. As NDLEA arrests masterminds at MMIA, Abuja hotel; foils bid to smuggle opioids Attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who in series of intelligence led operations recovered the illicit drugs and arrested the masterminds.

A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November 2024 while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was tracked and arrested on 8th November.

The bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama) to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday 11th November when NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy.

He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business.

Also related is the arrest of another businessman, Anoke Kingsley Roomy with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines flight going to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Friday 15th November.
Following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34.

Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar.

Another suspect, Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8kg methamphetamine by operatives of a Special Operations Unit in NDLEA at his 9 Durojaiye street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance.

In another intelligence led operation, officers of an NDLEA task force on Saturday 16th November foiled the attempt by a trans-border trafficker, Emmanuel Okechukwu Okeke to smuggle 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg from Ghana into Lagos.

The pills were concealed in the body compartments of a Toyota Hummer Bus belonging to GUO Transport Company, driven by the suspect.

The vehicle was intercepted at Ijanikin area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway while coming from Ghana.

In Edo state, not less than 997kg cannabis was recovered during raids in parts of the state. While 680kg cannabis and a Sienna bus marked FST-320 AE were seized at a bush path to Oghada forest in Oghada, Orhionmwan LGA, 180.5kg of same substance was recovered from a suspect, Cecilia Ibe, 31, at Ofosu forest, Ovia South West LGA and 136.5kg evacuated from a building in Otuo community, Owan East LGA on Thursday 14th November.

A suspect, Ifejimagha Chinonso was on Wednesday 13th November nabbed with 88.3kg cannabis by NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while personnel of Kano Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November arrested Ahmed Goni, 30, at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano- Zaria road where they recovered from him 65,730 capsules of tramadol.

In Kwara state, NDLEA operatives arrested a suspect Adio Sulaiman with 120.8kg cannabis and some litres of codeine at Gaa Odota in Ilorin West LGA, while Kelechi Obichere, 42, was nabbed with 75kg cannabis at Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo state on Thursday 14th November.

A total of 563.74 kilograms of same psychoactive substance were recovered from a 60-year-old suspect Anthony Anakabi, following his arrest at Iyalode, Iyana church area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

With the same vigour, 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 enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Government Day Secondary School, Bazza, Adamawa; Community Secondary School, Ogan-Ama, Rivers state; NKST Secondary School, Adikpo, Benue state; Government Secondary School, Tambuwal, Sokoto state; Government Girls Secondary School, Kunchi, Kano; Ebele Chu Group of Schools, Nkpor Onitsha, Anambra; and Army Cantonment Senior Boys High School, Ojo, Lagos state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of MMIA, DOGI, DI, Oyo, Lagos, Imo, Kwara, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.

Nigerian music sensation Daniel Anidugbe, popularly known as Kizz Daniel, has revealed plans to take a break from music after the release of his upcoming EP.

The singer announced that following the release of his EP, Uncle K, on November 29, 2024, he would not be putting out new music until 2026.

“After this, I’m not dropping anything again until 2026,” he shared via his X handle on Friday.

Fans have since flooded his social media with messages, urging him to reconsider and expressing how much they will miss his music.

Kizz Daniel, who first gained recognition in 2016 with the hit single Woju, has remained one of Nigeria’s most consistent artists. Over the years, he has released five studio albums and numerous chart-topping songs, solidifying his place in the industry.

Ondo Decides 2024: Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa Leads in Governorship Election

Live results from the Ondo State governorship election indicate Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) maintaining a commanding lead over his closest rival, Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

As Aiyedatiwa seeks reelection, the race sees other contenders from the Labour Party (LP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) struggling to keep pace.

The tally of results across several wards has been consistent in favor of the APC, showcasing its strength in critical areas of Akoko North East and Irele Local Government Areas (LGAs).

Below are detailed results from various polling units:Oyinmo Ward, Akoko North East LGA1. Omotunwase/Mr. Giwa’s house (near late Pa Aliu Bakare’s house):

APC: 131PDP: 632. Osaniyi/Odenusi/Akinnugbagbe/Niyi (at Omowaye’s house):APC: 89PDP: 553. John Holt (at Oladugba’s opposite Total Filling Station):APC: 139PDP: 284. Atere/Owolabi/Alao/Aro/Aduloju/Sunday Compound (at Omojola’s house):APC: 140PDP: 475. Kowode Market/Suberu/Odeniyan’s House (at Chief Adunlu’s house):APC: 142PDP: 446. Okereo/Odose/Ode Ateti (in front of Chief Bada’s house):APC: 251PDP: 46Ajagba Ward 2, Irele LGA1.

