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NDLEA seized 761,000 tonnes of illicit drugs in three years, says Marwa

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NDLEA seized 761,000 tonnes of illicit drugs in three years, says Marwa

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.) has revealed that the agency seized 761,000 tonnes of illicit drugs and substances between January 2021 and March 2024.

Marwa made this known during a special Juma’at service as part of activities to commemorate the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the National Mosque in Abuja on Friday.

World Drug Day is celebrated annually on June 26. This year’s celebration is themed “Evidence is Clear, Let Us Invest in Prevention”.

The NDLEA boss said that the 2018 drug use survey showed that 15 million Nigerians abused drugs, saying that it was three times the global average.

Marwa, who described the report as unacceptable said that the aim of the year 2024 World Drug Day (WDD) Campaign was Prevention.

“Money-making is the major reason drug barons are persistent in spite of the efforts of the agency to curb to the barest minimum drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking. When you look at the population of Nigeria and you take out 15 million, it means the rest are not.

“We don’t want even a single Nigerian to enter that basket of users. We have made seizures in three years of 761,000 tons but they still keep coming and we have to look at the other side. Now, assuming we didn’t seize it, where will it be? it will be on the streets and the money would have been used for very negative purposes or it would have gone to the criminals.

“We are doing our level best, supported by the government to make sure the supply reduction is very effective,” he said.

Marwa added that prevention was very important in dealing with drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, adding that the agency had recommended a two-track approach.

He said that the first and most important track was global which was the entire society, all fragments, beginning with the family and parenting, adding that the children should be taught as they grow up why drug use is bad.

“We have children killing their parents. So in any case, parentage and parenting are also important. Most important is the community level, the traditional institution, religious bodies, both Christian and Muslim should include in their sermons and the advocacy in the school system and the curriculum.

“There should be random drug tests. For instance, we have promoted drug tests for students, tertiary institutions and drug tests before marriage. When you go for the wedding, bring the HIV, the genotype and bring drug tests that are negative.

“These are some of the steps on this side. On the other side is to deny the availability of drugs and access. You have to have drugs first to abuse it. And it’s our job as NDLEA to launch operations to seize drugs, arrest the offenders, take them to court, and seize their assets as well, “he said.

NAN

Cholera: Lagos LG suspends school food vendors

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Cholera: Lagos LG suspends school food vendors

The Agege Local Government Area in Lagos State has suspended food vendors in schools in the area as a way of preventing the outbreak of cholera.

The council has also embarked on rigorous sensitisation to prevent the outbreak of the disease in its communities.

The council’s Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Egunjobi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday.

According to the chairman, efforts have been put in place to sensitise market stakeholders and schools on radio to prevent the outbreak within the community.

“We have suspended all school food vendors to ensure the safety of the pupils and students.

“We have informed both the pupils and students on radio stations to come with their foods to ensure their safety from the cholera disease.

“This development will allow us to detect and prevent the outbreaks in our community,” he said.

Egunjobi added that schools were visited and inspected to ensure the children were in good health and environmental condition.

According to him, market traders in various communities were also enlightened and sensitised to adopt environmental hygiene in their places to prevent the outbreak.

“We are working tirelessly to prevent the menace of cholera outbreak in our community.

“We are using various means to talk to our people, through landlord associations and others,  to caution them on ensuring hygiene in preparing foods and drinks.

“We urge residents to acquaint themselves with precautionary measures against the deadly cholera disease outbreak.”

NAN reports that the killer disease has spread to over 30 states with Lagos recording 24 deaths from 417 cases.

(NAN)

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Fubara removes Rivers traditional council chairman

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Fubara removes Rivers traditional council chairman

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has removed Eze Sergeant Awuse as the Chairman of the State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers Council.

The governor made this announcement on Friday during a special meeting with the traditional rulers at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Fubara, thereafter, appointed Eze Chike Wodo, as the new chairman of the council, saying that the office could not remain vacant.

Speaking at the meeting, the governor said Awuse has not been leading the council effectively for a while due to his alleged role in the ongoing crisis in the state.

Fubara described Awuse as an unstable character, noting that he has been playing double standards since the political crisis in the state.

Fubara said, “It is like your chairman has run away. Maybe when your chairman is ready, he will write to me. If he gets the approval, he can then come for the meeting.

