Sarkin Hausawa: Northerners ready to quit Anambra, accuses IPOB of incessant killing of kinsmen - Newstrends
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Sarkin Hausawa: Northerners ready to quit Anambra, accuses IPOB of incessant killing of kinsmen

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IPOB members

The Sarkin Hausawa of Orunba North LGA, Alhaji Sa’id Muhammad, says that northerners in Anambra State have made up their minds to leave the state because of the constant killing of their relatives by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the outlawed IPOB.

Militants of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday allegedly killed a woman, her four children and six others, all of them of northern extraction in Anambra State.

The pregnant woman and her children were killed at Isulo, Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

The killings marked a new low in the heightened attacks on non-indigenes by IPOB terrorists who are also attacking the symbol of authority including the police and the military.

Natives of Anambra State and the South East, in general, have not also been spared by the IPOB terrorists who have been wreaking havoc for a long time amid agitation for secession.

The killing of the northerners was perpetrated by the outlawed group a few days after the discovery of the head of an Anambra State lawmaker who was abducted by the terrorists.

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In an interview with Daily Trust, Muhammad said the killing of the pregnant woman together with her four children by gunmen was not new to them as many of his people were killed in such a callous manner.

“The woman was from Adamawa State. Before her death, she lived in Orumba South, and on Sunday, she visited her friends with her four children.

“It was on her way back home in Orumba South that she was killed. She was being conveyed by a commercial motorcyclist when they were ambushed by the gunmen. They murdered her and her four children but the motorcyclist escaped,” he said.

In a gory video trending on Twitter and seen by Daily Trust, the victims were seen lying in the pool of their blood with bullets spread around and a narrator speaking in Igbo saying, “Everybody should look at this video that they have shot a woman and her four children. They are from the North. And they are shooting everybody they see on the street; so people should be careful.”

Our correspondents report that on that very Sunday, five commercial motorcycle riders were also killed and their bikes burnt at Onocha LGA. The bodies of four of the deceased were deposited in the morgue while the fifth one was burnt to ashes.

Mohammed said another man, Abdullahi, who was selling roasted meat by the roadside at Nnanka, was also killed at his suya spot.

“His body was by the roadside since Sunday evening until in the afternoon on Monday when I called the police DPO and informed him about it and requested him to help us recover the remains.

“He told me that he cannot send his men there because of the sit-at-home order. We are now planning to leave for North as we can no longer stay here…They are killing us on daily basis,” he said.

He said his younger brother, Aliyu, was also killed two months ago in a similar manner.

Daily Trust reports that some trucks conveying goods to the South were also set ablaze in Anambra at the weekend and the drivers and other occupants were killed, injured or disappeared without a trace. Some truck drivers of northern extraction said that they are now operating with fear in the South East region.

Adamu Shu’aibu, who works with a private company in the region said that the rate at which the militants were attacking and killing drivers was alarming.

“I lost many of my colleagues to the nefarious activities of the terrorists and the killings are not being reported. Many of our colleagues have abandoned the driving job. The gunmen mostly attack drivers on some routes that have few or no security personnel.”

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When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ikenga Tochukwu, could not confirm the incidents, saying the details were sketchy.

He said the command would talk about the incidents when they receive a clear picture of what transpired.

However, a senior police officer who did not want to be named confirmed the Isulo attack.

‘Communities shielding criminals’

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Echeng E. Echeng, Monday, accused communities in the state of shielding criminals in their midst. He stated this while briefing journalists on the murder of the Anambra State lawmaker, Okechukwu Okoye, and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka.

Daily Trust reports that the IPOB militants have vowed to kill more lawmakers in Anambra State.

The group issued the threat in a note allegedly found where the head of the lawmaker was dumped.

The commissioner said, “Some of us have come out to tag these people ‘unknown gunmen’ while in actual sense they are known. We are trying to mystify something that is not just there.

“It is high time we went into demystifying the tag ‘unknown gunmen’. They are not spirits; they are our brothers and they live with us in our communities. That is the obvious truth. We know who these people are.

“The problem the state security has is a total conspiracy of silence when nobody sees something, nobody says something and nobody hears something.

“Security is collective; everybody has a battle. The crimes are committed in our communities and we should be able to say this is what is happening in our communities.

