The operation led to the arrest of five suspects and ultimately the arrowhead of the syndicate, Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode who parades as a businessman and real estate developer.

The beginning of the end of the criminal syndicate’s operations began on 16th September 2025 when NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos intercepted 174 parcels of cocaine weighing 13.40 kilogrammes concealed in walls of cocoa butter body cream containers.

A cargo agent was promptly arrested.

Further investigations revealed Alhaji Hammed Taofeek Ode as the mastermind of the shipment and after weeks of intelligence, it was established that the drug baron had reported a dispute at the Zone 2 headquarters of the Police in Lagos, after which the Agency sought the cooperation of the police to get the suspect into custody.

During his preliminary interview, Alhaji Hammed Ode admitted ownership of the consignment which he claimed he bought at over N150 million.

He claimed to be a businessman and estate developer following his return from the United Kingdom in 2024.

He had lived for over 27 years in many European countries including Austria, Netherlands, France, Germany, and Saudi Arabia before settling in the UK.

In like manner, five other desperate attempts by another criminal syndicate to export cocaine consignments to the United Kingdom were also thwarted by operatives of the MMIA Strategic Command of NDLEA.

The unravelling of the gang started on 26th September following the seizure of 2.10kg cocaine concealed in walls of hair cream containers at the export shed of the Lagos airport.

The apprehension of a cargo agent led to the arrest of the consignor, Smith David Korede, a furniture maker, on Tuesday 30th September at his 3 Arowojobe
Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos base where another consignment of 1.40kg cocaine meant for export to the UK was recovered from him.

Same day, another consignment of 1.00kg cocaine with similar mode of concealment also going to the UK was also intercepted at the export shed of the airport.

The cargo agent arrested in connection with the 1.00kg cocaine also identified Smith David Korede as the consignor, bringing to three the number of seized cocaine consignments linked to the suspect.

Two other cocaine laden consignments going to the UK were also intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the MMIA on Thursday 2nd October.

Two suspects – Ogunbiyi Oluseye Taiwo and Popoola Francis Olumuyiwa – linked to the seizures were promptly arrested.

One of the consignments contains crayfish, and 12 pieces of stainless cups used to conceal 1.00kg cocaine while the second consignment also contains crayfish, and 36 containers of hair cream used to conceal 1.60kg of cocaine.

The bid by another criminal gang to smuggle into Lagos 6.3 kilograms of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis concealed in bedsheet and hibiscus flower from Thailand was equally thwarted by NDLEA operatives attached to some courier companies, while a joint operation between NDLEA officers and Customs Service personnel at a check point along Danbatta-Daura road, Kano, on Thursday 2nd October led to the arrest of 38-year-old Sa’adu Ali and seizure of 290, 450 pills of tramadol 250mg and pregabalin capsules.

In Lagos, a notorious drug dealer John Igbe, operating under the nickname, SammyBless, to distribute illicit drugs in Lekki and Ajah axis, was on Tuesday 30th September arrested at Admiralty Road, Lekki.

At the time of his arrest, 550 grams of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, packaged in retail plastic cups, were recovered from him.

Three other suspects – Idris Lukman; Fuad Abdulsalam and Mobolaji James – were nabbed same day in Mushin area of the state, with 109kg skunk, 20 bottles of codeine syrup and 2kg of nitrous oxide seized from them.

At the Trade Fair Complex, Alaba area of the state, 3,700 bottles of codeine syrup and 550,000 caplets of expired 225mg diclofenac were recovered.

While a total of 27,700 pills of tramadol 100mg/225mg were seized from a suspect Salisu Abubakar, 25, at Bode Saadu, Morro local government area, Kwara State, on Monday 29th September, Blessing Ovaka, 50, was caught with 498.5kg skunk at Kudandan, Chukun local government area, Kaduna, same day, just as Dahiru Salisu, 27, was arrested in possession of 34,180 capsules of tramadol at Gwargwaje along Kaduna-Zaria Road on Thursday 2nd October.

In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives on Monday 29th September raided Isheri, Obafemi Owode local government area, where a suspect, Abubakar Audu, was arrested with 112kg skunk and 16grams of tramadol.

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Three suspects – Chuimieze Shedrack, 28; Sunday John, 25, and Solomon Okopko, 27 – were nabbed by NDLEA officers on Thursday 2nd October at Owena/Ijesha forest reserve, Osun State, where they destroyed 14,000kg skunk on 5.6 hectares of cannabis plantation and recovered 142kg of same psychoactive substance.

In Edo, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 1st October intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle marked KUJ 47 NW loaded with 22 bags of skunk weighing 244.5kg at Igbanke, Orhionwon local government area and a suspect Ineh Excellent Obindi, 28, arrested.

