Gunmen invade Osun PVC distribution centre, flee with voter cards

Suspected armed hoodlums on Sunday attacked a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution centre in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupting the ongoing voter card collection exercise and carting away packs of voter cards in an incident that has heightened security concerns ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election.

The attack occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to eligible voters as part of preparations for the upcoming election.

Eyewitnesses said between eight and 10 armed men stormed the venue unexpectedly and fired several gunshots into the air, sending electoral officials, prospective voters and residents scrambling for safety before making away with packs of voter cards.

A resident of the community, identified simply as Gbadebo, said the attackers appeared to have entered the premises unnoticed before launching the operation.

According to him, the hoodlums headed straight to the section where INEC officials kept the voter cards after firing into the air, forcing everyone at the venue to flee in different directions.

The Osun State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the armed attackers carted away three packs of Permanent Voter Cards before escaping.

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In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, the police said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had strongly condemned the attack and ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation.

The police disclosed that tactical teams, intelligence operatives and other security personnel had been deployed to identify, arrest and prosecute all those involved, as well as recover the stolen voter cards.

The command assured residents that every available resource was being deployed to ensure those responsible were brought to justice and appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could assist investigators.

Reacting to the incident, Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, described the attack as unfortunate and condemned the disruption of the PVC distribution exercise.

She said INEC had commenced an internal assessment to determine the exact number of voter cards stolen and evaluate the impact of the incident on the ongoing distribution exercise.

The electoral commission, however, assured eligible voters that the attack would not derail preparations for the Osun governorship election, reiterating its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and transparent election.

The incident temporarily disrupted PVC collection in the affected community before normalcy was restored with the deployment of additional security personnel.

The attack comes as INEC continues the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards across Osun State ahead of the governorship election, encouraging registered voters to collect their PVCs before the deadline.

Political observers say attacks on electoral facilities and materials pose a serious threat to public confidence in the electoral process and underscore the need for stronger security around election-related activities.

Security experts also noted that while stolen PVCs alone cannot be used to manipulate election outcomes because Nigeria’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) requires biometric verification before accreditation, such incidents could discourage voter participation and undermine public trust if perpetrators are not swiftly apprehended.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting electoral personnel, facilities and materials throughout the election period and urged political actors, community leaders and residents to support efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful and violence-free electoral process.

Investigations are ongoing as security agencies intensify efforts to recover the stolen voter cards and dismantle any criminal network behind the attack.

Gunmen invade Osun PVC distribution centre, flee with voter cards

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