Security
Oyo NDLEA Command Apprehends 417, Secures 54 Convictions
In the vibrant city of Ibadan, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Oyo State Command, showcased their relentless efforts by arresting 417 individuals involved in various drug-related infractions, achieving an impressive 54 convictions from January to December 2023.
In a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Olayinka Joe-Fadile, the NDLEA Commander in Oyo State, disclosed that the apprehended suspects, comprising 340 males and 77 females, were engaged in the distribution of cannabis sativa, tramadol, diazepam, colorado, and other psychotropic substances during the specified period.
The command’s proactive stance resulted in the confiscation of a staggering eight tonnes of diverse narcotic and psychotropic substances, with an estimated value of N135.6 million throughout the year.
Out of the 91 suspects brought before the court by the command, a commendable 54 were convicted on different counts related to drug offences, receiving sentences ranging from six months to a decade behind bars.
The NDLEA’s commitment extended beyond law enforcement, with the provision of brief interventions through counselling to 246 individuals (205 males and 41 females) who were identified as drug users.
Thirteen individuals successfully underwent rehabilitation and were seamlessly reintegrated into society during the review period.
Highlighting future initiatives, Commander Joe-Fadile announced plans to repurpose the acquired facility in Iseyin into a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre.
This strategic move aims to enhance counselling and rehabilitation efforts within the community.
Emphasizing the agency’s proactive measures, the commander mentioned the constant presence of operatives at state entry checkpoints.
This resulted in the interception of numerous drug traffickers attempting to introduce illicit substances into the state, leading to significant arrests.
Commander Joe-Fadile affirmed the command’s ongoing efforts to eradicate hotspots where drugs were regularly sold in the state.
The agency’s commitment to curbing the sale of drugs on a daily basis contributes to the broader goal of fostering a drug-free environment.
No fewer than 26 people lost their lives, with three others sustaining injuries, following an improvised explosive device (IED) detonation along the Rann–Kala Balge–Gamboru Ngala highway in Borno.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, several civilian vehicles travelling from Rann in Kala Balge LGA ran into a series of hidden explosives.
Makama said the incident occurred on Monday after the convoy veered into a zone where the IEDs had been strategically placed.
The publication said the IEDs were triggered by the movement of vehicles, adding that emergency personnel were swiftly deployed to evacuate victims and administer first aid.
“Security forces have since cordoned off the affected route and commenced clearance operations to ensure safety and prevent a repeat of the incident,” the report said.
“Those injured have been transferred to nearby hospitals where they are currently receiving medical attention.”
Last week, Mohammed Badaru, minister of defence, said President Bola Tinubu is committed to addressing the growing security challenges in Borno state.
The minister spoke about the administration’s commitment to meeting all operational needs of the troops to enhance security in the region.
The Oodua Integrity Group, a Nigerian civil society organisation, has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and arrest an alleged gun runner, land grabber,popularly called then insert Lucky Blessings Abuah aka bullets of Achala Ibusa village operating in Asaba and Ibuzor, Delta State, accusing him of orchestrating criminal activities with the aid of rogue police officers.
Tosin Olaoluwa, the group’s South-South coordinator, made the appeal following intelligence gathered from concerned residents.
The suspect, identified as Achala Ibusa but popularly known as “Bullet,” is accused of running a network involving illegal arms trafficking, land grabbing, and cult-related activities.
Olaoluwa claimed Bullet operates with the protection of police officers from Rivers State, in violation of regulations prohibiting officers from working outside their command without approval.
According to the group, four AK-47 rifles were recently discovered hidden in a house in Ibuzor.
Two mobile police officers guarding the property reportedly distanced themselves from the find, raising suspicions of their involvement with Bullet, who is allegedly a leader of the Viking cult.
The Oodua Integrity Group further alleged that an assistant commissioner of police is complicit in Bullet’s activities.
The group highlighted that up to 10 mobile police officers are attached to Bullet, despite IGP Egbetokun’s recent directive to withdraw such personnel from individuals not legally entitled to their services.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the culprit in the interest of the general public,” Olaoluwa said, describing Bullet as a miscreant exploiting government security agents to perpetrate crimes.
In a separate incident, the group claimed that security agents from an agency in Abuja, acting on intelligence, were prevented from arresting Bullet by his police escorts.
The officers, reportedly from Rivers State, allegedly used tear gas and fired shots to obstruct the operation.
The Oodua Integrity Group warned that Bullet’s activities, including stockpiling AK-47s and other weapons in Asaba and Ibuzor, pose a significant threat to public safety.
They called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the immediate apprehension of those involved.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to reach a spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The Kaduna state Police Command has debunked reports of a bomb explosion in the Abakpa area of the metropolis, which reportedly killed two children.
The spokesman of the Command, Mansir Hassan, said in a statement that preliminary investigations conducted by the Anti-Bomb Squad indicate that a locally made firearm (Dane gun) was discharged, resulting in the unfortunate loss of life of the young boy.
According to the police, the incident, which occurred at about 8:30 am on Tuesday at Josawa Road in the Abakpa area, claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy, identified as Abubakar Muhammed of Josawa Road, while seven other individuals sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The statement stated that a combined team of policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of Kawo Division and the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chairman of Kaduna North Local Government, all visited the scene following a distress call, and a thorough on-site assessment was carried out.
Police disclosed that further investigations and assessments are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Command equally assured the public that further developments will be promptly and transparently communicated.