“But you already know his position. He is not a stable man, he is not a stable character. He cannot say something in the morning and say another thing in the evening.

“It is because of that he decided to hide his head. You have to bear with him until when God will help us remove this problem you are having. By the grace of God, it will be resolved soon.”

It would be recalled that the former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, had replaced the then Chairman of the Council, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, with Awuse.

However, in the wake of the political crisis, the State House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, promulgated a law that barred Fubara from interfering with the leadership of the traditional council.

Customs record N249.7bn revenue in May

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Customs record N249.7bn revenue in May

The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command Onne, Rivers State has said it recorded an N249.7bn revenue in May 2024.

The NCS Comptroller, Area 2 Command, Mohammed Babandede, disclosed this while briefing at the command’s headquarters in Onne on Friday.

Babandede, who assumed office in April said the amount represents 50.4 per cent of the service’s initial target for the year, and an increase of over N100 billion when compared to the same period under review last year.

He stated, “The command was initially given a target of N494 billion before it was reviewed two weeks ago to N619 billion as revenue target for the year 2024.

“As at the end of May 2024, the command had generated a total revenue of N249,752, 268,298.28 which translates to 50.4% of the initial target and 40.3 per cent of the current annual target.

“When compared to the same period last year, the command had an increase in revenue generation of N153, 213, 700, 450.15.”

The comptroller further said that despite the strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress, Democracy Day and the Sallah holidays, as of the morning of Friday, June 21, 2024, the command had generated N43,430,267,210 in June 2024, as he expressed optimism that the command will generate more revenue in the coming months and surpass its annual target of the year.

On the command’s success in the area of anti-smuggling activities, Babandede revealed that seven containers, including one bearing used electronics which have turned into e-waste, with a total paid duty worth of N3,188,454,452 were seized during the period under review.

He said the feat followed intelligence gathered and information sharing with a sister agency, alongside a hundred per cent physical examination.

He said, “On anti-smuggling activities, we have on display six seized containers for violations or contraventions of various customs laws and breach of procedures as provided under the revised import prohibition guidelines of the common external tariff 2022-2026, as well as section 233, 234, 235, 236 of Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

“Also today we have on display a seized container of used electronics which turned to e-waste. As you are aware of the environmental effect such waste poses to human lives, for disposal.

” We shall be working with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency in the spirit of inter-agency cooperation, and synergy and in line with section 119 & 245 of the NSC Act 2023 to have it disposed.

“The seized items on display are as follows; four × 20 feet containers laden with bales of clothing, lace and fabrics (96 jumbo size in total) with duty paid value of N911,520,011.00.

“Also seized were 2×40 feet containers laden with 2,625 cartons of cough syrup codeine, 80 cartons of sildenafil citrate tablets and 40 cartoons of deluxe chilly cutter with duty paid value of N2,250, 065, 000.00(based on concealment, false declaration, contravention od revised import prohibition guideline and section 55 subsection (1) paragraphs (C) and (I) of NCS Act 2023). ”

Continuing, he said, “The contents of these importations contravene the provision of the law which prohibits and restricts certain goods for the protection of the public health and safety.

While confirming that the seizures of codeine were in transit to bonded terminals but due to intelligence gathered they were stepped down for physical examination at the mother Port, the Area II boss warned that there is no hiding place for economic saboteurs in the command, as they would be fished out, arrested and prosecuted in line with the law.

Babandede thanked stakeholders and sister agencies for their collaboration, assuring that the command will not relent in carrying out its duties and responsibilities.

“I want to also use this opportunity to thank the NDLEA for their collaboration and inter-agency cooperation as seizures of this magnitude could not have been possible without their involvement.

“The command shall continue to address our core responsibilities by employing various risk management strategies aimed at collecting revenue, identifying vulnerable leakages, gate hit intelligence and facilitating trade.

“We cannot but underscore the necessity and imperativeness of leveraging on synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing with sister agencies and stakeholders as it enhances our revenue drive and anti-smuggling feats.

