The Oyo State Government on Tuesday demolished a residential property in Ibadan for allegedly being used as a hideout for stockpiling arms and ammunition.

The government has maintained its vow not to tolerate criminal activities in any part of the state.

The property, comprising a storey building and two bungalows within a fenced compound, is located in the Gbenku area on Arubiewe Road, off Olodo Garage in Ibadan.

Speaking during the demolition exercise, the Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Hon. Mojeed Mogbonjubola, said the action followed investigations by security agencies and a directive from Governor Seyi Makinde.

The commissioner linked the development to the state government’s ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity, recalling recent kidnapping incidents in parts of the state.

“I remember very well that some weeks ago, schoolchildren were kidnapped in Otu, and a few weeks after that, we had another kidnapping in Ibadan involving the younger sister of a former minister,” he said.

He explained that security operatives had earlier uncovered a hideout where one of the kidnap victims was held and subsequently discovered the property allegedly being used to store weapons.

“Quite unfortunately, just a few days after we discovered that place, we found this property, which is a major hideout for arms and ammunition, including heavy weapons.

“There has been an investigation, and the Commissioner of Police has submitted a report to His Excellency. Following that report, instructions were given that we should demolish the property, and that is what we are doing today,” he stated.

According to him, the demolition serves as a strong warning to criminal elements operating in the state.

“What we are saying today is that this is a major deterrent to people carrying out evil acts in Oyo State. His Excellency will not tolerate these criminal activities and other unlawful acts in the state,” he said.

Asked about the ownership of the property, Mogbonjubola said he could not disclose details because investigations were still ongoing.

“Honestly, I don’t have that information. It is classified. What I can confirm is that heavy arms and ammunition were discovered on this property, and that is the simple truth,” he added.

The commissioner clarified that the demolished building was not the same property previously linked to the kidnapping case involving the former minister’s relative.

“No, it is not the same property. We dealt with that one about a week ago. This is a fresh discovery. It is a separate location entirely, identified as a hideout for arms and ammunition,” he explained.

He also urged residents to support security efforts by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities to the authorities.

“This should serve as a strong warning to residents. If you see something, say something,” Mogbonjubola said.

He further advised landlords and property agents to carry out proper background checks on prospective tenants before leasing out their properties.

“If you are taking a tenant into a property, investigate who the person is. If you are a landlord, know your tenant. If you own a building, be careful. Security is everybody’s responsibility,” he warned.

Responding to questions about the legality of the demolition, the commissioner said due process was followed.

“Immediately His Excellency gave the instruction, I informed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. We are on solid legal ground,” he said.

The demolition forms part of the Oyo State Government’s broader campaign against kidnapping, illegal possession of arms, and other criminal activities across the state.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Brazil-based Nigerian businessman over alleged attempt to smuggle 6.10 kilograms of liquid cocaine concealed in shirts and towels into the country.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, who disclosed this on Sunday in a statement, said the suspect, 41-year-old Abugu Oliver Ikechukwu, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, upon his arrival from Sao Paulo, Brazil, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Babafemi said a thorough search of the suspect’s luggage uncovered 14 shirts and towels impregnated with liquid cocaine, which had been dried and carefully ironed to evade detection by security operatives.

“Abugu was arrested upon arrival from Brazil on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. A detailed search of his luggage revealed 14 towels and shirts soaked in liquid cocaine, dried and neatly ironed,” Babafemi said.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly told investigators that he had lived in Brazil for more than 14 years, where he operates an African restaurant. He claimed he travelled to Nigeria to visit his wife and purchase food items for his business.

The NDLEA spokesman also disclosed that the agency’s operatives arrested two persons living with disabilities in separate anti-narcotics operations in Abia and Rivers states.

He said a 60-year-old woman, Chidimma Sunday, was apprehended with 1.8 kilograms of skunk in Umuna Autonomous Community, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State after being intercepted by a local vigilante group and handed over to NDLEA.

In Rivers State, a 28-year-old suspect, Abubakar Usman, was arrested during a raid in Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, with various illicit substances, including skunk, methamphetamine, tramadol, swinol and diazepam.

The agency’s operations extended to several other states, leading to major drug seizures and arrests.

In Delta State, operatives arrested 36-year-old Onya Jude with five gas cylinders used to conceal 2.8 kilograms of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, at Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area.

Two suspected drug traffickers, Jamilu Idris, popularly known as Jama, and Aminu Abdullahi, alias Momo, were also arrested in Gombe State with 2.738 kilograms of skunk.

Babafemi further revealed that a female suspect, Ngozi Gaius, was arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road with 6,000 pills of Tramadol 225mg, while operatives in Kwara State intercepted 304 kilograms of skunk concealed in 600 compressed blocks inside a Toyota Jeep.

In one of the largest seizures recorded during the week, NDLEA operatives raided the warehouse of a suspected drug dealer, Ali Adamu, in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State, recovering 1,121.5 kilograms of cannabis sativa packed in 63 jumbo bags.

Similarly, operatives on patrol along the Gwagwalada Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory arrested Emmanuel Nnadi and recovered over 30,000 tramadol pills, pregabalin capsules, molly tablets and hundreds of bottles of codeine-based syrup.

Babafemi added that a massive consignment of Ghana Loud weighing 1,102 kilograms was also recovered around Alaba International Market in the Ojo area of Lagos State.

Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said its commands across the country continued to intensify the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign through sensitisation programmes in schools, communities, workplaces and traditional institutions.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers involved in the arrests and seizures across the affected commands.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested an Aviation Security officer, Inspector Ali Baffa, and two suspected accomplices at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport over an alleged attempt to smuggle unprocessed gold bars valued at more than ₦4.4 billion out of Nigeria.

The Kano Zonal Directorate of the EFCC disclosed this in a statement posted on the commission’s official social media platforms on Friday.

According to the anti-graft agency, “Baffa was apprehended on Thursday during a routine surveillance operation at the airport.”

The commission added that the aviation security officer concealed 22.2 kilograms of gold bars in his trousers with the intention of handing them over to passengers travelling to overseas destinations.

The EFCC said further investigations led to the arrest of Aushabu Nasidi, who was allegedly linked to the supply of the gold bars.

The agency added that assorted foreign currencies were recovered from Nasidi, including Saudi Riyals, Turkish Lira, Kuwaiti Dinar, Philippine Peso, Australian Dollars, Chinese Renminbi, Algerian Dinar, Hong Kong Dollars, Hungarian Forint and Sudanese Dinar.

Investigators also arrested Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, who allegedly delivered the gold bars to Nasidi.

During interrogation, the EFCC said Dan Zaria confessed to smuggling about 40.2 kilograms of gold between June 1 and June 11, 2026, using the same method.

The EFCC said the three suspects remain in custody and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Nigeria has intensified efforts to curb the illegal export of solid minerals, particularly gold, amid concerns over revenue losses and the activities of smuggling syndicates.

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Security and anti-corruption agencies have in recent years recorded several arrests linked to the unlawful movement of gold and other mineral resources through the country’s airports and border routes.