“We are glorifying people that we know and tag them as unknown gunmen,” he said.

The police commissioner also debunked insinuations that Fulani were behind the attacks and killings in the state.

He said available information and records of arrests made in the state showed otherwise, accusing the communities of shielding the criminals in their midst.

Meanwhile, tension has heightened in Anambra State following the incessant killings of people by IPOB militants.

 Hate campaign

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) said yesterday that it had taken stock of events unfolding in Nigeria, noting especially, the unrelenting disturbances created by certain interest groups in the South East, in the form of violent attacks on people of other sections, particularly the North.

Spokesman of the group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said in a statement that unprovoked evictions, attacks, killings, destructions of properties and other forms of violations against northerners in various parts of the South East had resulted from the hate campaigns and propaganda being conducted by regional and ethnic agitators.

“We are particularly disturbed by the reports of the brutal murder of a mother and her four children for the only sin of being northerners.

“These killings followed other coordinated attacks on northern traders and haulage trucks, killing some people and destroying millions worth of properties including the truck.

“We have watched and studied these events carefully and with considerable restraint and maturity, to the point of condoning and accommodating several unreasonable and unacceptable actions that have been perpetrated against Nigerians collectively, and northerners in particular.

“Everyone can see that the diabolical scheme planned and exhibited in the actions and clamours of IPOB/ESN terror groups are supported morally and politically by the vast majority of the pliant Igbo elites, politicians, traditional rulers, business persons, and the larger population of this ethnic group.

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“It is also a situation that feeds on the docility of the affrighted section of those who pose as northern leaders today.

“The recent attacks have pushed matters to a point whereby silence has become complicit and inaction is no longer an option, making it impossible for us to remain indifferent or silent in the face of such extreme provocations.

“As the representatives of various interest groups from northern Nigeria, the CNG today declares enough is enough. The North will no longer remain passive under such deliberate and sustained attacks on its people and interests and will henceforth be forced to react to every provocation and unwarranted violation,” he said.

The group also cautioned media operators to be more restrained and balanced in their reporting of all situations in the country particularly when matters coming from or affecting northerners were reported or commented on.

“We caution them to desist from and to eschew the slanted reporting of events with greater bias against a particular religious and ethnic group as is witnessed in the reporting of security situations recently.

“We warn that editorial policies and restraints imposed by ordinary decency and sanity must not be abandoned by the media establishment for sensational and often biased reporting that only inflame tensions in the country,” the northern group said.

Meanwhile, many social media influencers in the North took to Twitter condemning the killings of the northerners by IPOB in the South East.

Senator Shehu Sani twitted: “You condemn ‘the murder’ in Sokoto but you don’t have the courage and the conscience to condemn the murderous activities of gunmen and unknown gunmen in your area (shokoto), including the slaughter of a legislator; that is hypocrisy and cowardice.”

Gimba Kakanda also tweeted: “Last week, you were in support of mob justice because it is perpetrated by your kinsmen. Today, you are hurt and against it because your kinsmen are the victims. And you are calling out Arewa to seek justice for Deborah, your silence on IPOB’s killings of “Hausa Muslims” is telling.

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“Ahmed Musa Husaini speaks for me here in calling out the double standards of both sides of the Niger. The killings in Anambra, including the targeting of “Hausa Muslims,” are a tragedy that must be condemned by all. It also comes with a lesson to those who justify jungle justice.”

Jaybee @KhaleelJibreel said, “We should create our own media houses to publicise any atrocity meted to us. Stop crying foul, you are not expecting your staunch enemy to battle your insult or killing. If we don’t do the needful, this is how we will keep on staying on the defensive. North is not ready.”

Enforce anti-terrorism law in S/East – Expert

A security expert, Kabiru Adamu said to end the excesses in the South East, the legal status of IPOB and its armed wing, the ESN, is that of a terrorist group and therefore the people killing in that part of the country should be treated as such.

“I am therefore of the view that the government should apply the provisions of the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) and the Terrorism Prevention Act 2022 fully on it.

“This should include using all the elements of Nigeria’s national powers to identify its membership, sponsorship, funding, and weapons supply channels and blocking them as well as arresting and prosecuting them. Only this full application of the law can contain the atrocities of the IPOB.

