Category: Security and Crimes

By Flowerbudnews

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its latest drug test kits used in testing drugs use is capable of detecting 15 different substances and hard drugs.

 

The Commander of NDLEA Enugu State Command, Mr Abel Wadahi, disclosed this at a workshop organised by the NDLEA in collaboration with Shellfield Media Consult on drug abuse prevention for women and youths in Enugu on Friday.

Wadahi said that the drug test kits would serve as a tool for the prevention of drug use and for the appropriate intervention including treatment rehabilitation, adding that it could create some deterrence effects.

 

He added that the drug test kits had become handy as drug integrity test had been adopted by some families, government and tertiary institutions in the state.

 

The commander revealed that the agency was not relenting in its effort to cut off supply channels and dismantle trafficking networks.

 

Speaking on the strategies on drug use prevention, the Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Dr Chinwe Thompson, said that a problematic drug use by one or more family members had substantial negative input on the entire family.

 

Thompson said that early intervention was necessary as its treatment was very expensive, calling on parents to live as role models by living responsibly for their children to emulate and live healthy in the society.

 

The Shellfield Media Consult Director, Mr Williams Chieshe, said that drug abuse did not only affected the individual involved but also the family, community and the entire society.

Chieshe said that the workshop was organised to sensitise the people of Enugu State about preventing drug abuse.

 

The Assistant Director, Research and Statistics Unit in NDLEA, Mr Precious Oyutu, said that the negative effects of drug use included physical, social and psychological effects.

 

According to her, the physical effect includes the damaging of brain, liver, hypertension, premature death and HIV as a result of using the same injection syringe together.

 

She called on teenagers and youths to always speak out, avoid relationship that could lead them to drug use and always be involved in religious activities.

 

The Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, urged the Federal Government to intervene by providing more fund to the agency so as to increase the fight against drug abuse in the country.

 

Asadu, who is also the Traditional Ruler of Edem-Ani Kingdom in Nsukka, commended the commander of NDLEA and his officers for their efforts in the fight against drug abuse.

 

 

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended no fewer than 366 suspected traffickers and seized 1,560.97kg (1.56 tonnes) of hard drugs within Enugu State in 2024.

The NDLEA said that among the 1,560.97kg (1.56 tonnes) of hard drugs seized included: cocaine, heroin, cannabis sativa (hemp) and methamphetamine otherwise locally known as Mkpurumiri among others.

The Commander of NDLEA Enugu State Command, Abel Wadahi, told newsmen on Friday in Enugu that those apprehended were 324 males and 42 females in the period under review.

 

Wadahi said that in 2024, a total of 39 male suspects were convicted at the Federal High Court, Enugu.

 

He added that 124 cases are still pending; and 118 cases filed at the Federal High Court, Enugu are at various stages of trial.

 

According to him, 11 vehicles and 24 motorcycles were finally forfeited in 2024; while four vehicles and two motorcycles were seized and have been charged to court for interim forfeiture.

“In the year 2024, NDLEA Enugu State Command have successfully counseled, treated and rehabilitated 335 individuals in our small rehabilitation facility, most of them through brief intervention.

 

“We look forward to doing more once we have the new rehabilitation centre we are anticipating,” he said.

 

The commander said that in 2024, the Command embarked on 109 sensitisation and awareness programmes targeting young people in and out of school, motor parks, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

 

He noted that the 109 sensitisation and awareness programmes reached out to a total of 47,651 people; with 23,643 males and 24,008 females within the state.

 

“This is in addition to the thousands of homes reached with our anti-substance abuse massages through our aggressive and impactful media campaign using various traditional and new media platforms,” he said.

 

Wadahi urged members of the public to show empathy for those undergoing treatment, which would help them scale the hurdle of their rehabilitation.

 

He said, “The NDLEA has invested resources in the prevention of abuse and trafficking of illicit substances, even as we are also not relenting in our effort to cut off supply channels and dismantle trafficking networks.