Aggregated Results:ADC: 1ADP: 3APC: 1,136APGA: 4PDP: 588YP: 1Edo Ward, Akoko North East LGA1. Odeluke (in front of late Chief Odeluke’s house):APC: 164PDP: 412. Okereo/Odose/Ode Ateti (in front of Chief Bada’s house):APC: 251PDP: 463. Ode Odalure/Osoro/Ode Imoku/Ode Olori/Okegbede Barracks A.U.D Primary School III:APC: 115PDP: 40

Governor Aiyedatiwa’s dominance in these wards highlights APC’s robust grassroots support, particularly in Akoko North East LGA.

Meanwhile, the PDP, though trailing, has shown pockets of resistance in areas like Irele LGA. With votes still being counted across the state, the APC remains optimistic about a favorable outcome.

The Ondo governorship election continues to draw nationwide attention as voters await final results, with many commending the peaceful conduct of the polls so far.

Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has excused grieving first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from the Super Eagles’ squad to confront the Amavubi of Rwanda in Monday’s final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Uyo.

“He has been excused from the game.

However, the player will come to watch the match and cheer his team mates on,” Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, told thenff.com.

The player announced via his social media handle on Friday that his father, Godspower Onyekam Abali, Chief Onyeogazrim 1 of Okwuzi, had passed on. The former chief surveyor was 67. Nwabali’s absence means the contest for the number one jersey in Monday’s encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium will be a straight one between Italy-based Maduka Okoye and Ethiopia-based Amas Obasogie.

The Nigeria Football Federation has commiserated with Super Eagles’ number one goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, who lost his father in the morning of Friday, 15th November 2024. The South Africa-based Nwabali announced the sad news on his Instagram page on Friday morning.

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said: “We are shocked and saddened to hear of the demise of Stanley Nwabali’s father. Coming a day after the player featured in the match that won us the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ticket, it made for a day of low morale as we flew from Abidjan to Uyo.

“The death of a parent is always a thing of deep sorrow and sadness. However, we want Stanley to take heart in the fruitful and fulfilled life that his father lived, and we pray that the Almighty will grant him eternal rest, and also grant Stanley and other members of the family the fortitude to bear the big loss.”

Group winners Nigeria and final-day opponents Rwanda have both landed at the Obong Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo ahead of Monday’s Matchday 6 clash in the concluding round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Deflated but not altogether supine, the Amavubi still have a mathematical chance of qualifying, though the supposition is not actually in their favour.

They missed a big opportunity to enhance their chances when losing at home to Libya’s Mediterranean Knights on Thursday, and can only make it to Morocco 2025 if they defeat Nigeria in Uyo and Libya are victorious against Benin Republic’s Cheetahs in North Africa on Monday.

The Super Eagles, confirmed group winners, have nothing to chase other than national pride, and will play a more relaxed game against the visitors than the turgid contest with the Cheetahs at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan on Thursday night.

Nigeria’s delegation flew from the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, to Uyo aboard a chartered ValueJet aircraft, arriving at 3.50pm.

Rwanda’s delegation flew from Kigali to Lagos aboard a regular Rwandair flight, arriving at 1pm, before boarding an Ibom Air flight to Uyo. They landed in Uyo just before 5pm.

Uyo’s magnificent Godswill Akpabio Stadium is the venue, and a carnival atmosphere is expected as the Super Eagles celebrate for 90 minutes and afterwards with the AFCON ticket long in the bag.

Both countries battled to a scoreless draw in their first confrontation in Kigali in September, though the jury is still out on Ademola Lookman’s first-half headed goal that was inexplicably chalked off by the Moroccan referee.

Incidentally, another Moroccan will be in the role of referee on Monday. 44-year-old Samir Guezzaz takes the stage in the centre at the game that kicks off at 5pm.

Guezzaz alongside his compatriots Zakaria Brinsi (assistant 1), Abdessamad Abertoune (assistant 2) and Kech Chaf Mustapha (fourth official) are scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Saturday, same as Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana (commissioner) and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia (referee assessor).