“To do this effectively, the government needs to enhance its intelligence gathering capabilities both human and technological to allow it to understand who are involved, what their interests are and why the involvement.

“Intelligence gathering will help clarify whether there are truly other gunmen groups behind the atrocities in South East or it is IPOB operating under the anonymity of “unknown gunmen”.

“Additionally, intelligence will allow government open back door channels of addressing the challenge but from a position of strength,” he said.

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MUSCOYS Honours Pioneering Educationist with Commendation Award

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August 24, 2026

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MUSCOYS Honours Pioneering Educationist with Commendation Award

MUSCOYS Honours Pioneering Educationist with Commendation Award

Dr. Abdul-Hameed Celebrated for Transformative Leadership in Tertiary Education

The Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUSCOYS) has presented an Award of Commendation to Engineer Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed in recognition of his exceptional contributions to education development and community service.

The prestigious honour was conferred during the organisation’s General Assembly and Transition Programme, held on Sunday, 23rd August 2026, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Dr. Abdul-Hameed, who served as the Pioneer Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, was celebrated for his visionary leadership and instrumental role in establishing the institution during its critical early stages. His tenure is widely regarded as a benchmark for institution-building and purposeful leadership in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

In a heartfelt congratulatory message, Malam Ibrahim Agunbiade, a member of Rabwah Islamic Propagation based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, described the honour as a well-earned tribute to a man whose career has been defined by excellence, selfless service, and intellectual commitment.

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“Being entrusted with the responsibility of pioneering an institution requires vision, competence, courage, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to service,” Agunbiade stated. “Dr. Abdul-Hameed’s contribution to the development of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, deserves to be remembered and celebrated.”

Agunbiade emphasised that the award goes beyond ceremonial recognition, noting that it highlights the enduring impact of dedicated service to education and humanity. He added that it reinforces the importance of appreciating individuals who devote their lives to building institutions and advancing society.

“I am particularly delighted by this recognition because Dr. Abdul-Hameed is not only a distinguished professional and accomplished educationist but also a valued member of my extended family,” Agunbiade said. “It is a source of immense personal joy and pride to witness his years of service being publicly acknowledged by the Muslim Ummah of Oyo State.”

He further described the commendation as a powerful signal that community service and institutional leadership should be preserved as enduring legacies for future generations.

Concluding his message, Agunbiade offered prayers for the awardee: “May Almighty Allah continue to grant you sound health, wisdom, strength, and renewed opportunities to serve humanity. May He preserve the positive legacy you have built, increase you in beneficial knowledge and honour, and make your contributions to education, community development, and society a source of continuous reward.”

The Award of Commendation adds to the growing recognition of Dr. Abdul-Hameed’s impactful career and his lasting contributions to educational leadership in Oyo State and across Nigeria.

MUSCOYS Honours Pioneering Educationist with Commendation Award

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Amnesty demands probe into alleged killings, disappearances, police abuses in South-East

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August 23, 2026

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Amnesty demands probe into alleged killings, disappearances, police abuses in South-East

Amnesty demands probe into alleged killings, disappearances, police abuses in South-East

UMUAHIA, Abia State — Amnesty International has called for urgent investigations into alleged unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture, arbitrary arrests and other human rights violations in South-East Nigeria, urging security agencies to account for people allegedly taken into custody.

The rights organisation made the call in Umuahia during the presentation and campaign launch of its report, A Decade of Impunity: Attacks and Unlawful Killings in South-East Nigeria.

Amnesty said families across the region had continued to live with uncertainty over the fate of relatives who allegedly disappeared following encounters with security personnel, while some others were reportedly found dead.

The organisation urged security agencies to either charge detainees to court or release them, stressing that prolonged detention without trial violates fundamental rights and undermines the rule of law.

Amnesty researcher Maurice Chukwu said the organisation had received accounts of young people from the South-East who were allegedly being held in police detention facilities without trial.

He said families had shared what he described as disturbing accounts of relatives who allegedly disappeared after being arrested by security operatives and whose whereabouts remained unknown for years.

Chukwu also raised concerns about alleged abuses involving the police tactical unit popularly known as Tiger Base, including allegations of extortion, intimidation, torture and unlawful detention.

