As part of the efforts to help its investigation, the Cross River State Police Command has released the photograph of a young woman found dead in a Calabar hotel and appealed to the public to help identify her, even as the search for the male guest who lodged with her continues.

The woman was found dead in a hotel room along Clifford Lane, Calabar South, earlier this month, after she reportedly checked into the facility with an unidentified man whose whereabouts remain unknown.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, the Command said it was releasing the deceased’s photograph “to anyone who recognises her or may have information concerning her identity, family or associates to contact the Police with credible information.”

The Command said preliminary investigation had established that “the deceased lodged at the hotel alongside a male guest whose whereabouts remain under investigation.”

“Efforts are ongoing to locate him and establish the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s death,” the statement added.

The Command had on September 8 said an unidentified female guest had been found unresponsive in Room 2 of the hotel. The male guest who lodged with her had reportedly not been properly documented when they checked in.

Police had said the receptionist discovered the woman after noticing that the door to the room was open. Investigators who visited the scene reportedly observed “apparent marks of violence on the face and neck”, while her body was later taken to the General Hospital, Calabar, where she was confirmed dead and deposited at the mortuary.

The receptionist remains in police custody and is assisting investigators.

“The receptionist on duty at the time of the incident remains in Police custody and is assisting investigators with information concerning the admission of the guests and events preceding the discovery of the deceased,” the Command said.

It, however, stressed that his detention “should not be construed as a determination of guilt,” adding that any further action would be based on available evidence and in accordance with the law.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says its operatives have busted an illegal fruit juice factory at the Badagry Area in Lagos State and arrested two female suspects during the raid.

Lagos State Commandant of NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro and the spokesperson, Oluwaseun Abolurin, said the operation was conducted after operatives encountered resistance from youths in the area.

He alleged that the products branded “Barkas Juice” were produced and uncovered at Talabi Onilegbale Street, Aradagun, Olorunda Local Council Development Area, on September 19, 2026, at about 9:00 p.m.

The Corps further alleged that underage children between the ages of 15 and 16 were being recruited in the production of the juice.

In a now viral video, cartons of the drink and rolls of product labels were seen inside a bungalow building being used for production, while part of the building served as a residence.

A dirty well, which the NSCDC said was being used to source water for production, was also seen within the premises, alongside an unclean industrial storage tank.

“We are here at Alabi, Aradagun, particularly at Onilegbale in Badagry area of Lagos State.

“We are parading suspects and exhibits of production, sale and distribution of fake and adulterated fruit juice.

“Although not only in the Lagos market, but up to Edo State and other parts of Nigeria, unfortunately, two female suspects have been arrested in the operations. The suspects are between the ages of 48 and 50.

“They hire the services of underage children – boys and girls between the ages of 15 and 16.

“The products were found packed in packs and also loaded in containers. Most of the products are full of high-level sugar contents, water, additives, dyes, and different colours.

“And a glimpse and check of the NAFDAC portal to check the validity of these products, what we saw there is that the name of these products can not be found. The name of these fruit juices is Barkas”.
 

Speaking while being interviewed, one of the female suspects said production is not usually all the time.

“We produce either three or four times in a year, and we supply even as far as outside Lagos. We have been in this business for as far as 20 years.”

The Corps added that further information on this matter will be provided, as the matter will be charged in court.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted more than 1.3 million pills and capsules of tramadol and other opioids as well as 6,000kg of cannabis worth over N3.4 billion in combined street value.

The successes were recorded in a series of operations across Lagos, Edo, Niger, Delta, Ondo, Gombe, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, who disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday,  said the agency also arrested a suspected fake police officer, a mechanic allegedly using his workshop as a drug storage facility and three young suspects found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, a pistol and ammunition.

According to Babafemi, the operatives intercepted 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis weighing 603.75kg and valued at N1.811 billion.

The operation, he said also led to the arrest of 49-year-old Innocent Ekpe, who was allegedly transporting 292.48kg of skunk in a silver Toyota Sienna bus along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway in Asaba, Delta State, on Wednesday, September 16.

According to the NDLEA, Ekpe had allegedly impersonated a senior police officer to evade security checks while transporting illicit drugs across state lines.

The agency said, “Investigation established that Ekpe had long paraded himself as Godwin Emeka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, using a forged ID card to escape scrutiny at checkpoints while transporting illicit consignments.”

A 39-year-old accomplice, Nduka Joseph, was also arrested during the operation.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence raided a location on Agbor Road, Benin City, where they arrested 45-year-old Matthew Ossai.

The agency said Ossai “used his auto-repair workshop as a front for storing illicit drugs.”

Officers recovered 48kg of Canadian Loud, 152g of methamphetamine and a metal box used to store the illicit substances.

At the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos, a 40-foot container shipped from Montreal, Canada, which arrived on September 12, was placed under intensive monitoring following intelligence received by NDLEA operatives.

The shipment was subjected to a joint physical examination with Customs and other security agencies on Wednesday, September 16.

The agency said, “The search uncovered 1,200 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 603.75 kilograms, concealed inside 31 black jumbo bags loaded within two Toyota Sienna vehicles in the container.”

In Niger State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway at Chachi, Tafa Local Government Area, arrested Bashir Usman, 20; Abubakar Nuhu, 18; and Abdulrahman Abdulwahab, 18, on Tuesday, September 15.

The suspects were allegedly found with two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and a magazine, a locally made pistol with a magazine and nine rounds of 9mm ammunition concealed in a black travel bag.

Also in Niger State, NDLEA officers on Friday, September 18, arrested Aminu Isyaku, 23, and Jamilu Habibu, 25, along the Abaji-Abuja highway.

More than 1.1 million assorted tramadol tablets and capsules, codeine syrup, methamphetamine and Exol tablets were recovered from the suspects.

 
The agency said the drugs were “concealed in eight sacks en route from Onitsha, Anambra state to Mararaba, Nasarawa state.”

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Onyeka Ofor at his residence in Aguda, Surulere, on Friday, September 18, with 48,900 pills of tramadol 225mg.

Seven cartons of cannabis sativa weighing 59kg were also intercepted at a logistics company, with a suspect, Luke Ugokwe, taken into custody.

In another operation in Lagos, 43-year-old Ibrahim Hudu was arrested at Apogbon on Thursday, September 17, with 998.38kg of nitrous oxide gas.

In Gombe State, 154,480 capsules of tramadol were recovered from Sabi’u Umar, 27, and Hassana Muhammad, 19, who were arrested separately at the Barunde area and Gombe main market on Friday, September 18.

In Imo State, 25-year-old Ifesinachi Godwin was arrested along the Owerri-Onitsha Road with 43.85kg of skunk on Friday.

Meanwhile, four suspects identified as Blessing Effiong, Saviour Peter, David Friday Sunday and Ability Peter Sunday were arrested during a raid on a two-hectare cannabis farm in Ita-Ogbolu forest, Ondo State.

The operation also led to the destruction of 5,000kg of skunk, while 48kg of dry and fresh cannabis was recovered for the prosecution of the suspects.

While commending the officers and personnel of the affected commands, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised their professionalism and intelligence-driven approach to the operations.

Marwa urged them and their colleagues across the country to sustain the agency’s approach to drug control.

He said they should “continue with the current balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.”