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Police arrest ‘29 ESN members’, recover weapons in Imo

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The Imo state police command says its operatives have arrested 29 suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the paramilitary arm of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

 

In a statement on Sunday, Henry Okoye, spokesperson of the command, said the arrest was carried out after Anukuru Nnana Emmanuel, a suspected ESN kingpin, was nabbed on September 15.

 

Okoye said the police team also dislodged the ESN’s camp at Nempi in the Oru-west LGA of the state and recovered “dangerous items”.

 

He said the suspects comprise 25 males and four females.

“During the operation, several dangerous items were recovered, including four pump action guns, two locally made revolvers, five locally made pistols, three AK-47 magazines, a Point of Sale (POS) machine, and 20 rounds of live cartridges, one white SUV, and local bulletproof charms used by the criminal syndicate,” the statement reads.

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“Additionally, over N200,000, allegedly extorted from kidnapping victims, was recovered. These findings underscore the persistent threat posed by these groups in the state.

 

“Investigation is ongoing as efforts are in progress to apprehend the manufacturers of the locally made guns.

 

“The dislodgement of their camp is part of the command’s ongoing efforts to combat violent crimes and restore peace within the state.

“The Imo state police command urges citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.

“We are dedicated to ensuring public safety and will continue to take decisive action against criminal elements in our state.”

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One dead, three rescued as two-storey building under construction collapses in Lagos

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One person has been confirmed dead while three others were rescued alive  following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction in the Fadeyi area Lagos State.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the casualties in an update issued on Friday, as search-and-rescue operations continued at the site.

The building, located on Akinola Street, off Ikorodu Road, collapsed in the early hours of Friday, with emergency responders mobilised to search for construction workers suspected to be trapped beneath the rubble.

In its preliminary incident report, LASEMA said its response team had commenced a coordinated rescue operation, deploying an agency excavator to assist efforts at the scene.

Several emergency and security agencies were involved in the operation, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASEMA paramedics, the Lagos State Ambulance Service and the Nigeria Police Force’s Alakara Division.

The responders were also managing the scene and coordinating activities to facilitate the rescue of anyone who might still be trapped beneath the debris.

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But the cause of the building collapse is yet to be established.

Rescue operations remained ongoing, with emergency officials working to determine whether more people were trapped in the collapsed structure.

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Diesel tanker falls from Otedola Bridge, catches fire

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A 45,000-litre capacity diesel-ladden tanker fell off Otedola Bridge on Monday evening
and went up on flames.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA)  confirmed the accident to newsmen in a brief message.

The agency’s spokesperson, Olawale Afolabi, confirmed the incident in a brief message sent to journalists on Monday, October 19.

According to Afolabi, LASEMA received a distress report at about 4:24 pm and deployed its Tiger team to the scene.

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NDLEA intercepts Saudi-bound cannabis concealed in palm oil, seizes tramadol worth ₦6.98 billion at Apapa port

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives have intercepted a Saudi Arabia-bound consignment of cannabis concealed in a gallon of palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and seized 8,725 kilogrammes of powdered tramadol worth over ₦6.98 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy.

According to the statement, the operations also led to the seizure of large consignments of illicit drugs across several states and the arrest of dozens of suspects, including an 85-year-old woman in Edo State.

At the Kano airport, NDLEA operatives on Friday, October 16, intercepted a female passenger, Fatimah Ahmad, during the outward clearance of an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, via Addis Ababa.

A search revealed 511.75 grammes of cannabis, also known as skunk, concealed in a gallon of palm oil. The statement said Ahmad told operatives that her cousin, Abubakar Yahaya, gave her the gallon. He was subsequently arrested at the airport car park.

At the Apapa Port in Lagos, a joint examination involving the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies uncovered a shipment of powdered tramadol from India on October 2. The consignment had been declared as maize starch.

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A confirmatory test at the NDLEA forensic laboratory identified the substance as tramadol hydrochloride powder. When separated from its concealment on Wednesday, October 14, the shipment comprised 349 bags weighing 8,725 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value exceeding ₦6.98 billion.

In a separate operation at the Tin Can Island Port on Monday, October 12, officers recovered 55 kilogrammes of Canadian Loud, valued at ₦165 million, concealed in a Toyota Sienna vehicle inside a 40-foot container.

The agency also raided Idumota Market in Lagos on October 14, arresting Elizabeth Chidera Kalu and recovering 10,600 ampoules of diazepam injection and 6,500 tablets of Molly from her store.

Two men, Idowu Daudu, 35, and Ahmed Oniyinde, 35, were arrested in Mushin the following day with 59.95 kilogrammes and 61.23 kilogrammes of skunk, respectively.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives intercepted a truck travelling from Trade Fair Market along Iyana Oba on October 15. Two suspects, identified as Tajudeen Adeduntan, a loading manager, and his assistant, Azeez Sikiru, were arrested after officers recovered 18,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in cartons labelled as Rambo insecticide.

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In Edo State, operatives raided Warake, Ivhiaro and Ewe/Irue communities in Owan East Local Government Area between October 15 and 16, arresting six suspects and recovering various quantities of cannabis and other substances.

Among those arrested was 85-year-old Grace Ehimeka, who was allegedly found with 179 kilogrammes of skunk at Warake. Other suspects included Ayo Aigberadion, 53, with 220.8 kilogrammes at Ewe/Irue; Ali Garba, 57, with 5.852 kilogrammes; Habib Braimoh, 45, with 100 grammes; Musa Mubid, 35, with two kilogrammes of cannabis, cannabis seeds, tramadol, Swinol and diazepam; and Hope Okoro, 35, with 237 grammes of Loud.

In Ondo State, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, October 17, raided a cannabis farm in the Okemoro Isinbode camp forest and destroyed 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on three hectares of land.

Five suspects were arrested during the operation. Recovered exhibits included 92 bags of skunk weighing 1,267 kilogrammes, 11 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds and three kilogrammes of fresh stems, bringing the total weight of the recovered exhibits to 1,281 kilogrammes.

In a separate operation in Owo, officers tracked 53-year-old Okunebe Ndidi to his hideout in Ameyinti on October 16 and recovered 25 bags of cannabis weighing 375 kilogrammes.

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In Bauchi State, operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf wagon driven by 35-year-old Shamsu Garba at Ragwam village in Katagum Local Government Area on October 14, recovering 894,800 pills of tramadol capsules and Exol-5 tablets.

The same day, officers on patrol along the Bauchi-Gombe Road recovered 291 blocks of cannabis weighing 265 kilogrammes from an abandoned vehicle at Tudun Natsira village.

In Kano State, two suspects, Ali Abdullahi, 38, and Ibrahim Adamu, 23, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano Road on October 13 with 30,100 tablets of tramadol 225mg.

Another suspect, 54-year-old Murtala Dayyabu, was arrested at Niger Street, Malan Kato, on October 14 with 100,000 tablets of Exol-5.

In Kaduna State, a raid at Kayimi village led to the arrest of Mohammed Sani, 48, Zaharadeen Shafiu, 29, and Yakubu Abdullahi, 20, with 496.5 kilogrammes of cannabis.

At Food Palace on Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna, operatives arrested John Ayo David, 39, with 49,500 tablets of tramadol 225mg. In Abuja, a 42-year-old suspect, Odo Jonas Ejike, was arrested in the Utako area on Saturday, October 17, with 29,500 capsules of tramadol.

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