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NDLEA Busts Abuja Drug Networks, Arrests 132 Suspects in Massive Raid
NDLEA Busts Abuja Drug Networks, Arrests 132 Suspects in Massive Raid
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking and substance abuse, arresting 132 suspects and recovering more than 220 kilograms of illicit drugs during a major operation across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The large-scale anti-drug operation, which lasted for two weeks, was carried out between April 11 and April 25, 2026, targeting notorious drug joints, black spots and distribution hubs believed to be fuelling criminal activities and substance abuse within the nation’s capital.
According to the agency, the coordinated raids were jointly conducted by operatives of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) and the NDLEA FCT Strategic Command after weeks of intelligence gathering, surveillance and monitoring of identified hotspots.
The operation led to the dismantling of several notorious drug dens located in Torabora Hills, Area 3, Gwarinpa, AYA, Durumi, Banex, Dei-Dei, Kubwa, Apo, Kwali, Gwagwalada, Wuse Zone 4, Garki Area 10, Jabi and the Suleja axis, among other locations.
The NDLEA disclosed that a total of 220 kilograms of assorted illicit substances were recovered during the raids.
Among the substances seized were 214.79 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, 5.524 kilograms of Diazepam, 2.352 kilograms of Exol, 1.119 kilograms of Tramadol, 145.8 grams of Mogadon, 93.52 grams of cocaine, 84.3 grams of Rohypnol, 10.9 grams of methamphetamine, 3.17 grams of ecstasy and six bottles of codeine syrup.
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The agency said operatives encountered stiff resistance from suspected traffickers and dealers during operations carried out in parts of Durumi Area 1 and the Suleja market axis.
However, NDLEA officers successfully subdued the suspects and dismantled the criminal distribution networks without recording any casualty.
The anti-drug operation is being described as one of the agency’s biggest enforcement actions within Abuja in recent months as authorities intensify efforts to combat rising substance abuse and drug-related crimes.
Briefing the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), the Director of Operations and General Investigation, DCGN Ahmed Sule Ningi, praised the professionalism, coordination and resilience displayed by officers involved in the raids.
Ningi stressed the importance of sustaining pressure on drug trafficking syndicates and criminal networks operating within the Federal Capital Territory.
He noted that intelligence-driven operations remain critical to disrupting the activities of traffickers and reducing the availability of illicit substances in urban centres.
In his response, Marwa commended the officers, men and women of the agency for their commitment to sanitising Abuja and protecting residents from the dangers associated with hard drugs and narcotics.
The NDLEA chairman directed that the operational strategy used during the FCT raids should be replicated in other high-risk cities across Nigeria as part of broader efforts to suppress both the supply and demand of illicit drugs nationwide.
The agency has intensified enforcement actions across the country in recent months amid growing concerns over increasing drug abuse among young people and the link between narcotics trafficking and violent crimes such as cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping and gang violence.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that the spread of hard drugs continues to fuel insecurity and criminal activities in several parts of Nigeria.
The latest Abuja operation also highlights the Federal Government’s ongoing push to strengthen intelligence-led policing and dismantle organised criminal networks operating in major urban centres.
NDLEA Busts Abuja Drug Networks, Arrests 132 Suspects in Massive Raid
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18 Farmers Killed, Several Injured in Fresh Attack on Plateau Communities
18 Farmers Killed, Several Injured in Fresh Attack on Plateau Communities
- Gunmen storm Kawel and Kopkon villages in Bokkos LGA, less than a week after traditional ruler was killed in same area.
No fewer than 18 farmers have been killed and several others injured after gunmen launched coordinated attacks on Kawel and Kopkon villages in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. The assault occurred late Sunday night, heightening concerns over escalating violence in the region and coming less than five days after the District Head of Gwande was killed in an ambush.
The attackers reportedly stormed the communities at about 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, opening fire indiscriminately on sleeping residents before fleeing the area as security operatives mobilised to the scene. Some accounts place the time of the attack as late as 1:20 a.m. on Monday. According to a security report cited by counter-insurgency analyst Zagazola Makama, troops of Sector 5 under Operation Enduring Peace responded to distress calls following the attacks. Upon arrival at the affected communities, security operatives recovered 12 bodies from Kawel village and six from Kopkon village, bringing the total number of fatalities to 18. Other reports, however, put the death toll as high as 19 or 21. Military sources said troops have since launched search operations across surrounding communities to track down and apprehend fleeing suspects.