Amnesty’s concerns over Tiger Base follow a separate 2026 investigation in which the organisation alleged that officers attached to the unit in Imo State were involved in serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, extortion, enforced disappearances and deaths in custody.

Amnesty called for independent and impartial investigations into the allegations and urged authorities to ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable.

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The organisation’s broader report on the South-East documented the scale of violence in the region and stated that at least 1,844 people were killed between January 2021 and June 2023.

The report attributed violence to a range of actors, including security forces, armed groups, criminal gangs, vigilantes and other non-state actors. Amnesty stressed that accountability should apply to all perpetrators, regardless of whether they are state or non-state actors.

At the Umuahia event, Amnesty campaigner Samson Abobarin said the organisation was submitting a petition signed by concerned residents to governors in the South-East.

According to him, the petition calls on the governors to put pressure on security agencies to provide information about people allegedly taken away during security operations.

Representing the Abia State Attorney-General, Director of the Citizens’ Rights Department in the Ministry of Justice, Chinoyerem Patience Onyemenam, said the state government had zero tolerance for human rights abuses and injustice.

She acknowledged that while many police officers remained committed to their duties, concerns had been raised about some operational practices. She assured participants that the issues presented at the event would be investigated.

A representative of the Abia State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Nkechi Okoji, also supported the campaign and recounted the alleged arrest and extortion of a medical student from Aba.

She alleged that the student was arrested by police officers, taken to a location far from where he was picked up and subsequently extorted.

The campaign also featured emotional testimonies from relatives who said their husbands, brothers and sons had disappeared or died following encounters with security operatives.

Esther Chilem alleged that her husband, Godspower Chilem, was arrested at the premises of Life Gate Church in Aba on June 23, 2022.

She said she was subsequently informed that he had been taken to the Rapid Response Squad but that repeated efforts to locate him at police detention facilities were unsuccessful.

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Another petitioner, Carolina Chukwuma, alleged that her husband, Chukwuma Mwaokike, was arrested by the Department of State Services at St Paul Junction, Aba, on April 26, 2021.

She said she later received information that he had been transferred to the Central Police Station in Aba and appealed to authorities to establish his whereabouts or secure his release.

Cecilia Anonorachi said her husband, Christian Ifeanyi, was arrested in Aba in 2023 and had not been seen since.

She appealed to Abia State Governor Alex Otti to intervene and assist families whose relatives were allegedly missing after encounters with security agencies.

Another petitioner, Nicholas Egekwu, alleged that police officers attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Umuahia took several young people away following an attack by unknown gunmen.

He said his two sons, Obinna and Onyebuchi, were among those taken away and that he later discovered their bodies at a mortuary in Umuahia.

“It remains the saddest day of my life,” Egekwu said, according to his testimony at the event.

A human rights activist trained by Amnesty International, Samuel Agwu, also called for an independent investigation into alleged disappearances and security operations in the region.

Agwu alleged that many families were afraid to speak publicly about missing relatives because of concerns about possible reprisals.

He further alleged that some young people arrested during security operations were being held for prolonged periods without trial, including people allegedly taken into custody during operations in Obigbo, Rivers State.

Amnesty’s campaign comes amid a complex security situation in the South-East, where authorities have been battling attacks blamed on armed separatist groups, criminal networks and other armed actors.

The organisation’s research has emphasised that the violence cannot be attributed to a single group. Its report documented alleged abuses involving both security agencies and non-state actors, including IPOB/ESN, unknown gunmen, cult groups, vigilantes and Ebube Agu.

Amnesty has therefore called for accountability across the board, insisting that violations committed by security personnel should be investigated just as abuses allegedly committed by armed and criminal groups must also be addressed.

The organisation’s separate investigation into Tiger Base alleged that detainees were subjected to beatings and other forms of torture, while some were allegedly held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

Amnesty also documented allegations of extortion and deaths in custody and called for an independent investigation into the conduct of officers attached to the unit.

The organisation has said authorities must ensure that victims and their families have access to justice, effective remedies and appropriate reparations where violations are established.

The campaign also comes after Nigerian authorities announced changes concerning the Tiger Base operational structure following widespread concerns over alleged abuses. Amnesty said it would continue monitoring the implementation of the measures.