 

“After all, when you cut off drug supplies, you deny users availability and access to them, including insurgents, terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and sundry criminals who rely on drugs to foster their criminalities.”

 

The commander appreciated the Chairman of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retired), for his support in the outgone year; and above all, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State for his encouragement and response to the needs of the Command.

By Flowerbudnews

Troops of Joint Task Force South-East, code-named “Operation UDO KA” have neutralised eight and apprehended five armed members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra and Enugu States

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This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu by the Spokesman of Operation UDO KA, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, on Wednesday.

 

According to Unuakhalu, the Force Commander of Operation UDO KA, Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada is calling on all well-meaning citizens to continue supporting the troops by providing timely, reliable and credible information in order to make South-East peaceful.

He said, “Remember, security is everybody’s business. It is not in the hands of security agencies alone.

 

“When you see something say something by calling the JTF Operation UDO KA’s toll free line – 193 and press Option 2 – to speak directly to Headquarters Operation UDO KA.

“The Joint Task Force South-East, Operation UDO KA, will continue to carry out its constitutional roles of safeguarding lives and property in line with global best practice as laid down in the rules of engagement and code of conducts guiding its operations.”

 

On the operational successes, Unuakhalu said that troops of Sector 5 of Operation UDO KA, on Jan. 15, (today) dealt decisively with the irredentists IPOB and its armed affiliate the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Anambra State.

“The gallant troops, who were on clearance operation to identified IPOB/ESN Ogunka Camp in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State came in contact with the irredentists on arrival at the camp.

 

“During the firefight the irredentists attempted to flee through their escape route but were engaged by the blocking force neutralising five of the irredentists.

 

“Items recovered included: two AK 47 Rifle, one pump action gun, four Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs) and 12V/75 amp battery use for detonating the IEDs,” he said.

The Army Spokesman said that in the same vein, on Jan.13, troops of the sector deployed at Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra apprehended five suspected IPOB/ESN members.

 

He noted that the suspects were arrested while driving a black Ford Edge with registration number Abuja ABC 535 AE coming from Ogboji Aguluzenechikwu road of Aguata LGA.

“The suspects on reaching the Forward Operating Base (FOB) checkpoint decided to open the barricades to gain access into the base, however the vigilant troops were able to stop them.

 

“On further search of the vehicle, the troops recovered one locally-made pistol, three live cartridges and nine mobile phones,” he said.

Unuakhalu said that Jan. 8, troops on routine patrol along Orsumoghu – Burrow Pit road in Anambra came in contact with the irredentists neutralizing three.

He said, “On further scan of the area, two IED cylinders about to be buried by the roadside by the irredentists were discovered and in the process of detonating the IED it exploded and one soldier paid the supreme price.”

 

Unuakhalu also said that troops of Sector 1 responded to a distress call of kidnapping activities of passengers travelling along Igbo Eze Local Government Area of Enugu State and the boundary between Enugu and Kogi States.

 

“The combined troops comprising the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies moved swiftly into action and went in pursuit of the kidnappers through their escaping route.

 

“The troops forced them to release all the kidnapped passengers in batches with the last two of their victims released yesterday. Efforts still ongoing to discover the kidnappers den,” he said.

 

In a related development, Operation UDO KA further intensified the fight against illegal oil bunkering within the South-East.

 

The Army Spokesman said that on Jan. 13, troops of Sector 4 deployed at Egbema West in Imo conducted an anti-illegal bunkering operation.

 

“During the operation, troops discovered an illegal oil bunkering site with 15 cooking drums, five reservoirs containing approximately 5,000 litres of illegal refined Dual Purpose Kerosene, 1,500 litres of Automotive Gas Oil and a hose of 2km long which were destroyed.”

Makinde assures residents of adequate security

By Adewale Owoade

The Government of Oyo State has assured its residents that it will leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety of everyone in the state.

The assurance came against the backdrop of news that some bandits from the northern parts of the country were infiltrating the state.

Governor Seyi Makinde during a press briefing after the state’s Joint Security Council meeting said all hands were on deck to fish out the bandits and use the instrumentality of the law to deal with them.