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Confirming the incident, Christopher Luka, Bokkos Youth Leader, said he received information about the attack from a member of the youth council shortly after midnight. “A youth leader called around 12 a.m. that gunmen attacked the community and shot over 20 people, so 18 were confirmed dead,” Luka told journalists. He explained that he immediately alerted security personnel stationed in Bokkos. “I called the security and they confirmed to me that they had been alerted and were on their way to the attacked community,” he added. Luka described the attack as unprovoked and urged security agencies to take decisive steps to prevent further escalation of violence in the area. He called on security forces to intensify efforts to protect vulnerable communities in the local government area.
The latest incident comes less than five days after the District Head of Gwande in Bokkos LGA, Saf Samuel Alaket, was killed in an ambush along the Sha District axis bordering Daffo community. The traditional ruler was reportedly returning home from a traditional council meeting when he encountered the attackers. The renewed violence has deepened concerns over security in Bokkos and surrounding communities, which have witnessed recurring deadly attacks in recent months. In May, no fewer than 12 persons were killed in separate attacks on communities in Riyom and Bassa Local Government Areas, and in March, gunmen reportedly killed 27 residents in the Angwan Rukuba area of Jos North Local Government Area.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had yet to issue an official statement on the latest attack. Efforts to obtain comments from the spokespersons of the Plateau State Police Command and Operation Enduring Peace, SP Alabo Alfred and Captain Polycarp Auta, were unsuccessful as they had not responded to inquiries. Operation Enduring Peace has since intensified patrols and reinforced security presence in vulnerable parts of the state in response to the recurring incidents. The latest attack underscores the persistent security challenges confronting communities in Plateau State, where residents continue to call for a stronger security presence and decisive action to end the cycle of violence.
18 Farmers Killed, Several Injured in Fresh Attack on Plateau Communities
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BREAKING: Court Sends Sowore to Kuje Correctional Centre After Revoking Bail
BREAKING: Court Sends Sowore to Kuje Correctional Centre After Revoking Bail
Activist, SaharaReporters publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has been remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre following the revocation of his bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore’s detention on Monday after the activist appeared before the court for the continuation of his trial. The development comes days after the court revoked the bail earlier granted to him and issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his failure to appear at a previous hearing.
Sowore arrived at the court premises carrying a packed travel bag and told journalists that he anticipated the court would order his detention. He was accompanied by supporters and members of his movement, many of whom gathered outside the courtroom with placards expressing solidarity and demanding what they described as justice and respect for free speech.
The court had, on June 16, granted an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), seeking the revocation of Sowore’s bail. The prosecution argued that the activist deliberately failed to attend court despite being aware of the hearing date and urged the judge to compel his appearance through a bench warrant.
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Although Sowore had sent a letter requesting an adjournment, Justice Umar ruled that the explanation provided was inadequate and insufficient to justify his absence. The court subsequently revoked his bail and directed that he be arrested and produced before the court.
The DSS prosecution of Sowore stems from allegations that he made defamatory statements against President Bola Tinubu, including describing the Nigerian leader as “a criminal” in posts published on his X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.
According to the DSS, the statements were false, injurious and capable of damaging the reputation of the President. The agency insists that the matter falls within the ambit of applicable laws governing criminal defamation and cyber-related offences.
Sowore has, however, consistently rejected the allegations, maintaining that his comments were political opinions protected by the constitutional right to freedom of expression. His legal team has argued that the charges amount to an attempt to criminalise criticism of public office holders and suppress dissenting views.
The case has attracted widespread attention across Nigeria, drawing reactions from civil society organisations, human rights advocates, political activists and legal practitioners. Many observers view the proceedings as a significant test of the balance between freedom of expression and the enforcement of laws governing online communication.
Monday’s proceedings were marked by heightened security around the Federal High Court complex as supporters and observers closely monitored developments. Following the ruling, court officials processed the remand order, paving the way for Sowore’s transfer to the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further hearings.
The trial is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with the court also expected to consider pending applications from the defence. Legal analysts say the outcome of the case could have broader implications for political speech, digital rights and the boundaries of public criticism in Nigeria’s democracy.
For now, Omoyele Sowore remains in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre, where he will stay pending the next stage of proceedings in the closely watched case.
BREAKING: Court Sends Sowore to Kuje Correctional Centre After Revoking Bail
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