DEFENCE
NDLEA Nabs 90-year-old Bandits’ Drug Supplier, others at Lagos Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 90-year-old retired soldier, Usman Adamu, in Mailalle, Sabon Birni, in Sokoto for supplying bandits illicit drugs.
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Babafemi said that the suspect, who was arrested on Aug.
3, was caught with 5. 1kg cannabis sativa, at the time of his arrest.He also said that a 37-year-old indigene of Ovia Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State, and resident in Italy; Solo Osamede, had been arrested for drug trafficking.
Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested for ingesting 41 wraps of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
He said that the suspect was nabbed and taken into custody for excretion, while attempting to board a Turkish Airline flight to Milan, Italy, via Istanbul, Turkey on July 30.
“The swallowed wraps of the illicit drug were recovered in four excretions, which the suspect completed on Aug. 1,” he said.
In the same vein, a female passenger, Jatau Lami, was arrested at the Lagos Airport for attempting to export 1,700 tablets of Tramadol 225mg.
Babafemi said that the consignment was concealed in her luggage to Istanbul, Turkey, via a Turkish Airline flight on July 31.
He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect, a mother of three, hailed from Zango Kataf Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State, and lives in Istanbul, Turkey, with her family.
“She blamed her action on pressure to raise N5 million ransom to free her mother from the captivity of bandits who kidnapped her since June,” he said.
Babafemi said that the NDLEA operatives have also thwarted an attempts by some freight agents at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) export shed of the airport, to export two consignments of cannabis in a consolidated cargo to Dubai, UAE, on Aug. 4.
He said that a follow-up operation led to an arrest of two persons, Oladipupo Fatai and Animashaun Qudus, while two others were still at large.
“In Zamfara, NDLEA operatives on Aug. 4 intercepted a truck from Benin, Edo state, enroute Sokoto, with 50,000 tablets of Diazepam owned by a drug dealer, Umaru Attahiru.
“In Kogi, 14 sacks containing 1,376 bottles of codeine based syrup weighing 190.4kg were seized along Okene-Abuja highway on Aug. 3.
“The exhibits were found in a delivery bus coming from Onitsha, Anambra and heading to Abuja. Follow-up operation in Abuja same day led to the arrest of Jude Ikenna and Ozoemene Cornelius,” he said.
Babafemi said that four suspects, Sulaiman Rabi’u; Sanusi Sha’aibu; Ma’aruf Habibu and Christian Nnachor, were also arrested in Zaria, Tafa and Romi, Kaduna.
He said that they were arrested with 106, 770 tablets of Tramadol 225mg, Diazepam, Exol-5 and 100 bottles of codeine cough syrup.
“In Enugu, 143.5kg cannabis sativa was recovered from locked-up stores in new market area of the state capital on Aug. 6.
“In Delta, a suspect, Ike Okparachi, 42, was arrested at Abraka Junction, Asaba, with 10,550 tablets of Tramadol 225mg; Swinol; Rohypnol; and 3,105 bottles of codeine syrup as well as 69grams of Molly,” he said.
Babafemi said the NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kogi, Delta, Enugu, and Kaduna Commands for their feats.
He said Marwa charged them and others across the country to remain focused and vigilant. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Police Intensify Security in Cross River Ahead of Easter Festival
The Cross River Police command says it has beefed up security across the State preparatory to the celebration of Easter festival.
Mr. Gyogon Grimah, the Commissioner of Police, made this known in Calabar on Monday.
According to him, the tactical teams of the Police as well as other regular formations have been deployed at strategic positions within the state to secure the lives and property of the residents during the festival.
This is contained in a statement signed by the command spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo and made available to newsmen in Calabar on Monday.
The CP who felicitated with the people of the state and Christian faithful, directed for close surveillance activities, foot/vehicular patrols, and visibility policing across, to forestall security breaches during the period.
He said the Police Area Commanders, Divisional Police Oficers (DPOs) and Tactical Commanders were directed to ensure safety and security of the general public before, during and after the event.
“The Police Command will not fold its hand and watch any group or individuals under whatever guise to obstruct or cause breakdown of law and order.”
“I urge all public spirited individuals to volunteer useful and genuine information to the Police and support the Police and other security agencies to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state and the nation as a whole,” he appealed,” he said
He enjoins citizens residing in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear or panic.(NAN)
DEFENCE
Air Force Knocks out Terrorists’ Enclaves Near Lake Chad
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the Air Component of the military special task force, “Operation Hadin Kai’’, has continued to decimate terrorists and their hideouts at Tumbuns near Lake Chad.
NAF’s Director, Public Relations and Information, AVM Edward Gabkwet, stated on Monday in Abuja that intelligence report received made airstrikes on a location Northwest of Arina Woje in Tumbuns on Sunday imperative.
He explained that the report indicated the presence of terrorists’ hideouts at the location.
He added that the report also confirmed an activation of terrorists’ activities around clusters of structures concealed under trees near the location.
“A post-strike Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were neutralised and their hideouts set ablaze, thereby degrading their capabilities to attack surface forces.
“These strikes have also degraded the capabilities of terrorist elements operating in the region to attack innocent civilians residing near Arina Woje in Borno,’’ Gabkwet stated. (NAN)
DEFENCE
Army’ll Continue to Build Capacity to Surmount Security Threats -GOC
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division Nigeria, Maj.-Gen Mayirenso Saraso, says the Nigerian Army will continue to build the capacity of its Officers and men to enable them surmount the emerging security threats.
The GOC stated this at a three-day capacity building for 1 Division Operations Planning Cadre 2024 for Officers on Monday in Kaduna.
Saraso said the avenue was to bring together the participants of the ranks of Captains to Colonels in the divsion’s Area of Responsibility to build cohesion and synergize with sister security agencies.
“The training is organized to refresh us on the various aspects of operations planning process in order to enhance our
skills and improve capacity in single and joint service operations planning process,” he said.
The GOC said this was in line with the Chief of
Army Staff’s command philosophy.
It is: ‘ To Transform the Nigerian Army into a Well-trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving our Constitutional Responsibilities within a Joint Environment’.
Saraso said, “As we are all witnessing, warfare is becoming increasingly complex due to changes in the nature of threats and
advancement in technology.
“In view of this, armies world over
are continually engaged in training and capacity building to enable them surmount emerging security challenges.”
According to the GOC, the Nigerian Army equally recognizes these changes and therefore, seeks to develop capacity through realistic training that will enhance its
operations.
He explained that the division’s experiences in Birnin Gwari,Falgore, Kagara and other forests, among others, had helped it to draw useful lessons and identify gaps in the conduct of its operations.
The GOC said the 1 Division Operations Planning Cadre for this year was expected to explore ways of building on existing efforts by it to meet its operational needs in the areas of Warfare Operations Planning.
“Others are military decision making process, intelligence preparation of the battle space and logistics in operational planning amongst others, “he said.
Saraso urged the participants to have an open mind in order to derive maximum benefits from the cadre.
The GOC appreciated the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja for providing the resources for the cadre, his exemplary and inspiring leadership, support motivation to the division..(NAN)