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NDLEA Intercepts ‘Terror Drug’ Captagon, Arrests Multiple Suspects

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NDLEA intercepts terror drug ‘captagon’ in Kwara as bizman excretes 45 cocaine wraps

Barely five years after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recorded the first seizure of the deadly terror drug, Captagon, in Africa at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, operatives of the Agency have again intercepted a consignment of the amphetamine substance in Kwara state.

Captagon, a tiny, highly addictive pill, widely available across the Middle East, produces a euphoric intensity in users, allowing them to stay awake for days, making them fearless, and predisposes them to reckless action that puts the lives of people around them in jeopardy.

Its production and sale are controlled by militias and large criminal groups linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as a means of generating funds for weapons and combatants, and for use as a stimulant to keep them fighting.

The latest seizure of captagon, which street value costs as much as $25 a pill, was made on Tuesday 21st April 2026 when NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bode Saadu road, Kwara state intercepted a trailer conveying passengers. A search conducted on one of the passengers, 33-year-old Nasiru Mu’azu led to the recovery of 10 packs of captagon consisting of 10,000 pills and nine packets of Tapentadol 250mg.

In another interdiction operation at the Bode Saadu patrol point, NDLEA officers on Friday 24th April intercepted a trailer marked RMY-70XA. A search of the truck led to the recovery of 155,900 capsules of tramadol; 6,000 ampuoles of tramadol injection; 3,000 tablets of Co- Codamol and 9,000 tablets of Bromazepam, concealed in a false compartment constructed under the trailer. A 24-year-old suspect Aminu Isah has been taken into custody in connection with the seizure.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Oyo state on Tuesday 21st April intercepted a commercial bus with registration number MNA 963 ZY, at Akinyele along Ibadan/Oyo expressway, while en route Sokoto. A 33-year-old passenger Eze Prince Emeka was brought down from the vehicle and taken for body scan, which result confirmed ingestion of illicit drug.

The suspect who claims to be a businessman in Sokoto was subsequently placed under close excretion observation during which he excreted a total of forty-five (45) pellets of cocaine with a total weight of 1.043 kilograms in three excretions.

The decision to travel by road to Sokoto with the illicit drug in his stomach was to evade detection by NDLEA at the airport while further investigation reveals that upon arrival in Sokoto, the suspect was to excrete the pellets, rest for a few days, and subsequently re-ingest the substances to continue the journey through the trans-Saharan routes, with Algeria as a transit point and possible final destination in Europe.

In Edo state, NDLEA officers on patrol along Benin/Lagos expressway on Saturday 25th April intercepted a truck marked NLC 146 FC conveying 1, 196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids, among others. Two suspects: Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44, were apprehended in connection with the seizure of the consignments heading to Onitsha, Anambra state.

While a suspect Rasheed Ibuowo, 40, was arrested at Mile 2 expressway in Lagos on Saturday 25th April conveying 810 kilograms of Arizona, a strain of cannabis, another suspect Muktar Bello, 35, was nabbed by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 22nd April at Misau road, Azare/Katagun LGA, Bauchi state with 288 blocks of skunk weighing 154.5kg.

In Ekiti state, a total of 466.8 kilograms of skunk were recovered from the house of a suspect Layit John Matthew, 56, at Ilaro street, Isinbode-Ekiti, from where he planned to transport them to Yola, Adamawa state while 20,000 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance were destroyed on eight hectares of farmland in Uyanga community, Akamkpa LGA, Cross River state on Saturday 25th April when NDLEA officers supported by soldiers raided the community and recovered 170kg of processed cannabis.

Three Hundred and Ninety-Four (394) pieces of IED components were seized from a suspect Mohammed Aliyu, 26, by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kontagora/Zuru road, Niger state on Wednesday 22nd April. He was conveying the IED materials in a red Toyota car with registration number KNT 617 AE to Shadadi, Mariga LGA. The suspect and exhibit are to be transferred to the relevant security Agency for further investigation.

With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Mallam Salisu Islamic School, Paiko, Niger state; Madarasatul Abdulrahman Bin Auf Litahafizul Quran, Durusul Islamiyah Badawa, Nasarawa LGA, Kano; Sani Zango Daura Model Primary School, Zango, Katsina; and members of community development associations, Badagry LGA Lagos while the Zonal Commander, Zone 4 Command of NDLEA, ACGN Bridget Viashiama led other senior officers of the Zone on a WADA advocacy visit to Nasarawa state governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, among others.

While commending the officers and men of Kwara, Oyo, Edo, Cross River, Bauchi, Ekiti, Niger and Lagos Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to maintain the current tempo.

He commended the tactical precision of NDLEA operatives following the interception of 10,000 pills of Captagon in Kwara State, noting that the bust is a major blow to drug syndicates attempting to revive a pipeline that has been largely dormant since the landmark seizure at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos five years ago.

Marwa described the seizure as a wake-up call, noting that Captagon, a potent amphetamine often linked to insurgent groups for its ability to inhibit fear and fatigue, remains a target for traffickers looking to fuel insecurity.

