Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 55-year-old Lagos businessman, Onuigbo Chinedu, over an alleged attempt to export 3.30kg of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs destined for the United Kingdom.

The agency said Chinedu, a clothing trader at the popular Balogun Market on Lagos Island, was arrested on Thursday, July 23, 2026, after NDLEA officers intercepted the cocaine shipment at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, a day earlier.

According to a statement issued on Sunday(today)  the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, three cargo agents—Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina, Adeleke Abiola Taoheed and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim—were initially arrested for handling the consignment.

The statement said, “A 55-year-old businessman, Onuigbo Ndubisi Chinedu, who deals in clothing at the popular Balogun Market, Lagos Island, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over an attempt to export 3.30 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the walls of cartons used to package foodstuffs going to the United Kingdom.

“Onuigbo was arrested on Thursday, 23rd July 2026, following the interception of his cocaine consignment at the export shed of the Lagos airport the previous day, Wednesday, 22nd July, by NDLEA operatives. In the course of the investigation, three cargo agents: Nkwor Onyekachukwu Justina; Adeleke Abiola Taoheed; and Ukanwa Grace Pilgrim, who handled the shipment, were initially arrested, leading to the arrest of Kenneth Okakpu, who delivered the consignment to the cargo agents for shipment to the UK.

“Okakpu’s arrest provided the lead to identifying Onuigbo as the kingpin behind the syndicate and his eventual arrest while attempting to send another consignment of cocaine to the UK.”

In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 31-year-old entrepreneur Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo following the interception of her 2.80kg consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

“A 31-year-old entrepreneur, Emmanuella Chukwu-Edo, also involved in illicit drug trafficking, was arrested on Tuesday, 21st July, at her Surulere, Lagos, residence by NDLEA operatives following the seizure of her consignment of 2.80kg Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, which arrived from the United States aboard a United Airlines flight on Monday, 20th July.

“Also at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives recovered 2.24 million pills of Tapentadol 250mg, valued at over N2.2bn on the streets, from a shipment that arrived from India aboard an Air Maroc flight.

“In another interdiction operation at the Lagos airport, a total of 2,240,000 pills of Tapentadol 250mg, worth over N2.2 billion in street value, were recovered from a shipment from India aboard an Air Maroc flight during a joint examination of the cargo on Friday, 24th July.

“The exercise was based on intelligence received and processed by NDLEA. This came on the heels of the seizure of a consignment of tramadol buried in containers of black soap heading to the UK. The shipment was intercepted by NDLEA operatives at a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday, 22nd July.”

At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, NDLEA officers uncovered 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5kg, with an estimated street value of over N7.1bn, hidden inside three vehicles in a shipping container.

“At the Apapa Seaport in Lagos, a container of three vehicles used to conceal a total number of 4,777 sachets of Canadian Loud weighing 2,388.5kg, worth over N7.1 billion in street value, was uncovered during a joint examination of the shipment on Monday, 20th July.

“In Katsina State, NDLEA operatives arrested 30-year-old Mustapha Sani after recovering 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition concealed on him. Another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested with 73 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition hidden inside kegs of red oil. The NDLEA said both suspects had been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.

“A suspect, Mustapha Sani, 30, was on Wednesday, 22nd July, nabbed by NDLEA operatives on a patrol operation at Baure, Safana LGA, Katsina State, where he was found with 323 rounds of military-grade ammunition consisting of 200 pieces of 7.62mm and 123 rounds of 7.6mm, neatly concealed.

“Another suspect, Abubakar Amadu, 30, was arrested by NDLEA officers on a stop-and-search operation at Jere, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, where he was found with 73 RLA, 7.62mm ammunition hidden in kegs of red oil. Both suspects have been handed over to the relevant security agency for further investigation,” NDLEA added.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, operatives raided a warehouse, recovering 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds. The agency also arrested Ojore Onweze, 45, with 60kg of skunk, and George Agwumede, 30, with 13kg of the same substance.

“In Edo State, raid operations at Ilushi community, Esan South East LGA, on Sunday, 19th July, led to the seizure of 1,286kg of cannabis and 86kg of cannabis seeds from a warehouse, while Ojore Onweze, 45, was caught with 60kg of skunk and George Agwumede, 30, was nabbed with 13kg of the same substance,” NDLEA added.

The Students’ Union of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, AAUA, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ondo State government to resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, warning that failure to act could trigger mass action by students.

In a statement signed by President Falagbade Greatness and General Secretary Amos Oluwatimileyin, the union said the industrial action, now in its 14th day, has paralysed academic activities and left thousands of students stranded.

“This prolonged strike has brought academic activities to a complete standstill, further disrupting the university’s academic calendar and creating an atmosphere of uncertainty, anxiety, and frustration among thousands of students,” the statement said.

The union lamented that the shutdown has delayed graduation timelines and subjected students to emotional, psychological and financial hardship.

