NDLEA seizes 233,778kg Cannabis worth N4.1b in Edo

 

Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Edo State have arrested seven men in Ukpuje forest, Owan West Local Government Area of the state and discovered four dried warehouse containing two hundred and thirty-three thousand, seven hundred and seventy-eight kilograms, (233,778kg) of cannabis with an estimated street value of over 1.4 billion naira.

The suspected drug barons include the chairman of vigilante in Ukpuje village, Emmanuel Oki, 62 years, Chief Odi Sabato, 42 years and Bright Inemi Edegbe, 53 years.

Others are Gowon Ehimigbai, 53 years, Enodi Ode, 37 years, Ayo Oni, 30 years and Akhime Benjamin, 43 years.

According to the State Commander, NDLEA, Buba Wakama, the joint team of NDLEA and Army officers that carried out the raid had a strength of 80 personnel, while the operation that lasted from Thursday night through Friday night February 5, 2021 and was jointly coordinated by the Officer in charge of Strike Force, James Olarewaju, the Principal Staff Officer Operations, Bisong Peter and Captain Abdullahi Abukori.

He gave the breakdown of the drugs as follows; 318 bags of 80kg each weighing 25,440kg, 15,853 bags of 13kg weighing 206,089kg.

While the total quantity seized is 2,249kg others weighing 231,529kg were destroyed at the farm.

According to him, this is the largest single concentration of cannabis discovered by the Command so far.

Wakama ascribed the success of the operation to the enabling environment created by the new Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa.

“The community that is notorious for cannabis cultivation and trafficking as well as attacks on law enforcement officers, stood still as a combined team of NDLEA and combatant military personnel overran the drug trafficking syndicates due to our superior fire power.

“We took delivery of two new Hilux operational vehicles presented to the command last week. This is the first assignment of the vehicles and it turned out to be the best for the command. We are grateful to the chairman, and this is a clear warning that there is no room for drug barons in the State,” he stated.

He added that the seizures represent a large chunk of the previous cannabis planting season.

In his words, “They planted, watered, harvested and processed the drug only for us to dispossess them of their labour because their action is criminal. The warehouses are located in the heart of the forest, yet we were able to uncover them based on intelligence gathering.”

Wakawa thanked the Four Brigade Commander in Benin City, Brigadier General, M. A. Sadik for the logistics and personnel assistance that led to the successful clampdown on the cannabis syndicates in the area.

While describing the synergy between the Nigerian Army and NDLEA in the state as an unbeatable force against drugs and related crime in the society, the Commander said the suspects will be investigated and the case charged to court soon.

- DAILY POST

Soyinka: Herders-farmers crisis could lead to civil war if we don’t act

 

Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, has warned that the conflict between herders and local communities across the country could degenerate into a civil war if not properly addressed.

Tension has been running high in recent weeks over the allegations that herders are responsible for killings and abductions in the south-west.

Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo governor, had in January ordered herders to leave the state’s forest reserves.

In the same vein, Sunday ‘Igboho’ Adeyemo, a youth leader, had asked herders to exit Ibarapa local government area of Oyo, where attacks also occurred.

In a recent chat with BBC Pidgin, Soyinka said there is a need to ensure that the matter is settled amicably.

“My fear is that it could degenerate into violence that ends up in—I hate to use the word—a civil war unless we take action. I’m glad that governors are already dialoguing with groups like Miyetti Allah (cattle breeders),” he said.

“I’m also glad that they’re already discussing agreeing to obey the rules and that other groups are already liaising. I think we need to ensure they reach a consensus that will be fair to all parties.

“We’re struggling against an enemy that believes in acting the way they please. They believe they have immunity or that nothing can happen to them. That is why, in my own state, you find a soldier taking the side of an enemy.

“They actually escort killers, rapists, raiders while flogging the victims. That wouldn’t happen if the people are conscious of the nature of their enemy and are encouraged to collaborate with the security forces.”

Soyinka noted he once observed the level of damage done to farmlands by herders while hunting with his colleagues.

