Its South-East Zonal Director, Dr Martins Iluyomade, disclosed this while addressing journalists on Wednesday, as part of the agency’s ongoing enforcement exercise aimed at eradicating fake and substandard drugs.

Iluyomade expressed surprise at the discovery, alleging that fake drug dealers hid the rifles intending to attack the enforcement team.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAFDAC has been at the drug sections of Onitsha Bridge Head Market since Feb. 10 as part of an ongoing nationwide campaign to strengthen public health.

According to Iluyomade, 50 trailer loads of counterfeit and substandard drugs discovered in the market have been moved to the agency’s laboratories for further tests.

“With the prompt interventions of our security team, we saw and recovered a dagger, machetes, two guns, rifles and live cartridges.

“Every night, we keep arresting people who attempt to forcefully break into the shops to move the fake drugs or do one thing or another in this market.

“They are in custody and volunteering useful information,” he said.

Iluyomade commended leaders of the market for working with the team throughout the period of the operations.

He assured that some sections of the market would be reopened this week while they begin the next phase of the exercise. (NAN)

The PDP’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Abdulkadir Dukku, made this call in a statement issued in Gombe on Wednesday. He said the practice had become a pattern.

Dukku condemned the government for distributing Ramadan palliatives from the Federal Government without acknowledging its role. He argued that this raised concerns about transparency and citizen welfare.

He stated that the failure to acknowledge the Federal Government’s efforts reflected a pattern of using its support for political gain. He urged greater transparency.

“We are concerned that the Gombe State government has failed to acknowledge President Bola Tinubu’s commendable efforts in providing Ramadan palliatives,” Dukku said.

He noted that, unlike Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, other governors had publicly praised the Federal Government’s initiative, highlighting the importance of collaboration in assisting vulnerable communities.

“In 2024, the governor openly criticised the Federal Government’s allocation of 20 trucks of rice meant to ease food scarcity,” Dukku recalled.

He argued that such actions undermined cooperation and hindered productive engagement with federal initiatives designed to support citizens in need.

Dukku stressed the importance of the state governor recognising the Federal Government’s and North-East Development Commission’s contributions to Gombe State’s development.

He said acknowledging these efforts would foster unity and ensure aid was distributed fairly, rather than based on political considerations.

Dukku also expressed concerns that the Ramadan palliatives might be distributed unfairly, favouring one senatorial district and neglecting others.

“We urge the governor to adopt an inclusive approach that involves all stakeholders in the distribution process,” he stated.

He added that such inclusivity would build public trust and demonstrate the government’s genuine commitment to citizens’ welfare.

Responding on behalf of the government, Mr Ismaila Uba-Misilli, Director-General of Press Affairs, dismissed the PDP’s claims as political posturing.

Uba-Misilli said that no Federal Government palliatives were allocated for Ramadan, contrary to the PDP’s allegations.

He welcomed the PDP’s acknowledgment of the Federal Government’s efforts, saying it validated the All Progressives Congress’s commitment to governance.

“Thankfully, they didn’t accuse us of hoarding the palliatives,” he remarked.

He explained that if the palliatives had come from the Federal Government, their original packaging—marked accordingly—would have made acknowledgment self-evident.

“At every opportunity, the governor has recognised the Federal Government’s support for Gombe and other states,” he added.

Clarifying the distribution, Uba-Misilli said no new Ramadan palliatives were received, and the distributed food items were from the state’s storage.

“The governor had instructed that all stored food items be distributed, including those previously received from the Federal Government, North-East Development Commission, and state government,” he said. (NAN)

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioned the practicality of such talks, noting that Zelensky had legally barred negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin through a decree he signed in 2022.

“So, in general, the approach is positive, but the nuances have not yet changed.

“For the time being, there’s still a legal ban on the president of Ukraine negotiating with the Russian side,’’ Peskov said.

Zelensky said on Tuesday that he was ready to work under U.S. President Donald Trump’s “strong leadership’’ to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine.

The readiness to work was reported days after they had an explosives Oval Office meeting in which Zelensky called Putin a “killer and terrorist.’’

The fiery exchange led Trump to pause U.S. military aid to Ukraine as a pressure tactic to get him to move toward a quick end to the war launched by Russia.

Peskov also responded to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s offer to host negotiations in Minsk, calling it “the best place due to Belarus being Russia’s most important ally.’’

However, Ukraine views Belarus as a warring party, given its role in facilitating Russian military actions, making such a venue unlikely. (dpa/NAN)