NDLEA arrests 8 bandits in Ondo forest

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested eight suspected bandits in Ala Forest, Akure North Local Government Area, Ondo State.

The Director of Media and Advocacy of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, identified the arrested persons as Austin Dickson, 47, the gang leader; Sunday Adekunle, 31; Kayode Oluwaseun, 29; Kolawole Kazeem, 33; Oladimeji Makinde, 37; Emeka Charles, 46; Ojo Oluwadare, 40; and Lanre Oluwajana, 44.

Babafemi narrated: “The suspected bandits were nabbed on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022.

“Recovered from them include twenty-five bags of cannabis sativa, weighing 296kgs, six explosive devices, six cartridges, four motorcycles and assorted charms used in terrorising farmers in the forest.”

Babafemi said that the NDLEA operatives also discovered 5.5kg of cannabis concealed in CD players in a commercial bus along Sokoto-Bodinga road, on Saturday.

“Upon search, 5.5kgs of cannabis were discovered inside the CD players and the owner, Nasiru Ibrahim arrested.

“While in another bus, a suspected bandit, Sani Ibrahim, 37 was arrested with some ammunition and cannabis sativa along Kware road, Sokoto State,” the Director said.

Also, an Abuja businesswoman, Onyinye Nwoke, 38, was arrested by the agency following an intelligence-led raid at her residence, 56 Aldenco Estate, Galadimawa.

He added that the operatives uprooted fresh stems of cannabis plants grown at the backyard of the house, which 18.4kgs while 800grams of cannabis seeds were also recovered from the house.

Babafemi quoted the Chairman, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as commending the officers and men of the Sokoto, Ondo, and FCT for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa charged them and their compatriots across the country to intensify the heat on drug cartels in Nigeria while balancing their efforts on supply reduction with drug demand reduction activities.