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NDLEA Nabs Wanted Kingpin, Foils Drug Shipments Hidden in Cereal Packs
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) stepped up its anti-narcotics operations last week, conducting a hotel raid in Lagos, intercepting international drug consignments hidden in food products, and arresting a drug kingpin who had been on the run for years..
During one of the operations, a 60-year-old Okpara Chigozie, a major drug cartel leader who had evaded arrest since 2019, was nabbed.
A statement made available to the column.ng by the NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said operatives nabbed him at his hideout on Michael Ojo Street, Isheri, Ojo, Lagos, following the interception of a white Toyota Sienna van carrying his illicit cargo.
He said the vehicle, headed to Onitsha, Anambra State, was stopped at Ilasamaja on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway at about 5:45 am on Sunday, July 13.
“Okpara, who has been on the wanted list of the NDLEA since 2019, was eventually nabbed at his hideout at 72 Michael Ojo Street, Isheri in Ojo area of Lagos State on Sunday, July 13, 2025, following the interception of some of his consignments at 5:45am on the same day at Ilasamaja along Apapa-Oshodi expressway,” the statement partly read.
Babafemi said a search conducted with sniffer dogs uncovered 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine hidden in body compartments, adding that the driver, Achebe Nnamdi, 51, has been arrested.
He said, “In the early morning operation, a team of NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence arrested one of Okpara’s couriers, 51-year-old Achebe Kenneth Nnamdi, while heading to Onitsha, Anambra State, in a white Toyota Sienna vehicle.
“The agency’s sniffer dogs were subsequently brought in to search the vehicle, after which 7.6 kilograms of cocaine and 900 grams of methamphetamine were found hidden in the body compartments of the space bus. A follow-up operation was promptly carried out at Okpara’s hideout in Isheri, where an additional 1.8kg of cocaine and 1.3kg methamphetamine were recovered from his residence.”
In another major bust, he said the NDLEA officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, working with Aviation Security officials, recovered 7,790 pills of tramadol and rohypnol from a passenger, Omoregie Uyiosa.
He said the suspect, en route to Italy via Turkish Airlines on Wednesday, July 16, admitted he intended to sell the drugs abroad.
“In another arrest at the Lagos airport, the NDLEA operatives at the export shed on Thursday, July 17, intercepted 17 parcels of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 1.70kg concealed in packs of popular cereal, Golden Morn, going to Pakistan as part of a consolidated cargo. A suspect, Chioba Robert Uchenna, who presented the consignment for shipment, was arrested, “the statement added.
Also in Lagos, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives stormed the Sarah Sam Hotels on Ogudu Road, Kosofe, where “party drugs” were allegedly being distributed.
He said the facility, run as a family business, was raided on Saturday, July 19, after surveillance linked it to suspect Obayemi Oyetade.
From his room, he said officers recovered 1.3kg of chocolate cannabis, 900 grams of cannabis-infused gummies, and 22.9 grams of skunk. Three vehicles were also seized.
“Three suspects: Onyeka Madu, Monday Nwadishi and Emmanuel Madu were arrested on Saturday, July 19, during an intelligence-led raid at Narayi High Cost area of Chikun LGA, Kaduna State, where 742.866 kilograms of skunk, and Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis were seized from them. In Kano, Lawan Rabiu was nabbed with 36,000 pills of tramadol along the Danbatta-Kazaure Road, on Wednesday, July 16.
“While a total of 25,000 pills of tramadol and exol-5 were recovered from a suspect Aliyu Abubakar, at Gombe roundabout on Friday 18th July, the duo of Mohammed Adamu and Furaira Idris were arrested same day with 49 blocks of compressed skunk that weighed 29kg at Kwadom, Yemaltu Deba LGA, Gombe state,” the statement added.
In Borno, Babafemi said NDLEA officers on patrol along Baga road, Maiduguri, on Saturday, July 19, intercepted 74,360 pills of opioids in a Mercedes Benz C180 car marked GUB 409 AA and arrested Audu Modu, 44, in connection with the seizure.
“In Bayelsa State, a 63-year-old grandma, Akuna Nelson, was on Thursday, July 17, arrested at the Osiri area of Yenagoa in connection with the seizure of 163 litres of skuchies.
