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NDLEA Arrests Osun Monarch, Chadian National, and NYSC Member in Drug Bust
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested Ba’ale Ige Babatunde, the head of the Akarabata community in Ile-Ife, Osun State, for alleged drug trafficking. The 50-year-old monarch was found in possession of fresh cannabis plants weighing 5kg.
In a separate operation, NDLEA agents raided the Lagos base of a high-profile cocaine syndicate led by a couple, Agbakoba Mmadu and Agbakoba Chinwe, along with their associate, Okoye Maryjane. Large consignments of cocaine intended for export and local distribution were recovered during the raid.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, stated, “The raid followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance on the syndicate notorious for packaging, distributing, and trafficking cocaine within and outside Nigeria. The 54-year-old Agbakoba Mmadu was arrested at Ago Palace Way, Okota, while his wife, Agbakoba Chinwe, 39, and their stash keeper, Okoye Maryjane, 31, were nabbed at Plot 2205, Eugene Ndubisi Close, Lilly Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, on July 3, 2024.”
The operation resulted in the seizure of seven parcels of cocaine weighing 7.652 kilograms from Mmadu, and 122 compressed pellets of the same drug weighing 2.42kg from Ijeoma and Ifeoma at Lilly Estate. The total seizure amounted to 10.1 kilograms, valued at over N2.1 billion.
In another operation, NDLEA operatives in Benue State intercepted a consignment of 350 grams of cocaine concealed in an MP3 speaker at a checkpoint along Enugu road, Otukpo, on July 4. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner, 25-year-old Odeh Anthony, at Flight motor park in Otukpo.
Additionally, NDLEA officers on a stop-and-search operation along Ngurore-Yola road in Adamawa State arrested Yves Gali, a Chadian national, in a commercial bus coming from Kano to Yola. Gali was found with a loudspeaker concealing 20 compressed blocks and nine plastic containers of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 5.200kg.
In Kano, a youth corps member, Yusuf Abdulrahman, 25, was arrested at Corpers Lodge, Sumaila, with 1.250kg of Loud on July 3.
During a raid on Ikota forest in Ifedore LGA, Ondo State, NDLEA operatives arrested Monday Ali, 49, and Jimoh Alewi, 37. They destroyed 42,500kg of cannabis on 17 hectares of farmland and recovered 73.5kg of the substance for prosecution during a five-day operation that ended on July 1.
In Abuja, NDLEA operatives arrested Sanusi Mamman, 28, and Usaini Ibrahim, 20, along Abaji-Gwagwalada road on July 8. They were found with 1,132 bottles of codeine syrup, 13,540 pills of tramadol, 50,000 pills of diazepam, and 59 pills of Rohypnol.
Kidnappers in Zamfara State are demanding a ransom of N50 million for the release of Bassey Daniel, the last of eight recently abducted graduates from Akwa Ibom State.
Margaret Daniel, the mother of the victim, shared her distressing situation with Vanguard in her community, Afaha Ube Itam, Itu Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State. Overwhelmed with emotion, Mrs. Daniel expressed her despair over the impossible ransom demand.
“I am just a petty trader, selling akara and bread. How can I raise such an amount? I am helpless,” she said tearfully. “When they mentioned that amount, I fell sick. Why my only son? They kidnapped nine people that day in Zamfara; the other eight are free, but they want N50 million for my son.
His father died when he was just three. I raised him alone, sent him to school with the little I earned. I have suffered so much. I appeal to the Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, the NYSC officials, and security agencies to help bring my only son back.”
Another family member, Mr. Imoh, expressed gratitude for the efforts made by security agencies and the NYSC management to secure the release of the other victims. He also pleaded for their continued assistance to free Bassey.
“We are worried. Seeing corps members in their uniforms makes his mother very sad. We are begging for help,” Imoh said.
It is worth noting that the second-to-last victim, a female, was freed on June 12, 2024, amid speculations that her family paid a significant undisclosed amount for her release.
The Ogun State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Olayinka Nasamu, stated on Wednesday that the organization had no involvement in the tragic hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of Pelumi David Idowu, a student from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Aiyepe Annexe, which occurred last Monday in front of the Orientation Camp along the Sagamu-Ikenne Road.
According to reports, a hit-and-run driver fatally struck both Idowu and his motorcyclist from behind, resulting in their immediate deaths.
On Tuesday, the National Association of Nigerian Students and the National Association of Ogun State Students led a protest, alleging that the NYSC was covering up for the responsible driver, whom they claimed was an NYSC official named Ojo Aina. The students accused Aina of seeking refuge in the orientation camp following the incident.
Addressing these allegations, Nasamu firmly dismissed them as baseless and imaginary. She extended her condolences to the victims’ families and the Students Union Government of the polytechnic, emphasizing her commitment to justice as both a mother and a leader of a Federal Government agency dedicated to youth security and development.
Nasamu revealed that security agency reports from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force had absolved the NYSC of any involvement in the incident.
“On behalf of the NYSC and myself, I offer heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the entire Gateway Polytechnic community,” Nasamu said. “The DSS and the Nigeria Police Force have cleared the NYSC of any wrongdoing.”
Furthermore, Nasamu mentioned that the management of the polytechnic, including the Rector and the Students Union President, had visited her office to apologize for the accusations against the NYSC. They clarified that the polytechnic’s student body distanced itself from the group that staged the protest at the Ogun Police headquarters.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced a gift of N100,000 for each National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member completing their orientation in the state.
The governor made this announcement while addressing the 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream I corps members at their Passing-Out Parade and Closing Ceremony held at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Iyana Ipaja on Tuesday.
In addition to the individual stipends, Governor Sanwo-Olu pledged N5 billion towards the construction of a permanent NYSC Orientation Camp site in Lagos and allocated N100 million for NYSC support staff.
“This year, I am committing a total of N5 billion to begin the full development of a permanent site for the NYSC in Lagos State,” he said. “For this batch of 4,254 corps members, each of you will receive N100,000. The funds will be deposited into your accounts by next week.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu praised the corps members for their hard work and dedication, assuring them that the promised funds would be disbursed promptly.
In response to the recent collapse of toilet facilities at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Emure-Ekiti, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has directed the State’s Bureau of Special Projects to conduct an integrity test on all camp buildings to ensure their safety for corps members.
Governor Oyebanji issued this directive in Ado Ekiti on Monday during a meeting with the NYSC Governing Council, led by Chairman and Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Gold Adedayo. He emphasized that the integrity test would involve a thorough inspection to assess the durability and safety standards of the camp’s structures. The findings will inform the government’s actions to enhance the living conditions within the camp.
Following the governor’s directive, construction of new toilet facilities began on Monday morning. The project includes 45 units of toilets and bathrooms. Additionally, Governor Oyebanji instructed the state electricity board to provide solar-powered electricity at the camp.
Highlighting the urgency of improving the NYSC camp infrastructure, Governor Oyebanji assured corps members of his administration’s continued support and recognition of their efforts.
“In response to your request, some actions will be taken immediately. Regarding solar lighting, I have instructed the electricity board to assess and implement solar lighting at the camp promptly,” the governor stated. “The first priority is conducting an integrity test on all buildings. Those deemed unfit will no longer be used.”
The State Coordinator of NYSC, Alhaji Riko Shuaibu, expressed gratitude to the governor for his commitment to the safety and welfare of the corps members. He also thanked Governor Oyebanji for approving the construction of modern toilet and bathroom facilities. Shuaibu explained that the visit aimed to inform the governor of the challenges faced by the NYSC camp and to seek the state government’s intervention.
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