A total of 10,897.35kg skunk was destroyed on four farms measuring 4.358938 hectares at Ugbodo forest, Ovia North East local government area, on Friday 3rd October, with two suspects – Michael Ayang, 40, and Bernard New Year,  (a.ka Don), 47 – arrested.

Not less than 223.5kg processed cannabis and seeds were recovered from the farms.

Operatives on patrol along Okene-Lokoja Highway intercepted a waybill parcel coming from Lagos to Abuja containing 3.272kg Loud and a sachet of Colorado.

A follow up operation at Gwagwalada park in Abuja led to the arrest of the owner, Tobi Odubote, 34, while another suspect Ismail Abdurrahim, 32, was arrested in possession of 25.5kg skunk along Abaji- Abuja Expressway on Thursday 2nd October.

In like manner, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Hammawa Toungo, Adamawa; Government Day Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina; Day Secondary School, Unguwan Nasarawa, Kontogora, Niger; and traders at Ladega market Ikorodu, Lagos, while the Imo state command of NDLEA paid a WADA advocacy visit to the State First Lady, Barr. Chioma Uzodinma at Government House, Owerri, among others.

“We’ll continue to target and dismantle every identified drug cartel at every level of their operations; from the mules to the dealers in between and up to their leadership. These successful operations should serve as a warning that NDLEA will not relent until the threat posed by the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking is eliminated because every arrest, seizure and assets forfeited by the criminal syndicates signifies innocent lives saved and communities protected either here in Nigeria or in other jurisdictions”, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated while commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, Kano, Edo, Kwara, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Kogi and FCT commands as well as their compatriots across the country for their tenacity, professionalism and balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the agency.

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The OPWS Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Igbinomwanhia, told newsmen in Makurdi on Saturday that the troops forced the bandits to run in disarray after a three hour battle on Thursday.

He, however, said two soldiers and one personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps lost their lives in the encounter while two other soldiers sustained injuries.

The OPWS force commander said those injured were rushed to Air Force Hospital in Makurdi, and are responding to treatment.

He said that the troops rushed to the community when they received intelligence that bandits were heading to the area.

“Upon inquiry, the troops discovered that suspected bandits are advancing towards the town to attack it and they immediately mobilised and proceeded to Okokolo community, about 15 km from their base at Akwu.

“On arrival, the troops encountered the bandits carrying out attack on the community and subsequently engaged the criminals in a gun duel that lasted three hours.

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“The attack was successfully repelled with the terrorists withdrawing in disarray while evacuating their dead and wounded.

“The success achieved was however at a huge cost, with three of the troops paying the supreme sacrifice to prevent the killing of the inhabitants of Okokolo and the intended sacking of the community.

“In addition to the death of the two soldiers and one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel, two other soldiers were wounded and immediately evacuated to the Air Force Hospital in Makurdi,” he added.

The force commander commended the troops and urged them to put the set back of the loss of their colleagues behind, and remain focused on the mission of ridding the state of all criminal elements.

He assured the troops that the Chief of Defence Staff was strongly behind them as they battled to restore lasting peace in Benue.

Igbinomwanhia appreciated Governor Hyacinth Alia for his support to OPWS, and pledged that the troops would pursue the criminals to their hideouts.

The state deputy governor, Mr Sam Ode, and the OPWS commander, had visited the troops of Sector 6 on Friday at their base in Akwu.

The visit was to commiserate with them over the death of their gallant colleagues and encourage them not to give breathing space to the criminals.

Ode who represented the governor, said that the state government would support the treatment of those injured.

Source: NAN

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The two communities have been at loggerheads for decades over the land.

Mr Donald Ojogo, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, in a statement issued on Friday in Akure said that the curfew was with immediate effect.

“Aside approving this action, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has equally ordered a massive manhunt for perpetrators of the despicable violence just as investigations are already on to unravel the real cause(s) of same.

“With respect to the curfew, security agencies have been directed to ensure total compliance with the order.

“For emphasis, both Ode and Isinigbo communities have been closed down for any unauthorised human movement and activity until further notice,’’ Ojogo stated.

Two persons were reportedly killed and some houses razed at Isinigbo on Friday in the wake of the violent clash between the two communities.

The palace of the traditional ruler of Ode was razed last week in a violent clash between the two communities.

Confirming the killing of two persons on Friday, ASP Tee-Leo Ikoro, the Police spokesman in Ondo State, said the brother of the traditional ruler of Isinigbo was shot dead, while his driver was killed inside one of the cars in the palace.

Ikoro said normalcy had been restored to the community.

Source: NAN

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