….Nabs Cripple,Widower, Divorcee, Others

A cripple ,Saudi-Arabia bound widower, Divorcee on lesser Hajj , are among those currently under the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,NDLEA, after a big harvest of suspected drug dealers across various points in the country

At the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the
Operatives arrested a widower, Ariyibi Olaseinde and a divorcee, Silifat Akanbi with 14.4 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in lace and ankara fabrics while attempting to take it Saudi Arabia on a trip for lesser hajj.

According to a statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, Ariyibi was intercepted last Thursday at the screening point of MMIA Terminal 2 during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers travelling from Lagos via Doha to Medina, Saudi Arabia, when his carry-on bag was checked, four sets of white lace material with linings of substance that tested positive to cocaine weighing 11.5 kilogrammes were discovered.

Babafemi said the suspect who claimed to be a widower and an advertising practitioner, disclosed that his original plan was to ingest the drugs but had to change his mind after failed attempts to swallow bitter cola, which he was using to practice the process.

He is expected to be paid N1.8 million upon successful delivery of the consignment in Medina, Saudi Arabia.

The spokesman said the previous day, the NDLEA officers at the Terminal 2 of the airport also arrested Mrs. Silifat Akanbi with 2.9 kilogrammes cocaine during outward clearance of Qatar Airways passengers from Lagos via Doha to Jedda, Saudi Arabia, noting that a search of her hand luggage led to the discovery of six sheets of cocaine weighing 2.9 kilogrammes concealed in ankara fabrics.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a divorcee and a trader who used to hawk cloths around Awoyaya area of Ajah, Lagos.

He added that based on information in her statement, a follow up operation that lasted through the night into the early hours last Thursday was carried out, during which the person who recruited her, Alhaji Adebayo Wasiu was arrested at No 28, Olateju Street, Mushin, Lagos. Adebayo is the managing director of B&T Travel Agency.

NDLEA officers attached to courier companies have also intercepted two drug consignments consisting of ecstasy and skunk going to United Arab Emirate. While the pills of ecstasy were concealed in a gold colour wedding gown, the skunk was hidden in a micro controller.

This is even as a 400-level Marine Engineering student at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa state, Kelvin Ogenedoro was arrested for dealing in 600 grammes of skunk.

He was nabbed at the university’s gate in a follow up operation following the interception of the consignment in a commercial bus along Tombia-Amassoma road.

In Adamawa state, a notorious drug dealer, Sunday Ishaku Emzor (aka Lalas) who was convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2010 for drug offences, was last Thursday arrested for drug dealing.

He was arrested at Hayin Gada, Imburu Numan local government area where he went to supply 1.65 kilogrammes cannabis to an undercover operative. His Yellow Press Cub motorcycle used for supplying illicit drugs and a cash of N78,120 suspected to be proceed of the illegal business were recovered from him at the point of arrest.

On the same day in Kaduna, operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a truck conveying 110 bags and 200 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 1.223 tons (1,223kg) in Zaria while the truck driver, Adekunle Olanrewaju, 32, and his assistant, Tunde Jamiu, 20, were arrested.

In Edo State, a 42-year-old cripple, Lucky Aigberenmolen trading in illicit drugs on his wheelchair was arrested in a raid of drug joints in parts of the state.

While Lucky was nabbed at Ekpoma, Esan West local government area with 1.3 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa and 10 litres of Monkey Tail, another suspect, Mary David, 46, was arrested at Ugbegun, Esan Central local government area with four litres of Monkey Tail and Osagiede Stephanie, 19, at Ekpoma, with various quantities of Colorado, Methamphetamine, and Molly.

A 50kg cannabis stored in a bush ready for distribution was also recovered in Irrua area of the state.

Babafemi said while two suspects: Adeshina Olalekan and Christopher Joel, were arrested at Lektop hotel, Igbeba, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, with 39 litres of Skuchies, as well as various quantities of tramadol, and rophynol, operatives in Imo State intercepted a female suspect, Ijeoma Anyiam, 40, at Orogwe, Owerri North with 70 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 30kg.

He disclosed that a notorious drug dealer in Okitipupa area of Ondo state, Matthew Obateru, 42, has also been taken into custody after different quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Colorado and Loud were recovered from him.

In Taraba, a suspect, Mohammed Usman was arrested last Monday in connection with the seizure of 10,009 pills of tramadol.

Meanwhile while commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Kaduna, Edo, Ogun, Imo, Ondo and Taraba Commands of the agency for the excellent job done in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to raise the bar of professionalism in the daily discharge of their responsibilities.

A cross section of Abuja residents have raised concerns over couples who live in debt after their wedding ceremonies.

They made their observations in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

According to them, many couples go out of their comfort zone to borrow to have a lavish wedding which they end up paying throughout their life time.

Mr Abimbola Odunayo, a father of three in Utako, said a wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage and not an avenue for guests to have fun.

Odunayo said he was not against fancy weddings, adding that couples that could afford it should go ahead with it.

“I won’t advise my son who will soon get married to spend all his money to have a flamboyant wedding, rather, he should have a small wedding and save for the future.

“I think those who borrow to have a big wedding just want to show off and feel like they belong,” he said.

Victoria Onifade, a Civil Servant, said that she prefers having a court marriage because it still entails blessing the union.

“Some couples use the ceremony as an avenue to make money that is being sprayed during the event to settle debts.”

Juliet Osita, ho just wedded, said she and her husband planned and saved towards their wedding, so they did not have to borrow.

Osita said that those who have the funds to organise a lavish wedding should go for it and have a wedding of their dreams.

She said: “One should be able to feed well after the wedding and not the other way round.

“People should try and consider their pocket so they don’t end up paying for a loan instead of enjoying their marriage,” she warned.

The father of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Alhaji Ali Buba Ndume is dead.

Senator Ali Ndume who represents Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly and former Leader of the Senate , announced the death of his Dad in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

An accomplished community leader, late Buba Ndume would be buried on Tuesday, (today), in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The statement read in part, “This is to regrettably announce the death of Alhaji Ali Buba Ndume, father of senator Mohammed Ali Ndume. He died this morning in Maiduguri.

“May Allah SWT forgive his shortcomings and comfort his family for this irreplaceable loss.

“The funeral prayer for the repose of the soul of late Alhaji Ali Buba Ndume, father of senator Mohammed Ali Ndume is schedule to take place today by 4pm at Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume residence, Damboa road near NTA Maiduguri office.”