Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have smashed a cocaine trafficking cartel, headed by a couple; Bolanle Lookman Dauda and Olayinka Toheebat Dauda, with operation basis in Lagos and Ogun states.

The NDLEA officers recovered illicit drug worth multi-billion-naira in two major operations following the arrest of the kingpin and his queen during an intelligence-led raids.

A statement signed by Director, Media and Advocacy of the Agency, Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday, said the duo were arrested on Saturday 25th May 2024 by operatives of a special operation unit in NDLEA with the support of Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States at Ibiye, along Lagos-Badagry expressway while attempting to cross the land border to deliver the consignment in Ghana.

“At the point of their arrest, 42 blocks of the Class A drug weighing 47.5 kilograms were found on them. A swift follow up operation on their residence at Plot 24/25 OPIC extension, Petedo road, Agbara, Ogun state, led to the recovery of additional eight blocks of the same drug weighing 10kg, bringing the total weight of the cocaine seized from the couple to 57.5 kilograms.

Angry Nigerians have taken to the microblogging site X.com to express their shock, anger, and disbelief over the brutal death of Alex Timileyi, a 200-level engineering student at the Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo State, who was clubbed to death by his colleague on Saturday over a claim that he stole a mobile phone.

The student was allegedly beaten to death inside a hostel known as Shepherd Inn on the school premises.

According to reports, after he was allegedly discovered in possession of the stolen cell phone, his attackers allegedly had his (the deceased) hair forcibly shaved.

A source in the school who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed that the deceased was beaten from 6 p.m. on Friday to about 10 a.m. on Saturday.

“They said they caught him with a stolen phone. They started beating him from 6 p.m. Friday until he died at about 10 a.m. on Saturday.

“The incident happened at ‘Shepherd Inn’. It’s like a lodge or a hostel now. They also shaved the hair of the guy before beating him,” he said.

Two different videos showed the deceased rolling on the hostel floor while other students were beating him with sticks.

In one of the videos, one of the students could be heard encouraging the other students to smack the deceased “harder, harder.”

The varsity said on Saturday that it had expelled some of the students who had been involved in the incident that resulted in their colleague’s death as a prompt response to the situation while also dismissing the claim that the suspects were members of a cult group.

The school, through its spokesperson, Femi Atoyebi, described the incident as “the unfortunate death of the student.”

The varsity stated, “Contrary to what is trending, the university affirms that there is no cultism in the institution, just as the university has zero tolerance for any sort of anti-social vices and misconduct. It is important to stress that the expelled students do not belong to any cult group.

“What actually happened is that the deceased was alleged to have stolen a mobile telephone, but instead of reporting the issue to the university management, the expelled students could not control their emotions. Their actions led to the unfortunate death of the student.

“The university has taken swift action by handing over all the students involved to the Nigeria Police Force for investigation, with the assurance that justice will be served.”

However, Nigerians have continued to demand thorough investigation and justice for the slain student.

Leading the pack is an activist of Itsekiri in the Warri Kingdom, identified as @Lord_of_Warri, who, in a letter titled, “An open letter to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State: Regarding the tragic murder of Prince Alex Timileyi of the Warri Kingdom at Crowther University, Oyo State,” described the slain student as a prince and a first cousin to the Olú of Warri Kingdom, Ogíamè Atuwatsé III.

The letter was copied to the X.com handles of the state governor, the Nigeria Police, President Bola Tinubu, and the Department of State Services, among others.

The activist lamented that the death of the student had left an indelible mark on the Itsekiri people, urging the governor to “ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice.”

The tweet partly read, “This incident has left us deeply saddened and concerned about the safety and security of students in schools not just in Oyo State but in Nigeria as a whole. As Itsekiri people, we appeal to you, the
Governor of Oyo State, Makinde, to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice.”

He demanded that security operatives “conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and ensure that justice is served. The perpetrators of this heinous act must be held accountable and face the full wrath of the law. We cannot allow the murder of an Itsekiri prince to go unpunished.

“It is important for His Excellency to know that the Yoruba and Itsekiri people are one and the same. Allowing these murderers to go free would be equivalent to allowing the killers of your family members to go unpunished, without seeking justice.”

@Jessica_Egbedi wrote, “Now he’s dead, so sad… Why didn’t they just hand him over to the school authority?”

A mosque has collapsed in the Papa Ajao area of Lagos.

The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday during the time for afternoon prayers.

Photos and videos of the incident on social media show the mosque in rubbles with residents of the area trying to help with rescue efforts.

In a statement following the incident, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, permanent secretary of the Lagos Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said the agency arrived at the scene around 1:40pm.

He said preliminary investigation carried out revealed that an excavator clearing the road recklessly hit a mosque, which was a storey building, resulting in the building collapsing as prayer was about to commence.

“Four victims were immediately rushed to the hospital. A total of 10 people were trapped beneath the rubble,” the statement reads.

“Search and Rescue of the victims trapped under the rubbles under the supervision of the PS was conducted with the aid of the Agency’s heavy duty equipment Crane, Hiab and an excavator.

“One adult was retrieved dead while the others received pre hospital care on the scene from the Agency’s Pre Hospital Care Unit. One with serious injuries was transferred to a hospital.

“Responders at the scene of the incident includes the Agency’s response team led by the PS, LRU Fire unit, Lagos State Fire Service,LASPA, LASBCA, NEMA, Nigeria Police, LNSC, FRSC and LASAMBUS.”

In an updated report later in the day, Oke-Osanyintolu said three people died in the building collapse.

“Following an extensive exercise, final casualty report on the above incident is that 3 fatalities and 7 casualties varying in severity,” he said.

“The affected buildings have been leveled to ground zero. Responders at the scene of the incident includes the Agency’s response team led by the PS, LRU Fire unit, Lagos State Fire Service, LASBCA, NEMA, Nigeria Police, LNSC, FRSC and LASAMBUS.”