He stressed the need to encourage increased d between the locals and security forces towards ending the crisis.

- THECABLE

Ambassadorial nomination: Nnamdi Kanu reveals what awaits Buhari’s ex-service chiefs

 

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has declared that retired service chiefs may not escape prosecution if they actually committed some sort of crimes against humanity.

Ex-service chiefs, Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd ), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd), resigned their position as the country’s security heads last week.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari immediately nominated the Service Chiefs as non-career ambassadors.

And this has generated a lot of controversies around the country, as many people feel that the nomination was to help the ex-service chiefs escape judgement at the International Criminal Court, ICC.

But in a reaction, the Presidency had said the ex-service chiefs were nominated for ambassadorial positions by Buhari as a reward for hard work and patriotic service to the nation.

And in tweet on Saturday, Nnamdi Kanu said that the United States of America has a law that would not allow the ex-service chiefs go scot free.

“Rtd #Nigerian Service Chiefs:
The Torture Vuctim Protection Act is a US Law that permits suits in the United States against FOREIGN individuals who, acting in an official capacity, committed torture or extrajudicial killing of their citizens. If you committed, get ready to rumble,” he wrote.

- DAILY POST

Pogba set to miss Manchester United FA clash with West Ham

 

Paul Pogba, who was forced to pull out of Manchester United’s crunch tie against Everton on Saturday, is believed to have avoided a serious injury to his thigh.

Nevertheless, he is most likely to miss the club’s upcoming FA Cup clash with West Ham on Tuesday.

The France midfielder appeared to tweak his thigh as he pulled up late in the first half. 

Manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer said: “It’s a thigh injury, yeah. It looks like a muscle injury, so we’ve just got to check him up tomorrow [Sunday] and have a scan and get him treatment. Hopefully, he’ll recover quickly.”

The statement confirmed that he will undergo scans to determine the exact extent.

‘It remains to be seen’ whether he will feature against West Ham during the week,” he added.

- PM NEWS

‘It’s premature’ — Adegboruwa opposes reopening of Lekki tollgate

 

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a member of the Lagos state judicial panel, has described the ruling directing the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to repossess the Lekki tollgate as “hasty and premature”.

In her ruling on Saturday, Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge heading the panel, said insurers can commence assessment of the damage at the facility, renovate and resume its business.

According to the judge, “no party has shown evidence of any further need to investigate” the tollgate.

Adegboruwa, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), however, joined some members of the panel, especially the youth representatives, to give a dissenting opinion on the ruling after its sitting.

They claimed the ruling was not reflective of their opinion to deny a repossession.

In a statement on the ruling obtained by TheCable, Adegboruwa said the full details of the forensic analysis was not yet available.

“I have had the privilege of the mindset of some other members of the Panel favourable to the application of the LCC, I do not agree with or subscribe to the decision of majority members of the Panel on this matter, to permit LCC to takeover the Toll Plazas, leading to the Dissenting Opinion delivered herein,” Adegboruwa said in the statement.

“The Toll Plazas were handed over to the Panel by the legal owner thereof, that is the Lagos State Government, through the amendment of its terms of reference to include the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October 2020.

“Therefore, the Panel has jurisdiction over the Toll Plazas for the duration of its assignment. By the Amended Instrument and Terms of Reference of the Panel, it lacks the jurisdiction to hand over the Toll Plazas until it has concluded its assignment.

“Investigation by the Panel over the Lekki Toll Gate Incident is still ongoing. It will therefore be premature to hand over the Toll Plaza that is still subject of Panel’s investigation and proceedings, to LCC.

“The Panel is yet to come to any finding in respect of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October, 2020. A takeover of the Toll Plazas by LCC will be prejudicial to the ultimate findings of the Panel.

“The Panel is yet to ascertain the claims and counter-claims of fatalities and massacre of citizens on 20th October, 2020. If indeed such is established eventually, taking over the Toll Plaza at this time upon, the blood of the innocent citizens will be insensitive, callous and totally uncharitable to the memories of those who may have died.

