No fewer than 49 suspected drug traffickers were arrested by the Edo State Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in July 2026.

NDLEA Commandant in Edo State, Dr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this on Thursday in Benin City during the decoration of 73 operatives promoted to new ranks.

Ofoyeju said the arrested suspects include 29 females and 20 males.

He expressed concern over the high number of females involved in drug-related crimes, noting that it highlighted a shift in the socio-economic vulnerability of women and a breakdown of traditional family stability.

He said in the period under review, three  warehouses were detected and raided in the state.

He said two of the warehouses were in Benin City and one at Illushi, while two vehicles, a Toyota Sienna with registration number Ondo NND 975 AG and a Toyota Camry with registration number Edo BEN 503 BK used in transporting cannabis were equally intercepted.

The NDLEA commandant said, “Cannabis led the seizure list with 2,588.4 kilograms, psychotropic substances 6.13 kilograms, cocaine 0.071 kg, heroin 0.005 kg, and methamphetamine 1.68 kg.

“Additionally, the command seized 15.3 litres of codeine cough syrup and 10 cylinders of nitrous oxide, also called laughing gas. These assorted narcotics underscored the varied nature of substances being trafficked and abused within the state.”

Ofoyeju added that in a move to eradicate drug production, the command destroyed one cannabis farm located in the Egbisi forest of Abudu, Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

He posited that the destruction represented a crucial victory in the NDLEA’s mission to dismantle drug production operations within Edo State.

“The command’s efforts have not gone without recognition, as it successfully secured convictions in four notable drug cases during the month.

“Additionally, in its commitment to addressing drug abuse, 24 individuals with drug use problems were counselled and reunited with family members”, he added.

Ofoyeju stated that the conviction of suspects and counselling illustrated the agency’s holistic approach towards combating drug-related issues within the community.

A Delta State High Court sitting in Ogwashi-Uku has sentenced two persons, Desmond Macaulay Oghenemaro and Enaike Onoriode to death by hanging following the murder of late Miss Elozino Ogege, a student of the Delta State University, Abraka. 

The court, however, discharged and acquitted the 2nd defendant in the matter, Nwonsisi Benedict Uche of the eight-count charges levelled against him. 

The court presided over by His Lordship, Hon Justice F. N. Azinge handed down the judgement on Thursday, July 29, DAILY POST reports. 

It was learnt that the herbalist, who asked the suspects to bring human parts for “quick money” died in custody while awaiting trial. 

The judgement came eight years after the late Miss Elozino Ogege was murdered.

Elozino was gruesomely murdered with her heart mutilated and eyes plucked off in Delsu in 2018. 

The matter has been on with the Solicitor-General of Delta State, Omamuzo Erebe, SAN, and his team leading the prosecution.

Meanwhile, a Senior Special Assistant, SSA on Human Rights to the Delta State Governor, Comrade Kelvin Ejumudo has hailed the court judgment. 

According to him, “justice delayed indeed is not justice denied.”

Ejumudo, who doubles as the National Secretary, Human Rights Protection Congress, HRPC said, “finally, the voice of the people prevailed.”

Ejumudo, who is also the Director of Human Rights and Social Justice, Delta State, appreciated the Solicitor-General of Delta State, the Nigeria Police Force, Delta State Command, Delta State, among others for diligent prosecution of the matter.

He also hailed various media establishments and well meaning Nigerians for lending their voices in the call for justice for the late Elozino Ogege. 

A dispute among commercial tricycle (keke NAPEP) operators at Angwan Kassa in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, turned deadly on Wednesday after a violent confrontation left a 29-year-old man dead.

The deceased, identified as Jessy Markus, was reportedly responsible for issuing the daily operational pass required by members of the commercial tricycle riders’ union before commencing daily operations.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident began when Markus stopped a commercial tricycle rider who allegedly failed to obtain the mandatory daily pass. He reportedly insisted that the rider purchase the pass before continuing his operations.

“The rider abandoned his tricycle at the scene and left, only to return later accompanied by his younger brother and several associates. Some members of the group were armed with knives,” the witness who identified himself as Sunday said.

What started as a heated argument quickly escalated into a violent confrontation during which Markus was allegedly stabbed in the neck.

The attack sparked panic across Angwan Kassa, forcing residents, traders, and fellow tricycle operators to flee the area as violence erupted.

“We received a distress call and immediately mobilized to the scene to assess the situation and prevent further escalation,” said a security operative who requested pen protection.

Police sources confirmed that two suspects, the tricycle rider and his younger brother were arrested and are currently in custody while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the killing.

“Markus was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His remains have since been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary,” the security source said.

Following the incident, armed security personnel, supported by a police Hilux patrol vehicle, were deployed to Angwan Kassa to maintain law and order and prevent any breakdown of peace.

As of the time of filing this report, the Taraba State Police Command had not issued an official public statement on the incident, while investigations remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the fatal attack.