Armenia recognises Palestinian state

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Armenia has joined the list of countries to recognise an independent Palestinian state.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement in Yerevan on Friday.
The ministry said Armenia had always regarded a two-state solution as the best way out of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The statement read: “The catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the ongoing military conflict are among the primary issues on the international political agenda that require settlement.
“We are convinced that this is the only way to ensure that both Palestinians and Israelis can fulfill their legitimate aspirations.”
The ministry revealed that Israel has summoned the Armenian ambassador to deliver a rebuke.
In recent weeks, Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia have recognised a Palestinian state to exert pressure for a resolution to the decades-old conflict.
However, there is currently no visible practical path to a two-state solution.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently rejected a two-state solution.
The post Armenia recognises Palestinian state appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

EFCC arraigns Gombe official for obstructing investigation, tearing documents

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EFCC arraigns Gombe official for obstructing investigation, tearing documents

The Gombe zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Usman Mallam, a desk officer in the Gombe State Secretary to the State Government’s office, for allegedly obstructing the commission’s investigation and tearing official documents.

Mallam was charged with willful obstruction of investigation activities and tearing up EFCC formal letters of investigation activities, contrary to Section 38 (1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act.

According to the EFCC in a post on X.com on Friday, “The lone charge against Mallam reads “that you, Usman Mallam on or about the 26th day of February 2024 at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC were carrying out an investigation activity involving an alleged economic and financial crime, did willfully obstruct the said investigation by tearing the EFCC formal letters of investigation activities dated January 1, 2024, and February 21, 2024, respectively” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 38 (1) and punishable under Section 38 (2) (a) and (b) of the Economic and financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act”.

“Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the one count charge, prompting the prosecution counsel AM Labaran to say, “My Lord, the defendant has put himself to trial hence we shall be asking for a date for trial”. However, counsel to the defendant, SS Usman said, “My Lord, we have a bail application dated July 11, 2024, we are asking the court to exercise its discretion and grant the defendant bail”

“Justice Ringim thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) and one surety in like sum. The surety shall be a director in a government establishment or a private company with a capital worth not less than N10,000,000.

“In addition to the conditions, the Registrar of the court should verify the identity of the surety and both the surety and the defendant shall submit two passport photographs to the court.

“Justice Ringim remanded the defendant in Gombe State Correctional Service pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions and adjourned the case to July 9, 2024, for trial.”

Mob beats man to death in Bauchi for promoting ‘new religion’

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Mob beats man to death in Bauchi for promoting 'new religion'

A mob reportedly beat an advocate of a religious movement to death in Bauchi.

The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed that the incident happened on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, on behalf of Commissioner Auwal Musa, the Bauchi Police Command stated that “an individual named Usman was involved in sharing information about a new religious movement known as the Fera Movement.

“Regrettably, this led to tension and an altercation, resulting in his loss of life.”

Condemning the actions of the individuals involved and emphasising the importance of upholding the law, the commissioner added that the command is committed to stepping up surveillance to ensure the safety and security of all residents.

The commissioner urged the public to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement agencies to refrain from taking laws into their own hands.

“We urge the community to remain calm and carry out daily activities without fear of intimidation, as normalcy has been restored in the affected area.

“The Bauchi State Police Command will provide updates on the investigation as it progresses.

“We also call upon parents, guardians, community leaders, and authoritative figures to maintain vigilance and intervene when necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future,” the commissioner warned.

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Troops kill bandits in Kaduna coordinated attack

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Troops of Operation Whirl Punch have killed several bandits in another coordinated attack in the Giwa local government area of Kaduna State.
The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Kaduna
He said the coordinated ground and air strikes killed the bandits including some of their leaders at an identified meeting point near the Bula community within the Yadi forest in Giwa locality.
The commissioner added that the strike followed credible intelligence on the activities of the bandits in Kaduna-Katsina border areas.
Aruwan said: “Close monitoring followed, and at the agreed time, the bandits were sighted bearing arms and approaching the location on motorcycles.
“Further exploration confirmed the movements and convergence of the bandits in a group of about seven to 10 members at a hub in the location.
“Upon verification, the location was struck and scores of the bandits including one Alhaji Kachalla Ragas, an ally and childhood friend of the previously neutralised Buharin Yadi were confirmed to have been neutralised by the strike.”
The post Troops kill bandits in Kaduna coordinated attack appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Rivers Reps caucus disowns member over attack on Ugochinyere

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Rivers Reps caucus disowns member over attack on Ugochinyere

A member of the Rivers State caucus in the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, has distant the group from a statement issued by one of its members, Dumnamene Dekor, calling on the leadership of the Green Chamber to call Ikenga Ugochinyere, to order over his incessant comments on the crisis rocking the state.

