The 15-year manhunt for notorious drug kingpin Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya has finally come to an end. In a well-coordinated strike on February 23, 2026, NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit tracked down the 58-year-old fugitive in Lagos, dealing a significant blow to global narcotics syndicates. NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed on Wednesday, March 4, that the agency has finally nabbed long-standing fugitive Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya. For over 15 years, Ilomuanya eluded both the NDLEA and British authorities, engaging in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game that spanned continents. The Agency…
Category: Crime
End of the Road: NDLEA Nets 13-Year wanted Fugitive, Dismantles Imo Meth Lab, recovers 18.4kg methamphetamine, Intercepts Foreign Trafficker in Massive Drug Bust
The NDLEA has succeeded in arresting a long-sought fugitive after 13 years in hiding, marking another victory in its relentless effort to disrupt drug logistics. The kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, was taken into custody at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) after NDLEA operatives linked him to the seizure of major cocaine and heroin shipments in Ikeja, Lagos. In a statement released by Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA confirmed that the notorious drug lord has finally been cornered.Although he was initially arrested in 2013 and arraigned…
Prof. Rijiyar Lemu Urges Prayers as Insecurity Worsens in Nigeria
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar Renowned international Islamic scholar, Professor Muhammad Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemu, has decried the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, urging citizens to intensify prayers for divine intervention. The cleric stressed that the primary responsibility of government—protecting the lives, wellbeing, and property of citizens—is being severely challenged by the activities of criminal elements across the country. Professor Sani Umar made the remarks during the ongoing annual Ramadan Tafsir in Bauchi, where he noted that the security situation, particularly in Northern Nigeria, appears to be overwhelming the nation’s security architecture.…
Cargo Speed & Safety: Shippers Council, Police Launch Joint Push to End Port Bottlenecks
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) is doubling down on port efficiency. On February 26, the Council reached a landmark agreement with the Port Authority Police (Western) to slat operational delays and bolster security. Council PR Head Rabecca Adamu has hailed the recent Port Police visit as a milestone in trade security. By combining synchronized enforcement with data-driven intelligence, this renewed collaboration aims to create a more transparent and efficient landscape for Nigeria’s global traders. In his address, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC, Akutah Pius Ukeyima, Esq, MON, FCILT, Ph.D,…
NDLEA Smash: Fake Pregnancy, 82 Cocaine Pellets, a Real Estate Mogul’s Cartel Exposed.
……… Agency Intercepts traffickers at Kano Airport, Seme border; arrests* 68-year-old grandma and CEO in nationwide raids. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a series of bizarre trafficking plots across Nigeria. Operatives intercepted a woman at the Seme border using a carved calabash as a “fake baby bump” to hide 3,200 tramadol capsules, while an Ivorian at Kano Airport excreted 82 wraps of cocaine. In a wider nationwide sweep, the agency arrested the CEO of a real estate firm in Lekki and a 68-year-old grandmother, alongside others,…
End of the Road: Court Remands Fake PR Practitioner
Marking a significant crackdown on professional impersonation, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo ordered the remand of Negedu Patrick Siaka on Thursday, February 19. Siaka, 66, was arraigned before Justice Bello Kawu on charges of fraud and forgery after allegedly posing as an unauthorized public relations consultant and trainer to extort unsuspecting members of the public. In a statement released on Saturday, February 21, the Acting Director of Public Relations for the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Duke Imandu, confirmed the arraignment of the suspect. Negedu Patrick…
Terror Raids Leave Two Niger Communities Ghost Towns as Residents Flee.
Thousands of residents from the Borgu and Agwara local government areas of Niger State have recently fled to Segbana, Benin Republic, following a wave of persistent terrorist attacks. This mass exodus across the border underscores Nigeria’s escalating security and humanitarian crisis, contributing to a staggering national figure of over 3.7 million internally displaced persons as of early 2026. In a brazen act of defiance, terrorists struck a community in Borgu Local Government Area in the early hours of Tuesday—barely 24 hours after Governors Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara…
NDLEA Smashes Transnational Syndicate: 236 Cocaine Wraps Excreted by China-Bound Trio; Prison-Run Plot Foiled and Lekki ‘Colos’ Lab Dismantled
NDLEA’s “Zero Drug Country” campaign has struck again, dismantling a cross-border trafficking attempt at Nigeria’s major gateways. Operatives at the Abuja and Kano international airports arrested China-based businessman Ibeanu Vincent Chukwudulue and two Angolans, Mbandu Martins Makiadi and Ngoma Wilson Fernando. The intensified crackdown forced a “stomach-churning” discovery, as the trio eventually excreted 236 cocaine pellets they had ingested to evade detection. In a major anti-narcotics breakthrough, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has thwarted a smuggling attempt by a China-based Nigerian businessman. According to a statement released on…
NDLEA Chief Marwa Bolsters Global Front Against Drug Cartels at US-DEA Graduation
Reaffirming Nigeria’s lead in the global war on Narcotics, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) pledged unwavering cooperation with international partners during the graduation of elite officers from the US-DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia, on Friday, February 13. In a statement released on Friday, February 13, by NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy Femi Babafemi, said the Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) called for a “reinforced global offensive” against transnational crime. Speaking at the graduation of NDLEA…
Marwa Lauds Gallantry as NDLEA Dismantles Bonny Island Drug Ring; 6 Arrested Amid Officer’s Death
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives demonstrated unwavering gallantry on Friday, securing the arrest of a notorious gang leader despite the tragic loss of one of their own. Chief Narcotic Agent Sadiq Bako Mujahid paid the ultimate price, succumbing to injuries sustained during a brutal mob attack orchestrated by suspects. The agency’s resilience ensured that all six raid targets, including the alleged mastermind Genesis George Benson are now in custody to face justice. Agency spokesperson Femi Babafemi announced on Tuesday that a high-stakes operation in the Ama Hausa district…