receiving treatment.
Amid the violence, the youths allegedly set ablaze a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) outpost and attempted to burn a nearby police outpost before security reinforcements were deployed to the area.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Katsina State Command, DSP Abubakar Aliyu, said the clashes resulted in the death of two civilians, while another injured victim is responding to treatment.
DSP Aliyu explained that during the initial raid, the police team was attacked, an operational vehicle was damaged, and several officers sustained injuries. He added that one policeman was stabbed with a knife while suspects attempted to disarm him.
“During the struggle to secure the rifle, a shot was released, hitting and injuring the suspect, who later died in the hospital,” he said.
He further disclosed that on December 28, suspected miscreants hijacked the funeral procession, attacked security personnel, burned the NSCDC outpost, inflicted a deep machete wound on a policeman, and damaged a police patrol vehicle.
The police spokesperson said calm has been restored following the deployment of additional police and NSCDC personnel to the area.
DSP Aliyu added that the Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies.
Three Killed, NSCDC Outpost Burnt in Katsina Youths–Police Clash
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Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos
Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos
At least two persons were killed and 16 others injured following a fuel tanker crash in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Sunday evening.
The accident occurred near the Polo Field Club Roundabout, close to St. Louis College, when a laden fuel tanker reportedly lost its brakes shortly after the Plateau State Specialist Hospital Roundabout and rammed into several vehicles.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Peter Longsan, said emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene to prevent further casualties.
According to Longsan, 18 persons were involved in the crash. Two male adults died on the spot, while 16 injured victims were rushed to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) for medical treatment. The corpses of the deceased were deposited at BUTH.
He explained that the accident was reported to the FRSC at about 6:49pm on December 28, 2025, prompting immediate rescue operations by the FRSC in collaboration with other security and emergency agencies.
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To avert a possible fire outbreak, the area was cordoned off and traffic diverted, while security agencies prevented looting. Fortunately, Longsan said there was no spillage of petroleum products, significantly reducing the risk of explosion.
Agencies involved in the operation included the FRSC, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Federal Fire Service, NSCDC, Operation Rainbow, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Vehicle Inspection Officers, and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria.
Following the rescue operation, the petroleum product was safely transloaded, damaged vehicles were removed, and the road was fully cleared, restoring traffic flow by Monday morning.
Commending the coordinated response, FRSC Plateau Sector Commander, Olajide E. Mogaji, praised stakeholders and community members for their cooperation and reiterated that road safety is a shared responsibility.
He urged motorists to drive cautiously, especially during the festive season, and advised the public to report emergencies using the FRSC emergency number 122.
Two Killed, 16 Injured in Fuel Tanker Crash at Polo Roundabout in Jos
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