For families whose relatives remain missing, however, the demand remains straightforward: they want authorities to establish what happened to their loved ones and provide official answers.

Amnesty said security operations must comply with Nigerian law and international human rights standards, stressing that efforts to combat insecurity should not come at the expense of fundamental rights.

The organisation maintained that lasting peace and stability in the South-East would require not only effective security measures but also accountability, justice, transparency and respect for the rule of law.

Amnesty demands probe into alleged killings, disappearances, police abuses in South-East

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NDLEA uncovers new Thailand drug route, seizes N4.4bn Loud as 101-year-old woman, others arrested

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August 23, 2026

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NDLEA uncovers new Thailand drug route, seizes N4.4bn Loud as 101-year-old woman, others arrested

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered what it described as a new maritime route allegedly being exploited by international drug trafficking syndicates to smuggle synthetic cannabis into Nigeria, following the seizure of about 1.49 tonnes of cannabis indica, popularly known as Loud, at the Apapa and Lekki Deep Sea ports in Lagos.

The consignments, which originated from Laem Chabang Port in Thailand, had a combined estimated street value of more than N4.4 billion, according to the NDLEA.

The agency said the interceptions represented its first-ever seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through Nigeria’s maritime corridor, raising concerns about attempts by international trafficking networks to establish new routes into the country. (NDLEA)

The seizures formed part of a series of intelligence-led operations carried out by NDLEA commands across the country between August 15 and 22, 2026. The operations also led to the arrest of a 101-year-old great-grandmother allegedly involved in the retail sale of cannabis, the interception of cocaine concealed in fufu, the destruction of 10 tonnes of cannabis and the recovery of methamphetamine, tramadol, codeine and other controlled substances.

At the Apapa Port, NDLEA operatives, working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies, jointly examined a container on Friday, August 21.

The container had been declared as carrying dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap and inverter batteries. However, the inspection uncovered 1,090.5 kilogrammes of Thai Loud, packed in 54 cartons containing 2,181 sachets, each weighing 500 grammes.

The NDLEA said the container had originated from Laem Chabang Port in Thailand.

At the Lekki Deep Sea Port, another container that had been placed on the agency’s watchlist was jointly examined on Wednesday, August 19, after being monitored by the NDLEA Marine Special Operations Unit.

Four of seven pallets wrapped in black nylon were found to contain 400 kilogrammes of Thai Loud, packed in 96 cartons containing 400 parcels. The remaining three pallets contained 798 rims of A4 paper, which the agency said had been used to conceal the illicit consignment. (NDLEA)

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The combined seizure from the two ports amounted to 1,490.5 kilogrammes, or roughly 1.49 tonnes, of Thai Loud.

The discovery comes amid increased scrutiny of Nigeria’s ports and maritime borders as drug traffickers continue to explore sophisticated concealment methods and alternative routes for moving narcotics across the country.

101-year-old woman arrested over cannabis

In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives arrested 101-year-old Esther Ogunmabo at Ilisan on Saturday, August 15, allegedly for selling cannabis.

The agency said Ogunmabo was found with 90 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in small retail sachets.

According to the NDLEA, the centenarian told investigators that she turned to selling cannabis after a fire destroyed her provisions shop. She allegedly said one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied her with cannabis every four days for onward sale in small quantities.

Because of her advanced age, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), directed that Ogunmabo be granted bail and placed on counselling.

The agency, however, arrested her daughter over her alleged connection to the cannabis supply. (NDLEA)

Cocaine concealed inside fufu intercepted

In Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a wooden boat allegedly transporting illicit drugs towards fishing settlements in Cameroon.

The operation, conducted on Friday, August 21, resulted in the arrest of three suspects identified as Etima Effiong Eekpo, 29; Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, 33; and Kingsley Effiong John, 27.

The agency said Eekpo was found with 1.120 kilogrammes of skunk, while Etukudoh had 42.060 kilogrammes of skunk.

John allegedly possessed 435 grammes of skunk and 20 grammes of cocaine concealed inside a large wrap of edible cassava flour, popularly known as fufu.

A total of 42.622 kilogrammes of narcotics was recovered from the three suspects. (NDLEA)

10 tonnes of cannabis destroyed in Ondo

NDLEA operatives in Ondo State also destroyed 10,000 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated across four hectares of farmland in Ijare forest, Ifedore Local Government Area.

