NAFDAC seals fake drug shop in Idumota, Lagos - Newstrends
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NAFDAC seals fake drug shop in Idumota, Lagos

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NAFDAC seals fake drug shop in Idumota, Lagos

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday, sealed the popular Idumota drugs market, in Lagos, as part of its nationwide operation to combat the distribution of counterfeit medicines across the country.

The initiative, which began Sunday night, saw the sealing of three major open drugs’ markets in Idumota, Lagos; Bridgehead, in Onitsha, and Ariaria, in Aba, following alarming concerns over the widespread sale of dangerous, ineffective and potentially life-threatening medications.

Addressing journalists during the operation in Lagos, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, said: “The essence of the operation is to ensure that when we take medicines, they work. When a child is given medicine, that child doesn’t die because there is nothing inside that medicine.”

She said the essence was to control unwholesome products or those not approved.

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“We have over 50,000 shops operating in open markets, which is not supposed to be so.”

Speaking, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Mr. Shaba Mohammed, emphasised the urgency of the operation.

He stated that these markets serve as the primary distribution hubs for over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s drug needs.

“These markets are not just places of trade, they are places where lives are at stake. Today’s operation aims to ensure that the medicines sold in these markets are not only approved but effective and safe for use.”

The operation, which involved military personnel, the police, and representatives from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, targeted the substantial stock of counterfeit and unapproved medical products flooding the Nigerian market.

Corroborating the views of the Director General, he said: “The goal is to remove these harmful products and protect consumers from potentially deadly treatments.”

Mohammed stressed the importance of controlling the sale of medicines in the country, saying, “The essence of this operation is to ensure that when we take medicine, the medicine works. If a child is given medicine, it should not lead to death because there is nothing inside that medicine.

“This initiative follows numerous reports of deaths linked to substandard drugs in the country, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children and those suffering from chronic conditions like hypertension.

“If you are taking medicine for hypertension, that medicine should regulate your blood pressure and not kill you.  But bad medicine will not only fail to help, it will harm. And many have already died because of this.”

He said the operation was part of NAFDAC’s broader effort to regulate the sale of medicines, and “is also focused on closing down illegal open drug markets.”

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Speaking to journalists on the ongoing NAFDAC operations, the Chairman of the Lagos State Medicines Association, Mr. Innocent Ezennaya, said the operations were aimed at eliminating counterfeit drugs from their environment.

Ezennaya said: “The shops are being closed one after the other, so that NAFDAC can ensure that every single shop is visited and inspected. If they find anything irregular, they take it, but if they don’t find anything, they will continue with their work. At the end of the exercise, only shops that comply with the regulations will be allowed to reopen.”

Further, he said: “We have a task force that goes around our members’ shops to check the products regularly, and when we find any issues, we immediately involve NAFDAC. We have documented instances where we reported unapproved drugs to NAFDAC.

“If the markets are closed for just one week, some hospitals and health facilities may run out of essential medicines. This place is a major supplier of genuine drugs for hospitals and pharmacies,” he added.

He also urged NAFDAC to expedite the process, understanding that prolonged closures could negatively impact sales and medical supplies across the region.

He identified the ports and airports as key areas of concern, saying that many counterfeit drugs enter the country through these channels despite efforts to control them.

“Some of these unregistered drugs come into the nation through our borders, airports, and seaports. This is where we need more control. Without blocking the source, our efforts will continue to be undermined,” he said.

The Lagos Medicine Association leader also provided insight into the nature of the counterfeit drugs being seized. “Some of the products confiscated have been found to violate NAFDAC’s regulations, like the use of unauthorised pictures on the packaging. NAFDAC is working to enforce compliance and removal of these non-compliant products from circulation.”

NAFDAC seals fake drug shop in Idumota, Lagos

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Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara

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Notorious bandit leader Kachalla Sani Yellow
Notorious bandit leader Kachalla Sani Yellow

Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara

 

Notorious bandit leader Kachalla Sani Yellow has been killed in Zamfara State in what marks another significant development in the fight against banditry in Nigeria’s North-West.

The feared gang leader, who was linked to a series of deadly attacks, kidnappings and cattle rustling operations across parts of Zamfara State, was reportedly killed in Anka Local Government Area.

However, conflicting accounts have emerged over the circumstances surrounding his death.