“We are not just seizing pills; we are disrupting the fuel that powers violence in our communities. Our operatives remain on high alert across all frontiers to ensure this illicit trade finds no foothold”, he stated.

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Nigerian Insurers Mourn Former NCRIB President Rotimi Edu

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BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Barrister Rotimi Edu, describing his passing as a monumental loss to Nigeria’s insurance industry.

In a statement issued by the association, the NIA said the late Edu was an outstanding leader, accomplished legal practitioner, and a respected figure whose contributions significantly shaped the growth and regulatory development of the insurance sector in Nigeria.

The association noted that Edu, who served as the 21st President of the NCRIB, was widely admired for his commitment to professionalism, ethical standards, and industry unity. According to the NIA, he championed stronger collaboration between insurance brokers and underwriters, helping to deepen cohesion within the sector.

“Barrister Rotimi Edu was a titan whose dedication to professionalism and ethical conduct remained exemplary throughout his career. His passing leaves a huge vacuum that will be deeply felt across the financial services industry,” the statement read.

The NIA further highlighted his strategic contributions as a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, where he consistently advocated reforms aimed at aligning the insurance industry with evolving economic realities.

The association extended its condolences to the President and Governing Board of the NCRIB, the entire brokerage community, as well as Edu’s family, friends, and professional associates.

While mourning his death, the NIA said it takes solace in the enduring legacy of integrity, visionary leadership, and institutional progress he left behind.

The association prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul and for strength for his family and the insurance industry to bear the irreparable loss.

The post Nigerian Insurers Mourn Former NCRIB President Rotimi Edu appeared first on Business Today NG.

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CPPE warns inflationary conditions remain severe for households, businesses

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The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has warned that Nigeria’s April inflation outlook points to a fragile disinflation process, noting that the conditions remain severe for households and businesses in the country.

The think tank made this known in a statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Muda Yusuf, on Friday, noting that inflation conditions remain severe from a welfare and business cost perspective.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its April inflation report on Friday, stated that headline inflation rose marginally from 15.38 per cent in March to 15.69 per cent in April.

CPPE said the trend indicates that although inflationary pressures remain elevated, the pace of acceleration was relatively moderate.

It highlighted some positive signals in short-term inflation trends, pointing to broad-based moderation across key month-on-month indicators.

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The NBS report also shows that headline month-on-month inflation declined by 2.05 per cent, food inflation eased by 0.54 per cent, core inflation declined by 3.0 per cent, while urban inflation moderated by 1.3 per cent.

“More encouraging, however, was the moderation in the month-on-month inflation metrics across virtually all major indicators,” the think tank stated.

It also showed that rural inflation dropped sharply by 3.9 per cent, which CPPE said suggests a weakening in short-term inflationary momentum.

Warning

Despite this improvement, CPPE warned that inflationary conditions remain severe for households and businesses. It noted that food inflation stood at 16.06 per cent, while core inflation remained elevated at 15.86 per cent.

“The dominant inflation drivers continue to be food, transportation, energy products, healthcare and restaurant services, which together accounted for about 87 per cent of the inflation pressure recorded in April.

“These are essential expenditure items which absorb the bulk of household income, particularly among low-income Nigerians,” CPPE said.

The think tank attributed rising inflation risks partly to geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which have increased volatility in global oil markets and pushed up energy costs.

The group stressed that Nigeria’s inflation challenge remains structural and supply-driven, arguing that monetary tightening alone is insufficient to address the underlying cost pressures in the economy.

“The conflict has triggered renewed volatility in the global oil market, pushing up crude oil prices and transmitting higher energy costs into the domestic economy.

“Rising petrol, diesel and gas prices are fuelling transportation, logistics and production costs across sectors, with significant pass-through effects on food prices and overall consumer inflation.

“This further underscores the structural and supply-side nature of Nigeria’s inflation challenge. Monetary tightening alone cannot resolve inflation driven by energy costs, logistics inefficiencies, food supply disruptions and weak infrastructure conditions,” it stated.

Solutions

The organisation advised that additional monetary tightening could worsen financing costs for businesses, weaken investment, and further constrain productivity growth.

It called for a stronger focus on supply-side reforms to address production and distribution bottlenecks.

READ ALSO: FG’s 2026 fiscal measures favour local production but pose risks for importers – CPPE

CPPE called on governments at all levels to intensify measures to reduce energy costs, while also advising businesses to prioritise energy efficiency and dynamic pricing models.

“The policy priority should therefore shift more decisively towards supply-side interventions. Governments at both federal and state levels should intensify measures to reduce energy costs, improve transportation infrastructure, strengthen food supply systems, enhance trade facilitation and support domestic productivity.

“For businesses, the operating environment remains extremely challenging. Firms should prioritise energy efficiency, dynamic pricing models, consumer segmentation and affordability-driven product strategies, including smaller pack sizes, as consumers become increasingly price-sensitive and discretionary spending weakens,” CPPE stated.


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