The operation followed the earlier arrest of three suspected cannabis cultivators at the same location on August 16.

In another operation at Ita-Ogbolu in Akure North Local Government Area, officers recovered 210 kilogrammes of skunk and a Toyota Camry allegedly belonging to Sylvester Dibiagu Anthony, who the agency said remained at large. (NDLEA)

24,410 tramadol capsules intercepted in FCT

In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, August 22, intercepted three waybill packages containing 24,410 tramadol capsules inside a Hummer bus travelling from Enugu to Zuba.

A follow-up operation in Kontagora, Niger State, led to the arrest of 28-year-old Sunday Eze, whom the agency identified as the alleged owner of the consignment.

He was subsequently transferred to Abuja for further investigation. (NDLEA)

Methamphetamine, cannabis recovered in Kwara

In Kwara State, NDLEA officers patrolling the Ogbomosho-Ilorin Expressway on Friday, August 21, intercepted a Toyota Starlet without a registration number.

A search of the vehicle allegedly produced 1.325 kilogrammes of methamphetamine, wrapped in black nylon bags, alongside quantities of cannabis.

A 22-year-old suspect, Muhammadu Usman, was arrested in connection with the seizure. (NDLEA)

65-year-old woman arrested in Oyo

In Oyo State, NDLEA operatives arrested 65-year-old Adebayo Kaosarat at Akobo-Ojuirin in Ibadan.

The agency said she was found with 1.795 kilogrammes of Scottish Loud, 1.66 kilogrammes of tramadol, 600 grammes of codeine syrup, 125 grammes of diazepam and 50 grammes of flunitrazepam.

The combined weight of the substances was put at 4.68 kilogrammes. (NDLEA)

More cannabis seizures in Kano, Lagos and Abia

In Kano State, NDLEA officers recovered 73.3 kilogrammes of skunk from 31-year-old Chibuzor Madueke during a raid along Hadeija Road.

At Seme in Lagos, three members of the same family—52-year-old Nasiru Tijjani and his two relatives, 27-year-olds Moshood Tijjani and Salami Tijjani—were arrested at Ashipa near the border with 48 kilogrammes of skunk, according to the agency.

In Abia State, officers raided the residence of 36-year-old Ikechukwu Anthony Iwuno at Umuobia Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area.

The operation allegedly recovered 14.4 kilogrammes of Loud, 2.3 kilogrammes of Colorado, 386 grammes of tramadol and 134 grammes of Rohypnol. (NDLEA)

NDLEA steps up prevention and enforcement

The NDLEA said its enforcement operations were accompanied by public awareness activities under its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

The agency conducted sensitisation programmes in schools, religious institutions, workplaces and communities in Kano, Oyo, Kebbi, Taraba and Edo states, while its Idiroko Special Area Command in Ogun State also held an advocacy engagement with the chairman of Ipokia Local Government Area.

Marwa commended personnel from the Ogun, Apapa, Lekki, Seme, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Abia and FCT commands for the operations.

He urged officers to maintain what he described as a balanced drug-control strategy combining law enforcement, prevention, counselling, public enlightenment and community engagement. (NDLEA)

The latest seizures come shortly after the NDLEA publicly destroyed 329,865.585 kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs valued at about N301.058 billion in a court-ordered exercise in Lagos. The destroyed substances included cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, various cannabis strains, ephedrine, tramadol, codeine syrup and other opioids. (NDLEA)

The agency has also received renewed backing from the United States International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau (INL). On August 20, INL Nigeria Country Director Derek Tolliver commended the NDLEA’s recent operational successes and pledged to build on the existing partnership between the two agencies. (NDLEA)

The latest operations highlight the expanding range of methods allegedly being used by trafficking networks—from hiding narcotics in legitimate maritime consignments and food products to transporting drugs through waterways and overland routes.

For the NDLEA, the interception of the Thai consignments is particularly significant because it points to a potentially new international maritime trafficking route into Nigeria, making continued intelligence sharing, port surveillance and cooperation among law-enforcement agencies increasingly important.

NDLEA uncovers new Thailand drug route, seizes N4.4bn Loud as 101-year-old woman, others arrested

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