Category Nigeria News

A suspected drug dealer has been arrested after hiding for 13 years.

The suspect was nabbed by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over cocaine and heroin shipments said to be linked to him.

Disclosing this in a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said he was first arrested in 2013 for cocaine trafficking and arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in charge number FHC/L/187c/2923.

Babafemi noted that the suspect jumped bail after being released and went underground.

According to the anti-narcotics agency, his name resurfaced in February 2024 as one of the masterminds behind the importation of 49.70 kilogrammes of heroin from South Africa.

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“After 13 years in hiding, a notorious drug kingpin, Reginald Peter Chidiebere, has been taken into custody following the seizure of large consignments of cocaine and heroin linked to him by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos,” the statement read.

“The drug lord was first arrested in 2013 over the shipment of cocaine into Nigeria and was subsequently arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court Lagos in charge no. FHC/L/187c/2923. He however, jumped bail and went into hiding after the trial judge granted him bail in 2013 and has since remained at large.

“In February 2024, his name featured prominently as one of the masterminds of the shipment of 49.70 kilograms of heroin imported from South Africa following the interception of the consignment by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Lagos airport.

“A follow-up operation was carried out on 19th February 2024 at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites, located at No. 16/18 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, where an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin was recovered from one of his guests, Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod. As a result, Chidiebere went underground. The agency however, secured the interim forfeiture of his hotel and blocked all bank accounts traced to him since 2024.

“Following these developments, Chidiebere could no longer sustain himself in hiding, prompting his surrender to the agency on 13th February 2026, and he has since been taken into custody to face his pending charges for which he jumped bail in 2013 and fresh charges based on the 2024 heroin consignments linked to him.”

In a related development, NDLEA operatives in Imo State dismantled a clandestine laboratory at Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, in Njaba Local Government Area, where 18.4kg of methamphetamine, precursor chemicals and production equipment were recovered.

“Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Imo state on Wednesday, 25th February 2026 dismantled a clandestine laboratory tucked in Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, Njaba local government area of the state where 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine were recovered along with a large quantity of precursor chemicals and equipment used in the production of the illicit substance,” Babafemi stated.

Iranian top officials vowed Sunday to avenge their slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and declared a new wave of strikes on US bases in the Gulf, defying US President Donald Trump’s threat of an unprecedented escalation in force.

As crowds gathered in Tehran, explosions rang out, and the Israeli military announced that it was again striking targets in the heart of the city — as more blasts were heard in Jerusalem, Riyadh, Dubai, Doha and Manama.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian declared Khamenei’s killing a “declaration of war against Muslims” and warned: “Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime.”

Ali Larijani, the powerful head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, declared: “The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors.”

In a social media post that adopted Trump’s style and rhetoric, he warned: “YESTERDAY IRAN FIRED MISSILES AT THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL, AND THEY DID HURT. TODAY WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.”

Meanwhile, blasts were heard in northern Tehran, and smoke was seen emanating from a building, an AFP journalist reported. It was not immediately clear what the target was.

– Unprecedented force threat –

Earlier, cheers had been heard as some Iranians celebrated early reports of the death of their longtime leader, but — after state media confirmed his killing — pro-government demonstrations also formed, chanting “Death to America!”.

As crowds demanded revenge — and Iran’s army announced strikes targeting US bases in the Gulf and Iraqi Kurdistan — Trump threatened to unleash “force that has never been seen before” and urged Iran’s people to rise up and seize power.

Iran’s first retaliatory strikes on Saturday had hit all the Gulf states apart from Oman, which had sought to mediate US-Iran talks. But on Sunday the country’s commercial port of Duqm was hit by two drones, injuring a foreign worker, the Oman News Agency said, with a tanker off the sultanate’s coast also hit.

Outrage at Saturday’s wave of US and Israeli strikes against Iran, which killed 86-year-old Khamanei and some other senior figures, spilled over into neighbouring Iraq and Pakistan, where crowds attempted to storm US diplomatic missions.

In the Pakistani megacity of Karachi, at least eight people were killed during pro-Iran protests at the US consulate, according to Muhammad Amin, a spokesman for the Edhi Foundation rescue service, who added that most had bullet wounds.