“The Panel commissioned a forensic expert to undertake a forensic examination of the Toll Plaza, to examine documents, videos and CCTV footages submitted to the panel and to submit a comprehensive report thereon.

“The Panel is yet to receive the full details of the forensic report.

“The LCC is not a party to any pending before the Panel, to enable it make a valid application before the Panel, to take over the Toll Plazas. LCC is only appearing before the Panel upon a Summons. The time for LCC to submit its
own petition before the Panel has already elapsed on 22nd December, 2020.

“The final report of the Panel will lose credibility, if ever before it is submitted the subject matter of its investigation and proceedings, is already compromised.

“From the evidence tendered by LCC before the Panel, there is adequate security at the Toll Plazas presently, to the extent that all attempts made by hoodlums and thieves to steal thereat, have been frustrated by the security agencies. This cannot therefore justify the application to takeover the Toll Plazas.

“A takeover of the Toll Plazas, at this time, is hasty, premature and will overreach the work and eventual recommendations of the Panel.”

- THECABLE

APC a criminal construct, Buhari govt worse than Jonathan’s administration – Pat Utomi

 Prof Pat Utomi, the leader of the National Consultative Front, NCfront has described the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a criminal construct.

The politician, businessman, academic and public intellectual, said that the ruling party is now worse than the Goodluck Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party, PDP government that it replaced in 2015, describing the situation as unfortunate.

Utomi said the APC government has failed Nigerians because political parties in Nigeria have become an instrument for state capture.

“A group of people get together, hoodwink another group of people to found an instrument to use to capture the state for their own material benefits and call it a political party,” Utomi was quoted by Sun.

Utomi categorised the PDP and the APC as one, adding that some individuals like himself had thought that they were going to save the country, when they came together and condemed the administration of Jonathan.

“But unfortunately, the APC is now worse than the PDP government that it replaced. So, Nigeria seems to be in a desperate race to the bottom.

“It just gets worse by every regime. What Nigeria needs to do, is to recognize that there is a fundamental structural problem to governance within the country that makes governance difficult.

“The main reason is state capture. We have to purge ourselves of state capture,” he said.

The politician said that his party has not ever invited him to any meeting make any contribution since the party started, adding that, “‘we’ supposedly founded the party.

“APC had never invited me to any meeting since the party was founded. So, it was a criminal construct to use people to capture the state for the abuse of few individuals.”

- DAILY POST

Sunday Ighoho’s supporters raise N16m in three days

 A Gofundme account created to raise money to buy buses to aid operations of Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, called Sunday Igboho has amassed over N16million.

The money was raised by 969 donors barely 72 hours after the account was created.

One Kehinde Akinboyewa who donated £250, said, “No cause can be more just than this battle for the soul of the Yoruba Nation. Strong message to the Fulani terrorists and their enablers in high places, that though we’re thousands of miles away from home, we’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Yoruba land. The push back has begun in earnest; wanting to live in peace in your own home can’t be asking for too much!”
Fatai Adegbenga Kazeem who supported the cause with £20, said, “It is a just cause for all the Yoruba (people) home and abroad. Enough is enough. Our land must be safe for all again.”

Sunday Igboho became popular after expelling killer Fulani herdsmen from Ibarapa, Oyo State.

Igboho has since taken his campaign against killer herdsmen to neighboring Ogun State where he was welcomed by a crowd of supporters.

To support his cause, a GoFundme account was created by Maureen Badejo.

Badejo said the Yoruba activist needs buses to move around to secure “our ancestral land.”

“Let us rise up and support Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho. They need buses to move around to secure our ancestral land. Our security is threatened as we speak. Seems people in a position of authority are helpless”, he said.

“Politicians and some traditional rulers were our common enemy. God will continue to protect and guide your ways Omo Adeyemo, Istandwithsundayigboho Oooooosa,” he wrote further.

By the submission on the site, the organizers aim to raise £100,000 (N52 million).

- PM NEWS