Crime

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol worth over N6.98 billion at Apapa Port in Lagos. The consignment, shipped from India and declared as maize starch, was found to contain tramadol hydrochloride concealed in 349 bags, according to laboratory analysis. The agency also seized 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis valued at N165 million, at the Tincan Port. The substance was hidden inside a Toyota Sienna in a 40-foot container. In Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided a store in Idumota and arrested Elizabeth Chidera Kalu, recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam and 6,500 tablets of Molly. Two other suspects, Idowu Daudu and Ahmed Oniyinde, were arrested in separate operations in Mushin with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of cannabis, respectively. The agency also intercepted a truck along the Iyana Oba axis carrying 18,000 tablets of tramadol concealed in cartons labelled as insecticide. Two suspects, identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested. In Edo State, six suspects were arrested during raids conducted between October 15 and 16 in several communities in Owan East Local Government Area. Among them was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of cannabis. Another suspect, Ayo Aigberadion, was arrested with 220.8 kilogrammes of cannabis, while other suspects were found with varying quantities of cannabis and other controlled substances. In Ondo State, operatives destroyed a three-hectare cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest, with the plants estimated to weigh 7,500 kilogrammes. Five suspects were arrested, while additional cannabis and related substances were recovered in separate operations across the state. The agency also recorded seizures and arrests in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory. In Bauchi, officers intercepted a suspect carrying 894,800 pills identified as tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets. They also recovered 265 kilogrammes of cannabis from an abandoned vehicle along the Bauchi-Gombe road. In Kano, two suspects were arrested along the Zaria-Kano road with 30,100 tablets of tramadol, while another suspect was found with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5. At the airport, a 16-year-old passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, was arrested while preparing to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah via Addis Ababa. The agency said she was carrying 511.75 grammes of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil. Her cousin, who allegedly supplied the substance, was subsequently arrested. In Kaduna, three suspects were arrested with 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis, while another suspect was found with 49,500 tablets of tramadol. In Abuja, an operation in Utako led to the arrest of a suspect with 29,500 tramadol capsules. Meanwhile, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse awareness campaign in schools and other institutions across several states. The agency’s chairman, Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the operations and urged them to sustain efforts to combat drug trafficking and substance abuse across the country.

Amnesty International has criticised the Plateau State Government for discontinuing the prosecution of a man accused of sexually abusing a four-year-old girl, despite a court-issued warrant for his arrest after he repeatedly failed to appear for trial. The case was discontinued in May 2026 by the state Ministry of Justice under the constitutional powers of the Attorney-General. However, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, questioned the decision and urged Governor Caleb Mutfwang to intervene and ensure the case is reinstated. The organisation said the accused had failed to attend court proceedings despite being served with court documents, while the prosecution had witnesses and evidence ready for trial. Amnesty also called on the state Attorney-General to publicly explain why the case was dropped. The organisation and a civil society campaign group have urged the government to restore the prosecution, stressing the need to protect children from sexual violence and ensure access to justice.

The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted three live pangolins concealed in sacks at Abeokuta Waterside in Ogun State. The endangered animals were discovered by a patrol team acting on intelligence, while the suspected smugglers fled after sighting the officers. The Ogun I Command said the pangolins were confined in wire mesh cages and hidden inside sacks in what appeared to be an attempt to evade detection. The animals have since been handed over to Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation for rehabilitation and eventual release into a protected habitat. The Acting Customs Area Controller, Abdulhamid Ibrahim, warned wildlife traffickers that offenders risk fines of up to 12 million naira and prison terms of up to 10 years under the relevant conservation laws. He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to combating illegal wildlife trade and protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity.

The UAE’s Attorney General says the co-pilot of a Flydubai flight heading to Israel attempted to carry out a terrorist act during the journey. According to investigators, the co-pilot attacked the captain inside the cockpit with an emergency axe and tried to take control of the aircraft. The incident happened on Wednesday while the flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and was later diverted to Saudi Arabia. A passenger said the aircraft was almost out of control during the attack and appeared to be heading towards a crash. Passengers reportedly restrained and neutralised the co-pilot, while a doctor on board provided first aid to the injured pilots. Authorities say other pilots on the aircraft eventually took control and safely diverted the plane. The UAE says investigations into the incident are continuing, while no passengers were reported seriously injured.