One report claimed that Sani Yellow was ambushed and shot dead at Dan Jibga Market by gunmen allegedly loyal to rival bandit kingpin Dogo Gide. The incident is believed to be connected to the growing power struggle among criminal gangs operating in the state, as rival factions continue to battle for dominance.

Another account attributed his death to a coordinated offensive by Nigerian security forces, supported by members of the Maiduguri Special Vigilantes deployed to reinforce ongoing counter-banditry operations in Zamfara. The operation was said to be part of sustained efforts to dismantle armed groups and eliminate high-profile criminal commanders.

Kachalla Sani Yellow was widely regarded as one of the most influential bandit commanders in the Anka, Bukkuyum and Maru axes of Zamfara State. He was allegedly responsible for numerous attacks on rural communities, mass abductions for ransom, cattle rustling and violent raids that displaced thousands of residents.

His death is expected to weaken the operational capacity of his network, although security analysts have warned that splinter groups may launch reprisal attacks or seek to reorganise under new leadership.

As of the time of filing this report, Nigerian security agencies had yet to issue an official statement confirming the exact circumstances surrounding the bandit leader’s death.

Security operations have, however, continued across Zamfara and neighbouring states as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle remaining criminal networks and restore peace to communities affected by years of armed violence.

 

Notorious Bandit Leader Kachalla Sani Yellow Killed in Zamfara

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BREAKING: 10 Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities

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Tragedy in Benue as Woman Allegedly Sets Boyfriend’s Two Daughters Ablaze Over Suspected Infidelity

BREAKING: Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities

No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead following separate attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The latest wave of violence began on Saturday when the attackers reportedly invaded Akpachi village in the Ugboju community, killing two residents and leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries.

Less than 24 hours later, in the early hours of Sunday, the gunmen allegedly struck again, this time attacking the Otukpo Nobi community, where eight more people were killed while many others sustained injuries.

The renewed attacks sparked protests by angry youths and residents, who marched to the palace of the Och’Idoma in Otukpo to express their frustration over the deteriorating security situation. The demonstrators called on both the Benue State Government and federal authorities to take urgent steps to end the recurring violence in the area.

The latest killings have heightened tension across Otukpo and surrounding communities, with many residents expressing fears over continued attacks and the apparent inability of security agencies to prevent them.

The incident comes barely one month after the killing of the Benue State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Ardo Risku Mohammed, and his associate, Yakubu Isah, who were attacked and killed around Okwudu in Otukpo Local Government Area after attending a peace meeting in neighbouring Ohimini Local Government Area.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the latest attacks or confirm whether any arrests had been made. Meanwhile, residents have appealed for increased security presence in the affected communities to prevent further loss of lives.

BREAKING: Killed as Suspected Herdsmen Launch Fresh Attacks on Benue Communities

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Woman Recounts Drinking Urine to Survive After Escaping Alleged Trafficker in Mali

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Woman Recounts Drinking Urine to Survive After Escaping Alleged Trafficker in Mali

A young Nigerian woman, Precious Godwin from Benin, Edo State, has recounted the harrowing ordeal she endured while crossing the Sahara Desert after fleeing an alleged trafficker in Mali, revealing that migrants were forced to drink urine to stay alive because they had no access to water.

Godwin shared her experience during an interview on the Abdullahi Tahir Balarae Podcast aired on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

According to her, she escaped from a woman she identified as Madam Gold in Bamako, Mali, before deciding to continue her journey towards Libya with the hope of eventually reaching Europe.

Describing the life-threatening conditions in the desert, Godwin said the travellers quickly ran out of water, leaving them severely dehydrated under the scorching Sahara sun.

“We didn’t have water. The boys with us were begging us to urinate and give them to drink. If we wanted to urinate, they would cut a jerrycan and beg us to urinate inside so they could drink. I drank my own urine in the desert,” she said.

She explained that the desperate circumstances reduced survival to the group’s only priority, with many migrants resorting to drinking urine in a bid to stay alive as they battled extreme heat and dehydration.

Godwin’s account highlights the perilous journeys undertaken by many irregular migrants across the Sahara Desert, where a lack of food, water, and medical care, coupled with harsh environmental conditions, has claimed countless lives over the years.

Her testimony also underscores the dangers associated with human trafficking and irregular migration routes through North Africa, often controlled by criminal networks that expose migrants to exploitation, abuse, and life-threatening conditions.

Woman Recounts Drinking Urine to Survive After Escaping Alleged Trafficker in Mali

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