In Iran, the Red Crescent said strikes had left 201 people dead and injured hundreds more.

Iran’s judiciary confirmed that Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Khamenei and the head of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Pakpour, were both killed.

Iran responded to the strikes with a flurry of missile and drone strikes across the Middle East, killing at least two people in Abu Dhabi and another in Tel Aviv, before following up with a new wave after state media confirmed Khamenei’s death.

– Question on succession –

Iran had already seen intense speculation on a successor to Khamenei, given his age. Upon his death, many observers expected greater power for the Revolutionary Guards, which are deeply entrenched in the Iranian economy.

Pezeshkian and two other top officials would lead Iran in the transitional period following Khamenei’s death, state television said Sunday.

Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late pro-Western shah deposed in the 1979 Islamic revolution, said any successor within the system would be illegitimate.

Hailing the demise of Khamenei, Pahlavi said: “With his death, the Islamic Republic has effectively come to an end and will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.”

Pahlavi, who has spent most of his life in exile near Washington, has presented himself as a transitional figure to a secular democracy, but he does not enjoy support from across the opposition.

At least four persons reportedly died, and several others were injured during the distribution of annual Ramadan Alms, otherwise called (Zakkat), at a residence in Katsina metropolis.

The Katsina State Police Command confirmed this to Channels Television in a statement on Sunday.

According to the Command’s spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq, the incident happened on Thursday.

During the incident, several people sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital, Katsina, for treatment.

The deceased persons have been identified as Bilkisu Mamman, 40, of Kerau Quarters; Ihsan Musbahu, 40, of Abattoir Quarters; Aisha Sani, 16, of Kofar Sauri Quarters; and Salamatu Kabir, 45, of Sabuwar Unguwa Quarters.

READ ALSO: Four Suspects Arrested As NSCDC Busts Illegal Arms Fabricating Factory In Katsina

Another victim, 15-year-old Hafsat Zubairu of Masanawa Quarters, was, however, referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, for advanced medical attention.

The Command’s spokesman said a distress call was received at the Central Police Station in Katsina on the 26th February, 2026, at about 9:00 pm, about a large crowd gathered at the residence of one Alhaji Dahiru Usman Sarki, a philanthropist, situated at Kofar Guga Quarters, Katsina, resulting in a stampede incident.

“Upon receipt of the report, promptly, a team of policemen responded to the scene. The rescuers rushed the victims to the nearest hospital for medical attention. Unfortunately, 4 of the injured later succumbed to their injuries”, he said.

On his part, the State Commissioner of Police, Bello Shehu, commiserated with the families of the dead victims.

He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured victims, directing further investigation and necessary measures to prevent future occurrences.

The Command called on individuals who wish to distribute alms to members of the public to notify the command for adequate security coverage so as to ensure the safety of lives and property and orderliness during such events to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“Further development will be communicated in due course as the investigation proceeds”, the statement noted.

Eyewitness had earlier said the crowd stormed the residence of one Alhaji Dahiru Usman Sarki, located at the Kofar Guga Quarters, to receive Ramadan alms.

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has claimed that more than 1,000 Nigerians were killed and thousands more abducted between January and February of 2026.

In a post via X on Sunday, Obi said the scale of violence across the country is worse than that of nations officially at war.

He criticised what he described as the “politics of zero humanity” in the country, accusing political leaders of prioritising 2027 election calculations over the safety of Nigerians.

“It is profoundly disturbing that while we, the politicians, continue to obsess over the 2027 elections—spending our energy scheming about how to capture, grab, and run the next election—the first two months of 2026 have reportedly seen the killing of over 1,000 Nigerians and the abduction of several thousand others.

“This is the painful reality confronting our nation. From Zamfara State to Kwara, Ondo, Kebbi, Edo, Benue, Adamawa, Plateau, and many other states, families have buried loved ones, and communities have been emptied by gunshots and fear.”

