March 8, 2026
News
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted 500 components used for the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Niger State, while also arresting a Cameroonian national transporting a consignment of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, in Kogi State.
The agency disclosed the operations in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, detailing a series of anti-narcotics operations conducted across several states in Nigeria.
According to the statement, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Mokwa–Jebba Road in Niger State intercepted a commercial bus travelling from Ibadan with a suspicious white sack containing 500 pieces of components believed to be used in the construction of improvised explosive devices.
Further investigations revealed that the items were intended for delivery to a recipient in Pelegi community. A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the suspected recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Pelegi, located in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.
In a separate operation on March 3, NDLEA officers patrolling the Kabba–Obajana highway in Kogi State intercepted a consignment of Colorado weighing 1.55 kilograms, concealed inside a carton of a standing fan.
The drugs were traced to a 36-year-old Cameroonian national, Mey Ali Muhamat, who was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon through Lokoja, Kano, and Maiduguri. Muhamat, who hails from Maroua in Cameroon, was immediately arrested.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives also arrested a businessman transporting controlled drugs concealed inside baby diapers.
The suspect, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, 32, was apprehended on Tuesday, March 3, while travelling from Obollo-Afor to Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Babafemi, a search of the suspect’s luggage led to the discovery of 1,000 pills of Tapentadol 250mg hidden inside baby diapers. The suspect reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs and revealed he was transporting them to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he operates a provision store.
NDLEA also recorded multiple arrests and seizures in other parts of the country.
In Yola, operatives recovered 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the false bottom of a truck transporting 2,000 cartons of local drinks. The truck carried registration number ENU 645XX.
In Kano, officers arrested a suspect, Muhammed Ali, 20, at Gadar Tamburawa with 11,283 pills of tramadol.
Similarly, in Ogun State, NDLEA operatives raided Ogere community, arresting two suspects—Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa—with 46 kilograms of skunk.
In Delta State, two suspects identified as Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, were arrested in Ogwashi-Uku on March 7. They were reportedly found in possession of 18.63 kilograms of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup, and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed large cannabis farms during operations in Egbisi Forest in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area.
Two suspects—Eke London, 48, and Austin Isusi, 49—were arrested during the raid, where 1,910.25 kilograms of skunk cultivated across two farms were destroyed.
Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was also arrested in Ikhin town in Owan East Local Government Area with 176.50 kilograms of skunk.
Reacting to the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across various state commands for their efforts in tackling drug trafficking and related crimes.
Marwa praised operatives in Lagos, the FCT, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Delta and Adamawa states for their dedication and professionalism.
“I commend the officers and men of the various commands for the arrests, seizures and the level of professionalism displayed,” he said.
He further urged personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced strategy combining enforcement operations with drug demand reduction in the ongoing fight against narcotics trafficking.
