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NDLEA Foils Cocaine, Opioid Smuggling Plots Using Fake Baby Bump and Stomach Concealment

Phinadon Mag

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NDLEA intercepts traffickers using fake baby bump and stomach concealment to smuggle cocaine and opioids through Kano airport and Seme border; multiple arrests and seizures nationwide.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled two unusual drug trafficking attempts involving a fake baby bump and ingested cocaine at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) and the Seme land border in Lagos.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, the operations exposed sophisticated concealment methods aimed at moving cocaine and opioids to Europe and other destinations.

Woman Caught with Fake Pregnancy at Seme Border

A 35-year-old businesswoman, Rabi Muhammad, was intercepted at the Seme border while attempting to cross into Cotonou, Benin Republic, with a protruding tummy.

A full body search revealed that her pregnancy was fake, and the baby bump was a pink calabash used to conceal 3,200 capsules of tramadol tied around her stomach.

She reportedly planned to sell the drugs in Cotonou.

Ivorian Man Excretes 82 Wraps of Cocaine in Kano

The same day, NDLEA operatives at MAKIA, Kano, arrested 41-year-old Ivorian, Michael Gohouri (alias Anunwa Onyinye Michael), during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan, Italy, via Addis Ababa.

A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit substances, and under observation, he excreted 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms.

NDLEA said Gohouri had arrived in Lagos from Milan on 17 January 2026, shuttled between Lagos and Enugu, and later travelled to Kano, where he ingested the drugs in a hotel room. He was promised €5,000 upon delivery in Milan.

He holds both Ivorian and Nigerian identities, with a resident permit in Italy valid until May 2026.

Real Estate Executive Arrested in Lagos

NDLEA also arrested Kolapo Oladapo Raji, Chairman/CEO of Trans Fortress Global Resources, a real estate firm, who had been on the agency’s watchlist since 2025.

The 57-year-old was arrested at his Ikate, Lekki residence on 12 February 2026 after returning from the United Kingdom.

A search of his home uncovered four large bags containing 89.20kg of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and a 2024 Toyota Hilux.

Raji admitted financing drug consignments for an overseas associate and later establishing his own distribution network after earning hundreds of millions of naira in profits.

Nationwide Drug Seizures

  • Lagos: Ugwuja Kingsley arrested with 56kg skunk at Agbara; Ekwe Arinze caught with 76kg at Oshodi.
  • Port Harcourt (Onne): Joint operation uncovered 170,900 bottles of codeine syrup in a container flagged through intelligence-led inspection.
  • Kogi: 7,300 tramadol pills hidden in sound systems seized on Okene/Lokoja highway; follow-up arrests made in Zuba, Abuja.
  • Ondo: Bright Timothy (28) and Godwin Bernard arrested with 393kg skunk in Iju forest.
  • Bauchi: Yahaya Adamu Gimba (48) arrested with 936kg skunk; four others caught with 85.8kg in Azare.
  • Delta: Mgbeme Ejeoma (34) arrested with 37kg skunk in Ughelli.
  • Edo: NDLEA destroyed 1,266.8kg skunk on three farms in Owan West LGA; arrested Evelyn Ogenewu (68) and Friday Iruoje (43).

NDLEA Commends Officers

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across MAKIA, Seme, Lagos, Edo, Bauchi, PHPC, Ondo, Delta, and Kogi Commands for their successful operations.

He praised their balanced approach to drug supply and demand reduction, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to eradicating narcotics trafficking nationwide.

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Wike says the labour union’s strike in Abuja is politically motivated.

Ikechukwu Emmanuel

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described the indefinite strike declared by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress as politically motivated.

The strike followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCT Administration over unresolved concerns about teachers’ promotions, including the requirement for vacant positions before promotions can be granted. The labour council directed workers in schools, hospitals, government offices and other establishments to withdraw their services.

Wike, however, maintained that the issues raised by labour had already been addressed and were being implemented. He also claimed that the Trade Union Congress and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools had distanced themselves from the action.

The minister warned that the government would enforce its “no work, no pay” policy against participating workers. He further alleged that the FCT NLC chairman was pursuing a political agenda linked to the African Democratic Congress.

The dispute has therefore extended beyond the immediate questions surrounding teachers’ promotions, with both sides maintaining sharply different positions on the status of the negotiations.

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Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Imo Governor Okorocha and Araraume Over Alleged Forgery.

Ikechukwu Emmanuel

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A Senior Magistrate Court sitting in Jiwa, Abuja, has issued bench warrants for the arrest of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and two others over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and the presentation of false documents.

The court also ordered the arrest of Timothy Ama Chuks and Amen Okorocha, who are accused of conspiring with Okorocha to produce and submit allegedly fabricated All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary results.

The warrants, issued on September 9, 2026, authorise police officers nationwide to arrest the four suspects and produce them before Senior Magistrate Court 3 in Jiwa, Abuja. The case was brought by the Inspector-General of Police.

The development follows a complaint by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which asked the police and the Department of State Services to investigate Okorocha over his alleged circulation of fake primary election results.

INEC said the authentic results submitted by the APC showed that Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma won the Imo West Senatorial District primary. The commission added that the party subsequently submitted Uzodimma’s name as its candidate.

In a letter dated October 8, 2026, INEC described the document allegedly presented by Okorocha as “fraudulent and fictitious.” It urged security agencies to investigate the matter, warning that the alleged conduct could threaten law and order in Imo State.

The accused persons have yet to appear before the court to respond to the allegations.

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Alleged Sexual Offense: Poco Lee Returns to Social Media Following Arrest in the UK.

Ikechukwu Emmanuel

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Nigerian dancer and influencer Poco Lee has returned to social media following his arrest in the United Kingdom over alleged sexual offenses.

According to reports, Poco Lee was arrested and remanded in August 2026 after reportedly facing five charges, including two counts of assault by penetration, one count of attempted rape, and two counts of rape. He was released on bail in September 2026.

Since his release, the dancer had largely stayed out of the public eye. However, he recently shared new photographs on Instagram with the caption, “ODINAKA,” while asking fans to forgive his absence from social media.

In the background music, he reportedly said in Yoruba, “E ma binu pe mi si ni online oo,” meaning, “Please forgive me for not being online.”

Several celebrities, including Zlatan, Israel DMW, Phyno, Yhemo Lee, Cubana Chief Priest, Cute Abiola, Destiny Etiko, Kiekie, and others, welcomed his return in the comment section.

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