Three vigilantes from Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State are feared dead after suspected bandits allegedly attacked them along the Kebbi-Niger border. The victims, identified as Abubakar Mai Nera, Tanko Sarki and Amadu Saminaka, were reportedly returning from Agwara in Niger State when they were ambushed around Kasabo, Binuwa and Mago communities. Local sources alleged that the attackers killed the vigilantes and set their bodies ablaze, although the bodies have not yet been recovered. Search teams and residents are continuing efforts to locate the victims. The Kebbi State Police Command said it could not confirm the incident, noting that the alleged attack occurred in Niger State. The identities of the attackers and the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths had not been independently verified as of press time.

The Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg says three Nigerians were killed in separate incidents in South Africa between September 18 and 21. The victims were identified as Kenechukwu Igwemmadú, Olaniyi Olatunde and Christian Nnaemeka. The Consulate said Igwemmadú died after allegedly jumping from a building while trying to escape police harassment in Bloemfontein. Olatunde, a security guard, was reportedly shot during an argument with a customer at a nightclub in Pretoria and later died in hospital. The third victim, Nnaemeka, was allegedly assaulted and tortured by members of a content-creation team led by South African politician Xolani Khumalo in Ekurhuleni, before he collapsed and died. The Nigerian Consulate has called for thorough investigations into the deaths and urged South African authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

Police in Lagos State have arrested a 29-year-old man over the alleged robbery of a clubber outside Ghost and Spirit Lounge on Ekoro Road, Abule-Egba. The incident reportedly happened around 5 a.m. on Saturday, September 26. CCTV footage showed several men around parked vehicles before a grey Mercedes-Benz GLK SUV arrived at the scene. One of the men allegedly fired what appeared to be gunshots before the victim was dispossessed of his gold wrist chain and rings. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, said the suspect, identified as Ezekiel Sunday Obi, was arrested at the Lagos-Ogun boundary in the early hours of September 27. The police said investigations are ongoing to arrest other members of the gang and recover the stolen items.

The Nigeria Police Force says it has recorded operational successes across 10 states, including the killing of a suspected bandit, the rescue of seven victims and the arrest of 17 suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping and murder. The operations took place between September 21 and 22, according to the police. In Benue State, officers responding to a bandit attack at Abeda Market in Logo Local Government Area killed one suspected bandit and arrested two others. In Katsina State, police also foiled an attack on a vehicle carrying six female students of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma along the Kankara-Dutsin-Ma Road. The students and their driver were rescued unharmed. Meanwhile, four suspected members of an outlawed terrorist group were arrested in Anambra State, while other suspects were picked up in connection with alleged kidnapping, murder, illegal firearm possession and defilement cases. The police say investigations are ongoing across the affected states.

The Department of State Services, DSS, is set to re-arraign five suspected members of the Ansaru terrorist group over the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State. The suspects are accused of involvement in the May 15 abduction in Oriire Local Government Area, where two of the victims were later killed. They are facing a six-count amended charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation on behalf of the Federal Government. Their re-arraignment was delayed on Wednesday after the first defendant objected to being represented by a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council. The suspects instead requested that their previous lawyer, Bala Dakum, continue to represent them. The prosecution agreed that the defendants have a constitutional right to choose their lawyer. The Federal High Court in Abuja subsequently adjourned the case until Thursday and directed the DSS to give the suspects access to their lawyer. The court also ordered the defendants to contact Dakum and ensure his presence for the re-arraignment.

The Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone A, says it has recovered more than two billion naira for the Federation Account in the last nine months. The unit also intercepted over 21,000 bags of smuggled rice, equivalent to about 35 truckloads, during the same period. The outgoing Area Controller, Gambo Aliyu, says illicit drugs and other prohibited items were also seized during the operations. He says the command’s anti-smuggling operations are now largely intelligence-driven, with officers targeting specific smuggling activities rather than carrying out random actions. Aliyu attributes the results to the commitment of Customs officers and support from the service’s management. He also called for stronger collaboration between the Customs Service and the media in tackling smuggling and other economic crimes. The outgoing controller says journalists remain important partners in exposing and addressing illegal trade. He adds that continued intelligence-led operations will be key to reducing smuggling and protecting government revenue.