*Recovers over 117kg illicit drug
By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested five impersonators with a fabricated gun and pistol carved from wood, New Nigerian Newspapers has learnt.
Similarly, a 70-year-old grandma and her son were equally nabbed over alleged possession of 117.900kg of cannabis sativa.
The fake NDLEA officials, identified as Sebastine Asekiamhe, 22; Raymond Otaru, 28; Emmanuel Wisdom, 23; Solomon Edogamhe, 27; and Bonaventure Oghibui, 22 were arrested in Edo State.
Some others who dressed in NDLEA jackets were said to have also escaped in the process.
Our correspondent gathered that a bottle of codeine-based syrup was found in the possession of the suspects.
The Director, Media & Advocacy of the Agency Femi Babafemi made the disclosure in a release on Sunday.
He also stated that the grandma and her son identified as Selifat Funke Cole and her son Babajijde Ayorinde Cole were arrested on 21st December 2023 during a raid of a house in Mushin area of Lagos.
In addition, Babafemi stated that ” Operatives in Delta state on Monday 18th December in a joint operation with the military raided the home of a drug kingpin, Chukwuma Steven Eneriku at Okanaro street, Abbi town, where bags of cannabis weighing 353kg were recovered.
” Same day, NDLEA operatives in Enugu recovered bags of cannabis sativa weighing 435.1kg in a warehouse located at Trans Ekulu, Enugu East LGA.
” In Edo state, five persons dressed in NDLEA operational jackets were arrested with a fabricated gun and pistol carved from wood following intelligence that they were impersonating as officers of the Agency and conducting illegal operations.
Meanwhile, some Commands of the Agency across the country have balanced their drug supply reduction operations with War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, worship centres and communities.
Babafemi, in the statement identified them to include: WADA sensitisation lecture at Ikuduru LGA, Imo; WADA advocacy visit to Fuji music maestro, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, Ogun state; WADA advocacy visit to Kwara First Lady and Chairperson Nigeria Governors Wives Forum, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazak, Ilorin; WADA sensitisation lecture to members of Jamaatu Fitayanul Islam at Aliyu Mustafa College, Yola and WADA advocacy visit to the Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Rilwan Babatunde Aremu Akiolu.
While commending the efforts of the officers and men of MMIA, Lagos, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Delta, FCT and Tincan Commands of the Agency as well as the K-9 Unit for jobs well done in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across the country to remain vigilant and get ready for the next phase of operations in the new year.
