News

Businessman sells assets to finance N23m cocaine deal, arrested at Lagos airport

Published

1 month ago

August 16, 2026

A 48-year-old businessman, Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to travel to New Delhi, India, with 1.550 kilograms of cocaine concealed in his luggage.

Onyebuchi, who deals in marbles in Lagos, was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal II of the airport while preparing to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi.

According to a statement by the NDLEA, the cocaine was cleverly concealed within the side walls and railings of his check-in bag. A search of the luggage led to the discovery of the 1.550kg consignment, which had been factory-fitted into the walls and railings of the bag.

The agency said the arrest was made as part of its operations against the illegal drug trade.

During interrogation, Onyebuchi reportedly disclosed that he had sold his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the sum of ₦23 million which he paid for the cocaine consignment.

He reportedly planned to sell the drugs in India for as much as ₦100 million.

However, his plan to make quick money from the illicit drug trade was cut short by his arrest. He remains in custody pending prosecution.

The NDLEA also reported the seizure of a large quantity of codeine-based syrup in another operation carried out in Lagos.

Operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a warehouse located within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu Street, Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos.

The operation, conducted between Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, 2026, resulted in the seizure of 3,776 cartons containing 377,600 bottles of the controlled substance.

The recovered codeine-based syrup was valued at more than ₦2.6 billion.

In another intelligence-led operation in Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided the residence of a 55-year-old alleged drug kingpin, Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare Street, Ipaja Estate, Ipaja area of Lagos.

The raid, conducted on Wednesday, August 14, resulted in the recovery of 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a street value of ₦972 million.

Operatives also recovered a Mercedes-Benz car and a Toyota Corolla car from the suspect.

In Kwara State, two suspects, Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were arrested at the Kam Wire area of Ilorin on Thursday, August 13.

The suspects were arrested with 55.96kg of skunk in a truck marked DKA 350 XL.

Also in Oyo State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan arrested two other suspects, 70-year-old Abdulfatai Oyelaran and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, on Wednesday, August 12.

A search of their Toyota Sienna vehicle, marked FFA-115KA, led to the recovery of 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.

In another operation along the Onitsha/Asaba Expressway on Thursday, August 13, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects, Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18.

The agency said the suspects were found with 124,100 pills of tramadol, 786 bottles of codeine syrup, 2,598 tablets of rohypnol, 4,800 tablets of diazepam, 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection.

Another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was arrested along the Kwale/Ozoro Expressway on Wednesday, August 12.

NDLEA operatives recovered 1,244 pieces of cartridges and a monetary exhibit of ₦8 million from him.

In Plateau State, a Toyota Corolla car with registration number MKD 341 EA was intercepted along the Riyom/Jos Road, Jos.

The operation led to the recovery of 239,490 capsules of Tramaforce, a brand of tramadol, while a suspect identified as Kasum Sherif was arrested.

Meanwhile, six suspects were arrested by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Zaria-Kano Road in Kano State on Monday, August 10.

They were identified as Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39.

According to the agency, large consignments of opioids were recovered from the suspects, including 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol and other substances.

The operatives also recovered 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

In another operation in Kano, NDLEA operatives on Friday, August 14, raided Zawaciki Gida Dubu in Kumbotso Local Government Area.

The raid resulted in the recovery of 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg.

Two suspects, Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed a total of 4,628.9775kg of skunk found on two cannabis farms measuring 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

A suspect, Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested in one of the farms during a raid carried out by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, August 12.

Also in Edo, another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was arrested during a raid on drug joints in the Oluku area of Benin City on Friday, August 14.

The agency said 25.857kg of Loud and 93 grams of methamphetamine were recovered from him.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers, men and women of the MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands for the arrests and seizures recorded during the week.

Marwa also praised personnel of other commands across the country for maintaining what he described as a fair balance between efforts to reduce the supply of illicit drugs and efforts to reduce demand for them.

“Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts,” the statement said.

