A fugitive drug trafficker who spent nearly a decade on the run after jumping bail and a former professional footballer have been sentenced to a combined 24 years imprisonment for cocaine trafficking.

Security analyst, Zagazola Makama reported that Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos convicted the two men after finding them guilty of cocaine trafficking offences.

According to the report, the convicts, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu and former international footballer Segun George Hunkarin, were found guilty of offences linked to the importation of 7.05 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.

Makama reported that Chinedu was first arraigned in 2015 for importing 6.25 kilograms of cocaine but absconded after being granted bail, evading arrest for almost 10 years.

He was rearrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on June 24, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, while allegedly attempting to smuggle another 800 grams of cocaine into the country aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.

Investigations, according to the report, revealed that Chinedu collected the drug consignment during a stopover in Addis Ababa after travelling from Turkey.

The report added that NDLEA operatives also arrested Hunkarin at the airport car park, where he was allegedly waiting to receive the cocaine shipment.

During interrogation, Hunkarin reportedly admitted he trafficked illicit drugs on two occasions while playing professional football in Brazil.

Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years imprisonment for the 2015 cocaine importation case and an additional 2 years for conspiring with Hunkarin to import the 800-gram consignment, bringing his total jail term to 22 years.

Hunkarin was sentenced to two years imprisonment without the option of a fine for conspiracy.

Reacting to the judgment, NDLEA Chairman, retired Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the conviction as proof of the agency’s determination to track down fugitives and ensure drug traffickers are brought to justice, regardless of how long they evade arrest.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Delta State Command, has arrested five suspected members of a vandalism syndicate in Kwale, Delta State.

The command through its PR unit described the recorded arrest as another major breakthrough in its sustained campaign against the vandalisation of critical national assets within the state.

A press release issued by the command stated that the operatives acted on credible intelligence, in collaboration with the Utagba Ogbe Vigilante Group, to carry out a targeted operation in the area.

The command said the five-man gang was arrested for their alleged involvement in the vandalisation of electricity power line cables and other critical power infrastructure.

The recovered exhibits have been secured as evidence, while investigations continue to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate, including those involved in receiving and trading the stolen items.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects allegedly involved in the vandalisation, possession, purchase, and sale of stolen electricity power line cables, an act of economic sabotage that undermines public infrastructure and threatens the nation’s electricity supply.

The arrested suspects were named to include; Mbube Godwin Anioh, 20 years old, Ekeanys Onyemechinyi, 19 years old, Muhammadu Atamnu, 37 years old, Chibuke Anah Ehiya, 20 years and Nworomu Ekpede, 17 years old.

The command has assured the public that all suspects found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law upon the conclusion of investigations.

Akwa Ibom State Police Command says its operatives have busted an illegal firearms fabrication syndicate in the state and arrested three suspects in connection with the crime.

The Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo, on Monday listed the suspects arrested as Miracle Udo, 27 years, Edet Okon and Kufre Stephen, 35 years 

‘She said, ‘Operatives of the Command, through a well-coordinated and intelligence-driven operation, arrested one Miracle Udo, 27yrs, a native of Cross River State but resident at Ikot Obio Offong, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, on 24th July, 2026. A locally fabricated double-barrel cartridge gun was recovered from the suspect at the point of arrest.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to being in possession of the firearm and identified one Edet Okon as the individual who supplied him with the weapon. Further investigation led to the arrest of Edet Okon. The Command’s investigation was further intensified, leading to the arrest of the suspected fabricator of the firearm, identified as Kufre Stephen, 35yrs, a native of Nsit Atai Local Government Area.

”A search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of several tools and materials suspected to be used in the illegal fabrication of firearms, confirming the existence of an illicit arms production operation.

“Investigations have further revealed the involvement of another suspect, believed to be a welder who regularly assisted in the fabrication process. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and dismantle every link in the criminal network.”