Connect with us

CRIME

Oil Theft: Ijaw Elders Write Tinubu on Procedure To Dispose Impounded Vessels

Published

on

Share

Ijaw Elders Forum (IEF), a coalition of Ijaw groups, has written to President Bola Tinubu to demand a review of procedures in disposal of vessels and trucks seized for complicity in oil theft.

The letter, dated July 31 and sighted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, condemned the menace of oil theft oñ the Nigerian economy and the  Niger Delta environment.

According to the letter, signed by Chief Efiye Bribena, Secretary of IEF, the indiscriminate blow up of vessels used for oil theft had adverse impact on the environment which the people depend on.

“We write to express our utmost dissatisfaction on the mode of disposal of vessels and trucks impounded with stolen crude in the Niger Delta.

 

“Destroying vessels laden with crude oil exacerbates the existential threat to the environment and survival of the people. 

“In fact, the destruction of the MT TURA in the latest incident by bombing of the vessel was extremely horrifying and unacceptable,” the IEF said. 

The IEF recommended implementation of measures in the interest of the environment, transparency and the national economic interest.

“NNPCL and the Military Authorities should improve the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for disposal of such vessels in the future. 

“All efforts should be made to evacuate the stolen crude to the nearest oil Flow station, Oil Terminal or Refinery before proper disposal of such vessels. 

“The relevant authorities should install an open-access portal for tracking vessels that are seized with stolen crude and products, up till the point of final disposal,” the IEF said. 

The group sought collaboration with stakeholders such as the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

The IEF letter was also endorsed by representatives of the coalition comprising Ijaw Professionals Association, Ijaw Nation Forum, G24 Embasara Foundation, and Ijaw Women Connect. 

They urged the federal government to be transparent and disclose the masterminds of the syndicate as well as the prosecution of the owners of the impounded vessels.

The forum also appealed to the President to prevail on the oil industry regulators to urgently direct oil firms to safely decommission all idle well heads and pipelines in the Niger Delta region. 

The IEF urged the agencies of the federal government in the oil sector to discourage artisanal refineries and set machinery in motion to promote construction of modular refineries in oil bearing communities. (NAN)

CRIME

NDLEA Arrests Fleeing Bandits’ Drug Supplier in Niger

Published

on

Share

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in the area of Kuta, Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger state.

This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja.

Babafemi said that the suspect was nabbed three weeks after escaping arrest at his home.

He said that NDLEA operatives had on Nov.

20 raided his house at Anguwan Makera, Kuta, where they recovered 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

“Though he escaped arrest during the raid and has since been in hiding, the manhunt for him eventually paid off on Thursday, Dec.

11.

“This was when NDLEA officers acting on processed intelligence traced and arrested him at one of his drug joints in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta.

“Intelligence reports had indicated that the suspect is a major supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in Shiroro local government area,” he said.

Meanwhile, NDLEA officers in Abia on Thursday, Dec. 11 raided a clandestine codeine syrup-manufacturing factory at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, in Osisioma LGA of the state.

Babafemi said that during the operation, operatives recovered a total of 9,015 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 1,152.2kg.

Also, in Enugu state, operatives on Thursday, Dec. 11 arrested another suspect along Onitsha – Enugu Ezike road with 7.2kg skunk.

Babafemi said that another suspect was nabbed along Enugu-Ezike -Ette road with 94.6kg of the same psychoactive substance.

“A raid carried out by NDLEA operatives at a notorious drug joint known as “Beere the California” at Ido in Oyo state on Thursday, Dec. 11 led to the seizure of 3.4kg skunk.

“Others are 1.6kg Colorado, a synthetic cannabis and 400grams of methamphetamine. The owner of the drug joint identified currently at large while a suspect was nabbed at the joint.

“Another operation at Idi Oro, Elekuro, Ibadan on Friday, Dec. 12 led to the arrest of Olusanya Abosede, 35, and the seizure of 238.4kg skunk,” he said.

In the same vein, two suspects were arrested on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Gbaji checkpoint, Seme road Badagry, Lagos with 50,000 pills of tramadol 250mg.

Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives in Ogun state arrested another two suspects with 73kg skunk at Iperu, adding that a suspect was nabbed with 25kg of the same substance at Oke Agbede, Imeko area of the state on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

“In Ondo state, NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence on Monday, Dec. 8 raided a compound in Ogbese, Akure North local government area, where they arrested a 55-year-old woman and her 29-year-old son.

“The NDLEA operatives also recovered 1,187 kilograms of skunk and its seeds from them,” he said.

Similarly, a suspect was arrested during a raid operation at Uroe community, Owan East LGA of Edo state, where 461kg skunk and its seeds were recovered on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Babafemi said in Gombe state, a suspect was arrested with 40,000 capsules of tramadol at Tunfure area, adding that two other suspects were nabbed at Ashaka Jalingo, with 56kg skunk on Monday, Dec. 8.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline and bromazepam were intercepted and seized by NDLEA operatives at two major courier companies in Lagos.

Babafemi said that the drugs were concealed in containers of local black soap, and designer wears, in six different consignments going to the US, Canada and Sweden.

He said that the drugs were seized between Tuesday, Dec. 9 and Wed, Dec. 9 respectively.

Also, at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers on Saturday, Dec. 13 intercepted a consignment of 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579kg during a joint examination of a container with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.

In like manner, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

This, he said included WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Community Senior Secondary School, Sheme, Katsina; Government College, Tudun Wada Dankade, Kano; and Methodist High School, Makurdi, Benue.