Compol Fatai Owoseni (Rtd), Special Adviser on Security to Oyo State Governor, while briefing the media on the resolution of the Security Council, urged the people to go about their lawful activities without any fear.

He assured them that the state government would pull out all stops to secure the life of everyone in the state.
Owoseni said that with the robust synergy among the security agencies in the state, the bandits and other criminal elements had nowhere to hide.

He noted that to strengthen the security network in the state, the Council would hold expanded meetings that would incorporate local government chairmen as well as traditional rulers.

“The essence of this is to ensure that we take security to the grassroots. The local government administration is the third tier of government and is the closest to the people.

“In the same vein, traditional rulers are close to the people and know most people in their domains. By integrating them into the security network, we are taking security to the grassroots and carrying everyone along.

“Security is everybody’s business and we all have a role to play in ensuring that our state is safe from the antics of bandits and other criminal elements.”

He said that the council also discussed the issue of decongesting correctional centres, adding that the state would invoke its power of prerogative of mercy to set free some of the inmates.

Similarly, the Council discussed the issue of the health and wellbeing of inmates of correctional centres with a recommendation that they should be enrolled on the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure that they have access to good healthcare.

“A decision on the health insurance scheme for correctional centre inmates would be taken at one of the subsequent Council meetings,” Owoseni said.

Others present at the briefing were the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State, Mr Abiodun Aikomo; Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Ayodele Sonubi.

Others were the Comptroller, Nigerian Correctional Service, Oyo State Command, CC Jaiyeoba Babafemi and the Comptroller Immigration Services, Oyo State Command, Joseph Dada.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

By Taiye Olayemi

The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has set records straight and clarify the events that led to the viral video, where its Commissioner, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, was accused of an assault.

The ministry, in a statement on Thursday, said that the viral video was concorted to misrepresent the commissioner and misguide the public.

According to the statement, Mr Qudus Onikeku, the Creative Director of the J.Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, and other non state actors had been perpetrating illegal businesses in the facility without state government approval.

The commissioner in her routine oversight visited the centre and found out that the director was operating illegal business not known to the government.

The statement reads “The attention of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has been drawn to a viral video circulating on social media regarding an incident at the J.Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.

“It is imperative to set the records straight and clarify the events that led to the said video.

“The commissioner has the statutory responsibility of oversight over all facilities under the Ministry’s purview. In line with this mandate, she embarked on an inspection visit to the J.Randle Centre.

“During the inspection, it was discovered that the Centre Director , Qudus Onikeku, was illegally operating a canteen within the premises without the knowledge and approval of the ministry.

“This prompted Mrs Benson-Awoyinka to question the presence of the establishment and initiated an eviction that the Centre Director violently resisted and had his team attack officials of the Ministry.”

According to the statement, the non-state actors who are neither recognised by the Lagos State Government nor authorised to attend the meeting, who accompanied the Centre Director, barged in.

While the meeting was ongoing, Onikeku ordered the non state actors to record the proceedings.

“This, the Honourable Commissioner objected to. It must be emphasised that recording any meeting without the consent of the presiding authority is unacceptable and a breach of protocol.

“For clarity, Mrs Benson-Awoyinka did not assault anyone, instead a senior female member of her team was physically assaulted by the non state actors which then escalated as seen in the viral video depicting a totally false narrative.

“The video posted ostensibly to blackmail her speaks for itself.

“The Commissioner maintained her stance that unauthorised persons should not participate in the meeting or record its discussions, which is in line with standard administrative procedures.”

The statement stated that an investigation has been ordered into the occurrence, and appropriate actions will be taken as the ministry remained committed to upholding transparency, accountability, and efficient management of all its facilities.

“The commissioner would continue to discharge her duties in the best interest of Lagos State and its citizens.

“We urge members of the public to disregard any misrepresentation of the incident and focus on the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to excellence in service delivery.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Qudus Onikeku was appointed the Creative Director of the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Oct. 29, 2024. (NAN) (nannews.ng)