It was earlier reported that Dekor had issued a statement calling on the leadership of the House to call Ugochinyere to order over his comment on the ongoing Rivers crisis.

In a counter statement on Friday, Abiante, who represents Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Rivers state, said Dekor has no permission to speak for the group.

Abiante, who described himself as the leader and spokesman for the group, said Dekor “was never instructed to speak on behalf of the caucus.”

He noted that the leadership of the caucus has always been based on seniority, adding that Dekor, a second-term lawmaker, is therefore not entitled to lead the group while there are senior colleagues.

The statement read in part, “The Rivers State caucus in the House of Representatives read with dismay a statement purportedly issued by the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Dumnamene Dekor, calling for the discipline of the coordinator of the G-60 lawmakers in the Green Chamber, Hon Ugochinyere Ikenga over his position on vexed issues in the polity.

“While we wouldn’t stand against the popular phrase, ‘Everybody is entitled to his opinion’, we refused to collectively accede to Dekor’s self-serving stands as he has never been elected by the Rivers State caucus to speak on our behalf.

“It is a trite knowledge and backed by precedence that the leadership of the Rivers State caucus in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly are based on seniority. Hon Deekor being a second-term lawmaker, cannot arrogate to himself the position of Caucus leader in the midst of 3rd and 4th term lawmakers.

“For the records, Dekor was properly elected in 2019, having lost his seat in 2015 at the Court of Appeal, which barred him from being a member of the 8th Assembly. He was recently reelected in 2023 to serve his second term in the House. This alone disqualifies him from jostling for the leadership of the Rivers State caucus.

“We call on the general public to discount Dekor’s statement as vituperations of a god being.”

He added, “The National Assembly is not guided by village council’s rules, and as such, everyone reserves the right to make contributions in line with his innate conviction. Hon Ugochinyere has, in the estimation of right-thinking Nigerians, proven himself in the act of quality representation.

“Dekor should realise that a member of the National Assembly is not only representing his immediate constituency but also the entire Nigeria as he is entitled to make comments or speak on issues that threaten the peace of any part of the country for which we all took an oath to preserve and protect.

“Dekor, who claims to be an experienced legislator, should have known this fact and allowed Ugochinyere to speak on matters that affect any part of the country as a bonafide member of the National Assembly.”

Hit-and-run driver injures FRSC officer in Osun

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Hit-and-run driver injures FRSC officer in Osun

An officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps was on Friday injured by a driver along Osogbo/Gbongan Road, near the Osun Government Secretariat in Abere.

The incident occurred when FRSC officers at a roadblock near the Osun Sector Headquarters waved the driver to stop, but he ignored their signals and continued driving at top speed.

Despite the officers’ attempts to stop him, the driver recklessly hit the FRSC officer and dragged him along the road until he fell off the vehicle.

Two eyewitnesses, identified simply as Fatai and Ramota Olagunju, who were roadside traders, near the Osun Government Secretariat, told According Online that the driver did not wait after the officer fell off, adding that the vehicle sped off towards Akoda Junction.

Fatai further said, “The incident happened between 9 am and 9:30 am today (Friday). The driver was coming from the Osogbo end of the road facing the Gbongan end.

“Some road safety men who usually stay on the road near the corps head office had resumed at their duty post when the vehicle emerged and the driver was flagged down. But he didn’t stop

“Rather than stop, he moved towards one of the officers and hit him. After hitting the officer, he dragged him on the road as the driver headed towards Akoda Junction.

“The badly injured officer eventually fell off the vehicle. His colleagues immediately mobilised and chased the vehicle that hit their colleague. But I can’t say if they eventually caught the perpetrator.”

When contacted for confirmation, FRSC Osun Sector Commander, Inyang Umoh, confirmed the incident, noting that the injured officer was in stable condition.

Umoh in a terse response to the enquiry by According Online, further said, “The officer is in stable condition

“We are making efforts to get him (the driver of the vehicle). He has not been arrested.”

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