NDLEA arrests Thailand returnee for smuggling N3bn heroin – Newstrends
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NDLEA arrests Thailand returnee for smuggling N3bn heroin

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NDLEA arrests Thailand returnee for smuggling N3bn heroin

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Oguejiofor Simonpeter, a Thailand returnee, at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport on October 7, 2024, for attempting to smuggle 13.30 kg of heroin worth over N3.192bn. 

The drug was concealed in six backpacks and packed into two suitcases. The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest.

After arriving in Lagos on October 5, he asked the airline to reroute his luggage to Nigeria, where he could pick them up as rush bags to avoid security inspections.

However, NDLEA officials arrested him at the point of exit.

“A search of his two suitcases revealed three empty backpacks in each box with a large parcel of heroin neatly sewn to all six backpacks. The six parcels were subsequently recovered with a gross weight of 13.30 kg,” the statement read.

According to Babafemi, Oguejiofor revealed that he was given $7,000 to sell the drugs in Nigeria and Ghana.

He said, “In his statement, Oguejiofor claimed he was hired for a fee of $7,000 upon successful delivery of the parcels. He said he was to deliver two parcels in Lagos and the other four parcels in Accra, Ghana.”

NDLEA operatives intercepted opioids worth N22.77 billion at three seaports, including Lekki Deep Seaport, Apapa Seaport in Lagos, and Port Harcourt Port Complex in Onne, Rivers State.

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The seizures included 32,607,900 tramadol pills worth over N12,577,000,000 and 1,451,994 bottles of codeine-based syrup with a street value of N10.163,958,000.

“The combined monetary value of the seized opioids comes to N22,740,958,000. The illicit consignments were seized from containers watched and listed by NDLEA based on intelligence and processed for 100 percent joint examination with men of the Nigeria Customs and other security agencies at the three seaports between October 7 and 11, 2024,” the statement added.

According to Babafemi, operatives in Anambra detained a 29-year-old man, Okelue Chiders, with 50,000 tramadol tablets, and a 38-year-old guy, Monday Akel,e, in Edo State with 70 bags of the psychoactive narcotic weighing 1,050 kg.

He said, “In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Anambra on Saturday, October 12th, arrested a suspect, Okelue Chidera, 29, with 50,000 tablets of tramadol 200 mg at Upper Iweka, Onitsha.

“Also, in Edo State, operatives raided a cannabis transit and loading point at Aviose, Owan West LGA, where 70 bags of the psychoactive substance weighing 1,050 kg were recovered, while a suspect, Monday Akele, 38, was arrested on Friday, October 11th, in another raid at Owan Village, Ovia North East LGA, where 110 kg of the same substance was seized.”

 

NDLEA arrests Thailand returnee for smuggling N3bn heroin

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Tanker explosion claims 90 lives in Jigawa – Police

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Tanker explosion claims 90 lives in Jigawa – Police

No fewer than 90 people were confirmed dead, following a petrol tanker explosion in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

Mr Shi’isu Adam, the Police Spokesperson in Jigawa, confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday.

He also said that 50 other persons had been hospitalised for varying degrees of injury due to the explosion.
”At about 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Majia Town, Taura local government area of Jigawa, the tanker driver lost control near Khadija University and it exploded.

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“The driver left Kano and was heading to Nguru in Yobe. when the accident happened,” Adam said.
He said: ” We are worried that in spite of police warning for people to steer clear from scenes of accidents involving fuel tankers, they still engage in such acts.

”People gathered around the accident scene, that is the reason for the mass casualty,” he said
The spokesperson said that a mass burial of the victims would hold by 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

He added that the injured were receiving medical attention at the Ringim General Hospital.

 

Tanker explosion claims 90 lives in Jigawa – Police

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Guidelines Violation: TikTok removes 2.1 million videos in Nigeria

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Guidelines Violation: TikTok removes 2.1 million videos in Nigeria

TikTok has removed more than 2.1 million videos in Nigeria during the second quarter of 2024 for breaching its community guidelines, the company revealed in its latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report.

The removed videos account for less than 1% of total uploads in Nigeria during the period.

The report, released on Tuesday, highlighted TikTok’s proactive content moderation efforts, with 99.1% of the videos being taken down before users reported them, and 90.7% removed within 24 hours.

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TikTok reaffirmed its commitment to creating a safer platform for Nigerian users, noting its continued investment in advanced technologies to enhance content moderation and mitigate risks.

Globally, TikTok removed over 178 million videos in June 2024, with 144 million of these flagged by automated systems.

The company boasted a 98.2% proactive detection rate worldwide, underscoring its efficiency in addressing harmful content before users encounter it.

Guidelines Violation: TikTok removes 2.1 million videos in Nigeria

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Libya’s highest authority ordered me to divert Super Eagles flight, says pilot

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Libya’s highest authority ordered me to divert Super Eagles flight, says pilot

Tunisian pilot who recently flew the Super Eagles of Nigeria to Libya

The Tunisian pilot who flew the Super Eagles of Nigeria to Libya has spoken out about the controversy surrounding the flight diversion.

In a now-viral video, the pilot said the original plan was to land in Benina, a town in the Benghazi area of Libya, with prior approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority.

He said, however, upon beginning their descent, he was instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which was not listed as an alternate airport.

The Tunisian man said he was told the order for flight diversion came from “Libya’s highest authorities”.

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He said he repeatedly questioned the flight diversion order due to the limitation of aviation fuel but was “ignored by Libyan aviation authorities”.

“The flight plan was to land in Benghazi, Benina, and we had approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority,” the pilot said.

“However, as we began our descent, we were instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport.

“This decision came from the highest authorities, not me. In aviation, we calculate fuel based on our destination. Diverting unexpectedly can compromise safety.

“Everything is documented. I asked to land in Benghazi as per my flight plan, but they denied it, instructing me to divert immediately.

“I repeatedly questioned the directive and warned them about fuel limitations, but they insisted that we land in Al-Abraq, citing orders from the highest authority.”

BACKGROUND

The Super Eagles’ flight landed at the Al Abaq airport for the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya.

The match was scheduled for Tuesday at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina, Benghazi.

However, the Super Eagles players and coaches were held at the Al Abaq airport for over 20 hours without food and drinks.

On Monday morning, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the Super Eagles’ withdrawal from the qualifying match and asked them to return home. The Nigerian team then arrived in Kano from Libya.

Reacting to the situation, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) said the flight diversion experienced by the Nigerian national team was not “intentional”.

The LFF rejected claims of “foul play or sabotage” and argued that their team faced a similar situation in Nigeria.

Reacting, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it is investigating the “disturbing” incident.

Libya’s highest authority ordered me to divert Super Eagles flight, says pilot

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