Babafemi said that the Enugu state command of the Agency paid a WADA advocacy visit to HRM Igwe Ikechukwu Samuel Asadu, Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers.

The NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa has commended the officers and men of DOGI, Niger, Abia, Oyo, Enugu, Seme, Ogun, Ondo, Gombe, Apapa and Edo Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity.

Marwa enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.

Continue Reading

CRIME

Mortuary Attendant in Police Net over Alleged Organ Harvesting in Edo

Published

on

Share

A mortuary attendant in the Upper Sakponba area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo has landed in police net after allegations of missing vital organs from a corpse kept at Akugbe Mortuary.

This incident triggered a violent reaction from relatives of the deceased.

The situation reportedly escalated when angry family members and friends accused a mortuary attendant of harvesting organs from the body.

Relatives of the deceased were said to have raised alarm when they arrived at the mortuary on Friday to collect the body for burial and allegedly discovered that some vital organs were missing.

An eyewitness, Osaro Ivie, described the scene as chaotic, saying tempers flared after family members accused the attendant of engaging in ritual practices.

“The relatives claimed that the chest cavity of the deceased had been emptied and stuffed with nylon,” Ivie said.

He said the relatives threatened to lynch the attendant and set the facility ablaze before police operatives intervened to restore calm.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, ASP Eno Ikoedem, Public Relations Officer of the police command in Edo, said the command received a distress call that a mob was on the verge of attacking a suspect at the mortuary.

“The Command received a distress call that someone at Akugbe Mortuary was about to be lynched, and the Divisional Police Officer, Ugbekun Division, was immediately mobilised to rescue a mortuary attendant alleged to have harvested organs of a corpse,” Ikoedem said.

Ikoedem explained that the suspect was rescued from the crowd and subsequently to custody.

She added that he was currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), where investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the allegation.

Ikoedem assured the public that a thorough investigation would be conducted, urging residents to remain calm and allow due process to take its course.

Continue Reading

CRIME

Enugu Police Arrest 25-Year-old Man over Alleged Kidnapping, Armed Robbery

Published

on

Share

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command attached to the New Haven Division and the Distress Response Squad (DRS), on 6th December 2025 at about 6 a.m., swiftly responded to a distress call and arrested one Orlu Chukwuemeka (male, 25).

Investigations revealed that the suspect and his accomplice, who is currently at large, disguised as commercial operators of an unregistered white mini bus and abducted their female passenger in a one-chance-styled operation at Fourth Dimension, along Chime Avenue, Enugu.

During the incident, the suspects stabbed the victim, pushed her out of the moving vehicle along the same Chime Avenue, and escaped, after robbing her of an Android phone and ATM card.

Police operatives immediately trailed and intercepted them within Independence Layout, Enugu, leading to the arrest of Orlu, while the other suspect fled.

Ina press statement sent by the Police public relations officer Enugu State Command, Daniel Ndukwe stated that the victim was promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention, where she regained stability and was able to positively identify the arrested suspect as part of the criminal gang.

The suspect has since been arraigned in court and remanded in custody, while intensive efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing accomplice and ensure every person involved is brought to justice.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, appreciates the timely support from public-spirited citizens that aided the swift arrest. He reiterates the Command’s unwavering resolve to combating violent crimes across Enugu State this festive season and beyond, urging residents to continue providing credible and timely security information.

Continue Reading

Advertisement

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

SPORTS43 minutes ago

Osimhen, Fulham Trio Dazzle in Final Club Games before AFCON

ShareSuper Eagles stars Victor Osimhen, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze, and Alex Iwobi all impressed in their final club appearances before...

SPORTS1 hour ago

AFCON 2025: Senegal Coach Names Injured Trio in Final Squad

ShareSenegal head coach Pape Thiaw has named three injured players Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra and Assane Diao in his final...

SPORTS2 hours ago

‎John Cena Retires from WWE after 24-year Career

ShareWWE legend John Cena has retired from professional wrestling, bringing the curtain down on a 24-year in-ring career after his...

Health4 hours ago

Women, Girls Still Struggle to Access Healthcare in Nigeria – Findings

ShareBy David Torough, Abuja As Nigeria marks Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2025, new findings suggest that adolescent girls and...

Foreign News4 hours ago

Five Arrested over Plot to Attack German Christmas Market

ShareFive men have been arrested in Germany suspected of being involved in a plot to drive a vehicle into people...

POLITICS5 hours ago

INEC Begins Display of Preliminary Voter Register in Delta

ShareFrom Francis Sadhere, Delta The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Delta State Office, has announced the commencement of the display...

NEWS5 hours ago

NAF Begins Nationwide Aptitude Test for 2025 Recruitment of 20,000 Candidates

ShareNo fewer than 20,000 applicants nationwide are participating in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Zonal General Aptitude Test for the...

CRIME5 hours ago

NDLEA Arrests Fleeing Bandits’ Drug Supplier in Niger

ShareThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious supplier of illicit drugs to bandits operating in the...

NEWS6 hours ago

Transportation Expert Lauds Mbah over Security, Infrastructure in Enugu

ShareA transportation expert and elder statesman, Chief Chris Chigboh, has commended Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State for the remarkable...

NEWS6 hours ago

Baby, Female Passenger Die in Ikorodu Road Crash

ShareThe Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said a fatal road traffic collision on Ikorodu Road has claimed the lives...