Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two old men, aged 84 and 75, for allegedly supplying and selling illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, Abia State.

The suspects, identified as 84-year-old Godfrey Orji and 75-year-old Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora, were arrested in separate operations by operatives of the agency.

According to a statement Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Obiora was arrested on June 19 following intelligence reports that he was selling illicit substances to students and other users from his patent medicine store.

“Pa Obiora was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday, 19th June 2026, following credible intelligence that he was selling illicit substances to young students and others in his patent medicine store located at 4 Club Road, Umuahia, where 4.64 kilograms of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam, were recovered from him during a search of his premises,” Babafemi stated.

The agency said Orji, a pensioner, was arrested after he was caught supplying illicit drugs to students of Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia.

“In his case, Pa Orji, who is a pensioner and also into the illicit drug trade, was nabbed by security guards at Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia, for supplying illicit drugs to two teenage students in the school. The guards thereafter handed them over to the police, who in turn transferred them to NDLEA on Thursday, 18th June,” Babafemi stated.

According to Babafemi, one of the teenagers, a 15-year-old Senior Secondary School Two student, admitted during interrogation that the suspect regularly supplied him with drugs.

“In his statement, one of the two teenagers, a 15-year-old SS2 student, claimed the 84-year-old grandpa supplies him the drugs, which he takes and also sells to fellow students,” the statement added.

The NDLEA said while the two elderly suspects would be prosecuted, the students had been placed on counselling and rehabilitation programmes.

Six persons reportedly lost their lives in a multiple-vehicle accident involving tankers, articulated trucks and cars at the Ibadan toll gate section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Friday night.

The crash, which triggered a fire outbreak, also left many commuters stranded for hours on Saturday as traffic built up along the busy highway.

In a statement, Moroof Akinwande, chairman of the Oyo state fire service, said eight other persons were rescued from the wreckage and handed over to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for medical attention.

Akinwande said the agency received a distress call at about 9:29pm from Sola Rotimi, a police officer, and immediately deployed firefighters to the scene.

According to him, emergency responders arrived to find six vehicles involved in the accident, including gas tankers, articulated trucks and two cars, with parts of the scene already engulfed in flames.

“The crew quickly swung into action, and the fire was restricted from causing further damage to other vehicles and nearby properties,” he said.

Preliminary investigations, he added, indicated that brake failure may have been responsible for the accident.

The fire service boss urged motorists to exercise caution on highways and ensure their vehicles are equipped with functional fire extinguishers to help contain emergencies before they escalate.

Videos circulating on social media showed hundreds of vehicles trapped in gridlock as burnt tankers obstructed one section of the road.

Charred vehicle parts and burnt tyres littered the highway, while commuters expressed frustration over the prolonged delays.

“We have been on the road since 7am. We are still here. We have spent more than necessary. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway needs urgent rescue,” one stranded passenger said.

Bayegun Oluwatoyin, the comedian and pastor popularly known as Woli Arole, also lamented the situation in a video shared online.

“If you are planning to come to Ibadan today, just stay home. People have been here for between three to four hours. I learnt there are cars burnt on the way since yesterday. It’s serious,” he said.

Damilare Ogundoyin, a gospel singer known as Dare Justified, advised travellers to plan their journeys carefully and consider alternative routes, warning that movement along the affected stretch remained extremely slow due to the incident.

“If you are travelling from Lagos to Ibadan or from Ibadan to Lagos today, please plan accordingly,” he wrote.

“There is currently a major traffic gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following a collision involving four tankers and two vehicles.

“The incident has caused a complete blockage of traffic in both directions.

“Many commuters have reportedly been stranded in traffic since as early as 7:00 a.m., and movement along the affected stretch remains extremely slow.”

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.