READ ALSO: 10 Killed In Fresh Attacks On Two Plateau Communities

The former Anambra State governor alleged that more than 25 states across the country had been affected by attacks carried out by bandits and other terrorist groups, lamenting that the crisis had yet to receive the necessary attention from the relevant authorities.

“In over 25 states across all geopolitical zones this year alone, there have been major violent attacks on innocent citizens, kidnappings by armed bandits, mass shootings, village invasions, and brazen assaults on worshippers and travellers.

“The scale of bloodshed and the number of deaths in just two months in Nigeria are even worse than what we see in countries officially at war. Yet the urgency with which we discuss these tragedies does not match the urgency of our discussions surrounding zoning formulas, party structures, and campaign strategies,” he stated.

Politics of Zero Humanity

It is profoundly disturbing that while we, the politicians, continue to obsess over the 2027 elections—spending our energy scheming about how to capture, grab, and run the next election—the first two months of 2026 have reportedly seen the killing of…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain noted with dismay that while leaders were engrossed in debates about power sharing, Nigerians were busy sharing funeral programmes.

Obi stressed the need for authorities to elevate human life to what he described as “sacred status in our national priorities”, cautioning that leadership is not about winning elections but saving lives.

“We debate power sharing while citizens are sharing funeral programs. I watched in tears yesterday as families in the Doruwa Babuje community in Plateau State buried their dead after attacks by armed terrorists, but our media and leaders were focused on discussions about party issues and the 2027 elections.”

”When we aren’t even sure we will be alive to see it, given all the deaths happening in our country today. We strategise about 2027 while Nigerians struggle to survive 2026. This is inhumane.”

“We must elevate human life to a sacred status in our national priorities. Leadership is not about winning elections; it is about saving lives. We can, and we must, aspire to a Nigeria devoid of bloodshed—a Nigeria where governance is measured not by political dominance but by the safety and dignity of its people.

The Federal Government has called for immediate de-escalation and maximum restraint in the Gulf region following coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.

In the early hours of Saturday, the United States and Israel launched missile strikes on Iran.

Iran later carried out retaliatory strikes in some Gulf countries.

In a statement on Saturday, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, urged all parties involved in the unfolding situation to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions capable of intensifying hostilities.

He emphasised the need to prioritise dialogue over confrontation, urging strict adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Convention, particularly with respect to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

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“Nigeria calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions that could intensify hostilities, and to prioritise dialogue over confrontation,” Ebienfa said.

He stressed the imperative of restraint in the use of lethal force to prevent further loss of civilian lives and to safeguard established norms of international law.

It noted that preserving the existing legal architecture governing the use of force remains essential for protecting victims, safeguarding civilian populations, and maintaining international order.

Ebienfa also reaffirmed Nigeria’s longstanding foreign policy stance rooted in non-alignment, multilateralism, and constructive engagement, pledging support for renewed diplomatic efforts within established international and regional frameworks aimed at resolving the crisis.

The diplomat also welcomed confidence-building initiatives, mediation efforts, and dialogue among stakeholders, encouraging all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution in the interest of collective security and shared prosperity.

“The Government of Nigeria stands in solidarity with the international community in its call for calm and remains steadfast in its conviction that sustainable peace can only be secured through diplomacy, mutual respect, and faithful adherence to international law,” he added.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has rescued about 140 schoolchildren following a fire outbreak at Nooroh‑Haq School in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday night.

The governor and members of his convoy were passing along the road when he noticed smoke coming from the school premises and immediately stopped to supervise the evacuation of the children to a safer location within the state capital.

Briefing journalists at the scene, Governor Idris said he initially thought the smoke was from burning tyres before realising that it was coming from a school.

“We were just passing by when I saw smoke coming out of the area. At first, I thought it was smoke from burning tyres. But after taking a closer look, I realised it was a school, and we immediately stopped to supervise the evacuation of the pupils.

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“We discovered that the school had over 140 pupils, and they were all evacuated to a safer place in the town. We also noticed that there were gas cylinders inside the school, which made it more difficult for the fire service to quench the inferno.”

The governor and his team remained at the school until the fire was completely extinguished and broke their fast at the scene.

Governor Idris confirmed that no life was lost in the incident.