News

2027: Northern candidates should wait till 2031 to contest – Kano Gov, Yusuf

Published

23 minutes ago

September 28, 2026

PlateauReports

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has urged presidential candidates to wait until 2031 to contest the number one seat of the country.

Yusuf made the call on Sunday at the Government House in Kano, where he also advocated for the continued rotation of Nigeria’s presidency between the North and the South.

According to him, presidential power should rotate between the two regions, with each given the opportunity to produce a president for two consecutive terms.

The governor further stated that allowing each region complete two terms would give an administration enough time to implement major policies and development programmes.

News

Veterinary Organisation Urges Renewed Commitment To Preventing Avoidable Rabies Deaths

Published

39 minutes ago

September 28, 2026

PlateauReports

By Felicia Imohimi

The Blueblood Veterinary Services has recommended stronger integrated surveillance linking veterinary and human health systems in the prevention, eradication of rabies and its avoidable human deaths in Nigeria.

The Director, Blueblood Vet Ltd., Dr Bala Muhammed, made the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, in commemoration of the World Rabies Day.

NAN reports that World Rabies Day is commemorated annually on September 28, and the 2026 edition has the theme “Stronger Together”.

Muhammed said that the day should be commemorated with a renewed commitment to preventing every avoidable rabies death rather than a day of remembrance.

He advised that every dog bite should be reported, investigated and used as an opportunity to prevent further transmission.

The director emphasised that sustained mass vaccination of dogs must remain at the centre of rabies control to break rabies transmission at its source and protect the entire communities.

According to him, Nigeria must move from responding to outbreaks to preventing them.

He identified rabies as one of the world’s most tragic public-health paradoxes with almost 100 per cent fatal once clinical symptoms appear.

He said that it was therefore imperative that a post-exposure prophylaxis must be available and accessible.

”Anyone bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal should immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water and seek urgent medical care.

“No Nigerian should die because lifesaving treatment is unavailable, unaffordable or delayed.

“The global zero by 30 goal to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 is ambitious, but achievable with sustained political commitment and community action.

“Responsible dog ownership, vaccination, avoiding contact with unfamiliar animals and promptly reporting bites can save lives.

“Schools, traditional institutions, religious organisations and the media can help make this knowledge widespread,” he said.

Speaking on the year’s theme Muhammed stressed the need for dogs to be vaccinated, while people, particularly children should be protected, bite treated, cases reported, and surveillance strengthened.

“This is because rabies may be fatal after symptoms appear, but rabies deaths are preventable. That is the true meaning of ‘Stronger Together’, he said.

The director, who described the theme as particularly relevant to Nigeria, emphasised that rabies does not respect the boundaries between human health, animal health and communities.

He noted that its prevention required veterinarians, medical doctors or human medics, government agencies, dog owners, community leaders, schools, the media and international partners to work together.

”This is the essence of the ‘One Health’ approach,” he added.

He noted that the recent rabies outbreak in Nigerian demonstrated the urgency.

Speaking on rabies incidence in the country Muhammed said that in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), authorities have confirmed eight rabies cases and two deaths in the Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils in 2026.

“In Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau, 25 rabies cases and 12 deaths were reported in 2025 including three members of a family. These are not mere statistics. Behind every number is a person, a family and a community.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that rabies causes about 59,000 deaths globally each year, with dogs responsible for approximately 99 per cent of human rabies infections.

“WHO has also cited an estimated 10,000 annual rabies deaths in Nigeria, while acknowledging that inadequate surveillance means the true burden may be higher.

“On World Rabies Day, let us remember those we have lost, but let remembrance become action,”Muhammed said.

He urged the media to move the conversation beyond reporting deaths.

According to him, when a rabies case occurs, inquire whether the dog is vaccinated, was post-exposure treatment available? How many other bites occurred? Was the animal tested? What is being done to prevent another case?(NAN)(NAN)

FUA/DCO

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