NDLEA bursts snake-guarded shrine used for storing drugs in Edo – Newstrends
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NDLEA bursts snake-guarded shrine used for storing drugs in Edo

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NDLEA bursts snake-guarded shrine used for storing drugs in Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said its operatives, during an operation in Edo State, uncovered a shrine, guarded by a snake, being used for storing illicit drugs.

The NDLEA added that its operatives discovered a specially constructed large hole in a wall, hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects used for drug storage.

A statement on Sunday by the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, noted that methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg among others, were recovered from the shrine.

The statement read, “A snake-guarded shrine used to store illicit drugs in Igor community, Benin city, Edo state, has been raided by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who detected a specially constructed large hole storage in a wall covered with wallpapers and fetish objects.

“Different quantities of illicit substances such as methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado and Arizona, all strong strains of cannabis with a total weight of 8.743kg were pulled out from the deep hole dug in the wall of the shrine building.”

Babafemi said two ladies were arrested and the snake was demobilised.

He said, “At least, two ladies: Sonia Chinonso Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani were arrested during the intelligence-led operation on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 after the big black snake guarding the shrine was demobilised.”

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In a separate operation in the state, Babafemi said another two suspects were arrested with 209kg of cannabis.

Babafemi stated, “In the same vein, two suspects: Obi Ferguson,45, and Ernest Abanum, 46, were arrested on Saturday, June 22 when NDLEA operatives raided the Usen forest in Ovia South West LGA, Edo state where 209kg cannabis and a motorcycle were recovered.”

In Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA officers intercepted a carefully packaged consignment of 8.2kg of methamphetamine at a motor park in Mazamaza, Ojo area of the state.

“The highly addictive illicit substance, also called ice or crystal meth, was packed in imported Dunkin’ turtle love chocolate wraps and then concealed in the casing of three loudspeakers.

“A 39-year-old suspect, Michael Odiomume who was sending the consignment to Owerri, Imo state was promptly arrested on Wednesday 19th June at the park,” the statement added.

Babafemi stated that a 76-year-old grandfather, identified as Francis Omofa, was arrested in Abuja in connection with 340.8 kg of cannabis sativa.

He said, “In Abuja, operatives on Tuesday, June 18th intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pickup vehicle with amber lights and fake registration number of a security agency at Kiyi village in Kuje area of the FCT.

“The vehicle was loaded with 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 340.8kg procured at Uzeba, Edo state.

“A 76-year-old grandfather, Mr Francis Omofa, linked to the consignment, was arrested. He claimed to have been in the illicit drug business for 10 years.”

NDLEA bursts snake-guarded shrine used for storing drugs in Edo

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Student jailed 21 years for attempting to sexually assault minor

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Student jailed 21 years for attempting to sexually assault minor

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Monday sentenced a 32-year-old student, Essien Aniedi-Bassey to 21 years imprisonment for attempting to sexually assault a 10-year-old girl.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Abiola Soladoye sentenced Aniedi-Bassey to 21 years jail term after he pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault by penetration and indecent treatment of a child.

“The combined term of the 21 years imprisonment shall begin from March 23, 2018,” the judge held.

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NAN reports that the State Counsel, Ms Abimbola Abolade, had presented two witnesses, the survivor and an Investigative Police Officer (IPO) before the convict opted for a plea bargain agreement.

Abolade had told the court that the convict committed the offence sometimes in August 2017 on Araromi Valley Estate in Ojodu, Lagos.

She submitted that the convict attempted to defile a minor.

The prosecution also told the court that the convict indecently treated the survivor by touching her breasts.

According to the prosecution, the offence contravened Sections 135 and 262 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, (2015).

Student jailed 21 years for attempting to sexually assault minor

(NAN)

 

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BREAKING: Pilot survives as NAF helicopter crashes in Kaduna

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BREAKING: Pilot survives as NAF helicopter crashes in Kaduna

A Nigeria Air Force (NAF) helicopter has crashed at Tami village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The incident occurred in the early morning on Monday, causing significant alarm among the villagers.

The helicopter, said to be on a routine operational flight, experienced a technical hitch that led to the crash.

The pilot managed to execute emergency protocols effectively that ensured his own survival.

Eyewitnesses said the pilot emerged from the wreckage unscathed.

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Residents of Tami village quickly gathered at the crash site, offering assistance and expressing relief that no life was lost.

It was gathered that a team of military officers from the Nigerian Air Force swiftly arrived at the scene to secure the area and conduct an initial investigation.

They cordoned off the crash site to prevent unauthorised access and to ensure the safety of the villagers.

The officers also began preliminary assessments to determine the cause of the crash, which remained unknown at this time.

BREAKING: Pilot survives as NAF helicopter crashes in Kaduna

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UK cab driver confesses still getting paid in Nigeria as civil servant

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UK cab driver confesses still getting paid in Nigeria as civil servant

Despite leaving Nigeria for the UK two years ago, Sabitu Adams gets paid each month as a junior official at a government agency back home.

Adams, who now works as a taxi driver in the UK, had his name changed by a BBC report to protect his identity.

The taxi driver has yet to resign from his job in Nigeria.

Adams is one of the thousands of ghost workers, a rampant issue in the Nigerian civil service.
Each year, the government carries out biometric verifications and reels out numbers representing discovered ghost workers, and money saved.

But no one is ever announced to have been arrested or prosecuted.

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Last week, President Bola Tinubu directed that all civil servants drawing salaries from the government after relocating abroad should be made to refund the money.

Tinubu also ordered that the culprits’ supervisors and department heads be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud while they were in charge.

Adams told the BBC that he was not worried about the president’s directives because he earned better as a taxi driver in the UK.

“When I heard about the president’s directive, I smiled because I know I am doing better here – and not worried,” the 36-year-old said.

The cab driver said he did not resign “in case I choose to go back to my job after a few years”.
Adams was quoted as saying he had an arrangement with his boss in Nigeria who is a “relative”.

UK cab driver confesses still getting paid in Nigeria as civil servant

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