Troops of 144 Battalion (Rear) under Operation Eastern Sanity on Tuesday, launched a “well coordinated raid ” at a Mammy market in Owaza, Ukwa West LGA of Abia State.

The raid followed alleged presence of crude oil bunkerers, illegal PMS dealers, pipeline vandals and illicit drug traffickers operating within the market and adjourning bushes.

During the raid, 21 suspected illicit drug traffickers were arrested.

The intelligence-based operation was carried out in conjunction with personnel of the Nigerian Navy Component and the Nigerian Air Force 511 Quick Response Group.

The development was disclosed in a statement by the acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Abia State, Mazinho Attah.

Attah said upon arrival at the target area, troops swiftly cordoned off and searched the entire market as well as surrounding hideouts suspected to be criminal enclaves. 

He noted that the intensive operation led to the arrest of 21 suspected illicit drug peddlers found in possession of large quantities of Indian hemp, rizzlers, suspected hard substances popularly known as “ice”, as well as the sum of N103,000.

“The suspects are currently in custody undergoing preliminary profiling and will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.

“Meanwhile, aggressive patrols and domination activities continue across the general area to deny criminal elements freedom of action,” the statement said. 

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced one Oluwapelumi Adewale Ogundipe to three years imprisonment after finding him guilty of stealing, after he was charged for conspiracy and armed robbery.

The judgment was delivered in Suit No. HAD/32C/2025, State vs Ogundipe Oluwapelumi Adewale, before High Court 4.

Ogundipe was originally arraigned before the court on charges of conspiracy and armed robbery involving one Alasi Kolawole.

The prosecution had alleged that the convict and others acted together to rob the victim, an offence that carries severe penalties under Ekiti State law.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Kunle Sina Adeyemo Esq., Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in Ekiti State, presented evidence to support the charges. After reviewing the facts and testimony, Justice A.A. Adeleye held that the prosecution did not fully establish the offence of armed robbery.

However, Justice Adeleye ruled that the evidence proved the lesser offence of stealing. Based on this finding, the judge convicted Ogundipe accordingly and sentenced him to three years imprisonment.

The convict was represented in court by counsel A.O. Okeya Esq., who conducted his defence throughout the proceedings.

The judgment adds to recent efforts by the Ekiti State Ministry of Justice to secure convictions in criminal cases and ensure accountability for offences committed within the state.

Operatives of the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have rearrested a 50-year-old suspected drug trafficker identified as Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal after his wife allegedly swore to an affidavit declaring him dead.

DAILY POST reports that Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, the Edo State commander of the agency who disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday, alleged that the intention of the affidavit was for the suspect to evade prosecution.

Ofoyeju said the suspect had earlier jumped bail when he was arrested on February 5, 2022 at Ugbekun Junction, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, while transporting various quantities of psychotropic substances.

“The suspect was found in possession of 0.257kg of Lexotan, 1kg of Diazepam, and 5.4kg of Phenobarbital, all concealed in a white Toyota bus with registration number Abuja BWR401XC.
“He was subsequently charged on a three-count charge of unlawful transportation of controlled substances, contrary to the NDLEA Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

“Count one specifically stated that Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal, on or about the 5th day of February 2022, without lawful authority, transported 0.257kg of Lexotan, a psychotropic substance similar to cocaine, heroin, and LSD.

“After pleading not guilty to the charges, Lawal was granted bail by the court. However, he absconded and failed to appear for his trial,” Ofoyeju said. 

The Edo State Commander of NDLEA further disclosed that the rearrested suspect was on Tuesday 26, 2026 arraigned before Justice B. O. Quadir of the Federal High Court, Benin City for prosecution. 

He alleged that the wife of the suspect identified as Mrs Ibrahim Nana Hawa had fraudulently submitted an affidavit claiming that her husband had died while they were living together at Iruvucheba, Okene, Kogi State.

“In a desperate attempt to evade justice, his wife, one Ibrahim Nana Hawa, swore to an Affidavit of Facts as to the demise of the Husband, dated October 2024, claiming that Lawal had died on October 3, 2024, following a protracted illness diagnosed as tuberculosis.

“The affidavit, which was submitted to the court, stated that she was a citizen of Nigeria residing in Iruvucheba, Okene Local Government Area, Kogi State, and that the husband was buried according to their religious rites,” he added.

Ofoyefu said upon receiving the information, operatives of the agency launched a thorough investigation into the matter.

He explained that

while working on an intelligence report, operatives of the Command uncovered the truth that Ibrahim Yusuf Lawal was very much alive.
He said the suspect was apprehended in a covert operation and taken into custody.

Meanwhile, after a briefing hearing in court, Justice B. O. Quadir ordered the suspect to be remanded at the NDLEA custody while the case was adjourned to June 22, 2026, for further hearing.

Speaking further of the incident, Ofoyeju said it was a clear attempt to pervert the course of justice.

He noted that the use of a false death affidavit to evade prosecution is a serious offence, and the command will not hesitate to sanction all parties involved, including the wife, for her role in the fraudulent scheme.

According to him, the case would serve as a warning to all drug traffickers and their collaborators that no amount of deception can hide them from the long arm of the law. 
He equally commended the officers in Edo and those in Kogi State for their diligence and persistence in ensuring that the suspect is held accountable for his alleged crimes.

The Edo State NDLEA boss assured that the agency remained resolute in its commitment to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs and to ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law. 

He urged members of the public to continue supporting the agency by providing credible information that would aid its operations while working for a safe and healthy society.