By Afolabi Samuel Odunayo
War against drug abuse has taken a significant toll on drug peddlers in Nigeria following the series of efforts operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have put into clamping down on drug barons.
On Sunday operatives of the NDLEA reportedly raided some hideouts in Osun, FCT, Ondo, Benue and Kano, leading to the arrests of some couples, youth corper, a monarch, and others.
It would be recalled that while speaking with journalists recently , the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd), had commended the Special Operations Unit officers across various states of the federation for carrying out their roles and responsibilities seriously.
According to the NDLEA one Agbakoba and his wife were apprehended in the act at different locations.
While 54-year-old Agbakoba John Mmadu was arrested at Ago Palace Way, Okota, his wife, Agbakoba Ijeoma Chinwe, 39, and their associate, Okoye Ifeoma Maryjane, 31, who also acted as their stash keeper, were apprehended at Plot 2205 Eugene Ndubisi Close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos.
Reports revealed that about seven parcels of cocaine weighing 7.652 kilograms were confiscated from Mmadu at Ago Palace Way, Lagos.
Similarly, 122 compressed pellets of the same drug, weighing 2.42 kilograms, were confiscated from Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate, making the total seizure amounting to 10.1 kilograms, valued at over N2.1 billion in street worth.
In another operation reportedly carried out by operatives of the Special Unit of the NDLAE in Osun State, Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, 50, who is the head of the Akarabata community in Ile-Ife was arrested on Friday, July 5, with fresh cannabis plants weighing 5 kilograms.
According to the NDLAE, the arrest was effected based on credible information and intelligence. In Benue State, NDLEA said it intercepted a consignment of 350 grams of cocaine at a checkpoint along Enugu Road, Otukpo, on Thursday, July 4. The illicit drug was allegedly found in an MP3 speaker that was meant to be transported. The sender, one Odeh Anthony, who is said to be a peddler was arrested at Flight Motor Park in Otukpo.
Also, on Wednesday, July 3, Yves Ahmat Gali, a citizen of Chad, was taken into custody by NDLEA operatives during a stop-and-search operation along Ngurore-Yola Road in Adamawa State. Gali was riding a commercial bus from Kano to Yola, when he was arrested, said the NDLEA.
The suspect was said to be carrying nine plastic containers containing the powerful cannabis strain Loud, which weigh 5.2 kg, and 20 compressed bricks hidden behind a loudspeaker.
In the same vein, on Wednesday, July 3, authorities in Kano detained 25-year-old Yusuf Abdulrahman, a member of the National youth Service corps(NYSC) at the Corpers’ Lodge in the Sumaila neighborhood of the city. One and a half kilograms of Loud were allegedly found on him.
In Ondo State, Monday Ali, 49, and Jimoh Alewi, 37, were taken into custody during an NDLEA operation at Ikota Forest in Ifedore LGA, Ondo State. On 17 hectares of farmland, 42,500 kilogrammes of cannabis were destroyed during the five-day operation that ended on Monday, July 1, said the Agency.
Also, 73.5 kilogrammes of the same material were reportedly seized in order to prosecute the suspects.
On Saturday, July 6, NDLEA operatives in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, reportedly detained Sanusi Mamman, 28, and Usaini Ibrahim, 20, in a car on Abaji-Gwagwalada Road. 1,132 bottles of codeine syrup, 13,540 tramadol tablets, 50,000 diazepam pills, and 59 Rohypnol pills were discovered alongside them.
The opioids were allegedly being transported by the suspects from Onitsha, Anambra State.
