A shrine guarded by a snake and used to store illegal drugs in Igor community, Benin City, Edo State, was raided by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The agents discovered a specially constructed large hole hidden behind wallpapers and fetish objects.
Different quantities of illegal substances such as methamphetamine, Loud, Colorado, and Arizona—potent strains of cannabis weighing a total of 8.743 kilograms—were recovered from the deep hole in the shrine’s wall.
Two women, Sonia Chinonso Ezumezu and Risikatu Tijani, were arrested during the intelligence-led operation on Tuesday, 18th June 2024, after the large black snake guarding the shrine was neutralized.
Additionally, two suspects, Obi Ferguson, 45, and Ernest Abanum, 46, were arrested on Saturday, 22nd June, when NDLEA operatives raided the Usen forest in Ovia South West LGA, Edo State, where they recovered 209kg of cannabis and a motorcycle.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers in Lagos intercepted a carefully packaged consignment of 8.2 kilograms of methamphetamine at a motor park in Mazamaza, Ojo area of the state.
The highly addictive drug, also known as ice or crystal meth, was packed in imported Dunkin’ Turtle Love chocolate wrappers and concealed in three loudspeakers’ casings.
A 39-year-old suspect, Michael Odiomume, who was sending the consignment to Owerri, Imo State, was promptly arrested on Wednesday, 19th June, at the park.
In Abuja, operatives on Tuesday, 18th June, intercepted a white Nissan Frontier pickup vehicle with amber lights and a fake security agency registration number at Kiyi village in Kuje area of the FCT.
The vehicle was loaded with 454 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa, weighing 340.8kg, procured at Uzeba, Edo State. A 76-year-old grandfather, Mr. Francis Omofa, linked to the consignment, was arrested. He claimed to have been in the illegal drug business for 10 years.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities.
These activities included WADA enlightenment lectures for students and teachers at St. Peters College, Nibo, Anambra; students and staff of Apostolic Grammar School, Ilesa, Osun State; students and teachers of Immanuel Baptist High School, Oyo town, Oyo State; students and staff of Federal Government Science and Technical College, Otukpa, Benue State; a WADA advocacy lecture for Muslim faithful during their Juma’at prayer in Umuahia, Abia State; and a WADA advocacy visit to the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, by the state Command of NDLEA.
While commending the officers and men of Edo, Lagos, and FCT Commands, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), noted the balance in their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts as well as those of their colleagues across the country.
He urged them to maintain the ongoing offensive against drug cartels as they continue to intensify their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy campaign.
Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja
Sunday, 23rd June 2024