“Many students have been compelled to vacate the university environment due to the absence of a clear timeline for the resolution of the dispute. Others who remain on campus continue to endure hardship while awaiting resumption,” it added.

The union called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and relevant authorities to immediately engage ASUU-AAUA leadership to ensure a prompt resolution.

“We have exhausted the two Cs of Aluta and we are left with no other option than to invoke the last C of Aluta,” the union said, issuing a 72-hour ultimatum for a “clear, practical, and satisfactory response.”

It warned that failure to demonstrate genuine commitment would force the union to mobilise students for “all lawful, peaceful, and democratic actions necessary to protect the educational rights and collective interests of AAUA students.”
The union, however, said the statement was “a sincere appeal born out of frustration, uncertainty, and hardship” and not a threat.

Reacting, the university management said the strike “is receiving the attention of the Ondo State Government and will be resolved soon.”

Deputy Registrar, Information, Protocol and Public Relations, Mr. Sola Imoru, urged students to avoid actions capable of escalating tensions, noting that efforts were underway to end the industrial action.

Imoru said the ultimatum was unnecessary because the governor had already approved a special intervention fund to enable the institution to meet its financial obligations. He added that the development had earlier been communicated to the Students’ Union leadership.

He appealed to students to remain patient while the payment process was concluded, expressing optimism that normal academic activities would soon resume.

Imoru also advised the union to seek clarification on issues affecting the institution before making public statements, stressing that regular consultation would prevent misunderstandings.

The management reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue, transparency and constructive engagement with all stakeholders.

Andrea Pirlo is currently the head coach of the UAE’s Dubai United
Andrea Pirlo has said he is no longer a candidate to coach the Italian national side following days of controversy over his ties to a Russian betting company.

His appointment as Italy’s next head coach had not been confirmed by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) yet was being treated as all but certain.

But over the weekend several Italian politicians criticised the FIGC’s choice, noting that Pirlo, 47, had taken up a role as global ambassador for Russia’s Fonbet last October.

The betting company has sponsored several sporting events involving veterans of Moscow’s war in Ukraine and has organised events in Russia at which Pirlo appeared alongside pro-Kremlin figures.

“Anyone who is or has been promoting Russia after 2022 should not hold national office,” said Carlo Calenda of the centrist Azione party.

“After learning last night that I am no longer a candidate for the Italian national team, I feel it is my duty to clarify some aspects,” Pirlo, a former Internazionale, Juventus, AC Milan and Azzurri midfielder, wrote in an Instagram post on Monday morning.

“Over the last few days I watched, with great bitterness, the debate that swirled around my name,” he said, adding that any “professional collaboration” he undertook in his capacity as coach for United FC in Dubai “was exclusively of a commercial and sporting nature”.

“To assign a political meaning to that collaboration means ascribing to me beliefs which I have never expressed and that do not belong to me,” Pirlo wrote.

Pina Picierno, a vice-president of the European Parliament, said at the weekend that Italian football “desperately needed a cultural, ethical and managerial revolution” but that the choice of Pirlo “goes in the exact opposite direction”.

In contrast, Pirlo was offered support by the Russian ambassador in Rome, Aleksey Paramonov, who said that it was “saddening” to note that, “despite [Pirlo’s] extraordinary contribution to world sport and to Italy’s image around the world, in your own country, you are now being ostracized”.

Scrutiny of Pirlo’s ties to Fonbet and Russia intensified last spring, when he took part in a Fonbet event held in Moscow, which saw him and former teammate Marco Materazzi sign autographs at Luzhniki Stadium.

Nationalist pro-Kremlin pop star Shaman, who has repeatedly expressed his support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, also performed at the event.

At the time, Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych – who was disqualified from the Winter Olympics over his helmet depicting fellow athletes killed in the war – noted the Luzhniki event had taken place on the same day as a large Russian attack on Ukraine.

Heraskevych also criticised Pirlo for appearing next to Russian footballer Artem Dzyuba, who in the wake of the war in Ukraine posted on social media that he was “proud to be Russian”.

“It’s sad to see childhood legends turn into moral bankrupts,” Heraskevych said.

The debate now risks engulfing new FIGC technical director Paolo Maldini, who has only been in post since 11 July and who Italian media say may resign over Pirlo’s failed appointment.

Maldini and his adviser, former AC Milan teammate Leonardo, were tasked with finding a new head coach to navigate Italy through a Nations League group that includes France, Belgium and Turkey in the autumn and then try to qualify for Euro 2028.

The Italian football community has been undergoing much soul-searching after the team failed to qualify for a third World Cup earlier this year. Italy’s loss on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina in April led to coach Gennaro Gattuso stepping down as well as a reshuffle of the FIGC echelons.

Earlier this month, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti were both unsuccessfully approached ahead of Pirlo.

According to Italian media, other names currently being considered are Antonio Conte and Roberto Mancini – who led Italy to Euro 2020 glory before failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar and unceremoniously stepping down from the Italy bench to coach Saudi Arabia.