“Four suspects: Ikechukw Abugu, 42; Sunday Ani, 18; Chukwu Christian, 46; and Emmanuel Olisakwe, 55, were on Thursday, July 17, arrested by the NDLEA operatives along the Okene-Lokoja Highway, Kogi State, in connection with the seizure of 2kg methamphetamine recovered during a search of their vehicle coming from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Minna, Niger State.
“In Abia State, the NDLEA officers on Monday, July 14, raided the base of a notorious drug dealer, Nduka Obi, 39, at 4 Niger Street, Ogwa Road, Aba, where various quantities of tramadol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and a total of N736,000 monetary exhibit were recovered from him,” he added.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged the federal government to give Nigeria’s security chiefs a 90-day deadline to eliminate terrorists across the country or resign from office.
Adeboye made the call in a video shared on X on Tuesday in which he expressed concern over the country’s security situation and urged authorities to act swiftly against those responsible for the violence.
Addressing the government, the cleric said security chiefs should be held accountable for delivering results in the fight against terrorism.
“If I were asked to make suggestions, I would say quietly to our government, ‘Move fast and tell our security chiefs, get rid of these terrorists within 90 days or resign,” he said.
The cleric also called on the government to go beyond targeting terrorists and focus on those financing and supporting their activities.
“When giving orders to the service chiefs this time around, we should make it clear to them that they are not only to eliminate the terrorists; they should eliminate their sponsors, no matter how influential they may be,” he added.
Adeboye recalled advising a former Nigerian president to issue a similar ultimatum to security chiefs in the past, noting that although the directive was given, it was not fully enforced when the deadline elapsed.
According to him, the experience underscored the need for stronger political will and strict enforcement of directives aimed at ending insecurity.
The cleric’s remarks come amid renewed concerns over terrorist attacks, banditry and kidnappings in several parts of the country, with calls mounting for more decisive measures to tackle the security challenges.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, chapter, on Tuesday , staged a solidarity rally on the streets of Abuja, demanding protection of teachers and schoolchildren and calling for the safe return of abducted persons across the country.
The teachers began the rally at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education and proceeded to Area 11, headline office of the FCT Administration.
Reports says the protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “End The Reign of Fear in Our Schools” “Teachers Deserve Security, Not Fear”, “Kidnapping Has no Place in Education,” among others.
Held under the theme “United for Education, Together for Our Future”, the demonstration is aimed at drawing attention to the growing insecurity confronting schools and educational institutions nationwide.
No fewer than 82 pupils were abducted between May 13 and 15 in separate attacks in Oyo and Borno states.
In Borno State, 42 pupils were abducted after armed groups attacked schools in Askira Uba and Chibok LGAs on May 13 and 14.
In Oyo State, another 40 pupils were abducted on May 15 during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire LGA of the state.
The Oyo attack also claimed the lives of a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, a motorcyclist and some security operatives during rescue efforts.
Addressing participants during the Abuja rally, the Chairman of NUT FCT, Abdullahi Shafa, said the protest was in line with a directive by the union’s national headquarters.
“We are acting on the directives of the national headquarters of this union. They instructed us, in every state of the federation, to embark on a solidarity rally in protest against what has happened to our teachers and students in parts of the country,” the state chairman said.
According to an official statement from Liverpool, Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.
Sir Kenny Dalglish posted an update on social media today. The full text is as follows:
The news was leaked when I accidentally posted something due to a slip of the hand. I am currently receiving treatment for cancer. Although I am clumsy with my phone, the treatment is progressing well.
This matter was intended to be handled privately and not disclosed to the public, but I am not very good at using digital devices and accidentally leaked the news.
I never intended to make my illness public, and I urge all parties to respect my privacy and that of my family, and to refrain from disturbing us.
As always, I thank the medical staff, who not only took meticulous care of me but also consistently upheld the principle of confidentiality, diligently protected countless patients, and honored their profession.”
Liverpool officials stated: All staff at Liverpool Football Club will send their best wishes and support to Sir Kenny Dalglish and his family, now and in the future. The club also echoed his request, calling on the outside world to respect his privacy.
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