Category Nigeria News

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a businessman identified as Ajah Johnson Uchenna, his wife Rosemary Uchenna, and their two daughters, Stella Uchenna and Ngozi Uchenna, for drug trafficking.

Also nabbed is their family friend, Okoro Elijah, for allegedly running a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the arrest followed a series of operations by security agencies.

The couple was first apprehended on June 13 by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ojo, Lagos, and transferred to the NDLEA along with 277. 5kg of skunk.

Babafemi noted that further investigation revealed the family business was still operational, leading to a raid on their home and a packing store on July 1, where an additional 231 kg of skunk was recovered.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram Kills Nine In Borno, Injures Four Others

“A businessman, Ajah Johnson Uchenna and his wife, Rosemary Uchenn, along with their two daughters, Stella Uchenna and Ngozi Uchenna, as well as their family friend, Okoro Elijah, have been taken into custody after an investigation revealed they run a major illicit drug distribution network in Lagos,” the statement read.

“The couple was first arrested on Friday, 13th June by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Ojo area of the state and transferred to NDLEA along with 277. 5kg skunk.

“While they were still being investigated in custody, credible intelligence revealed that the family business was going on in his house. This led to a raid of their home and a packing store where 231kg of the same substance was recovered on Tuesday, 1st July. ” “Three persons arrested during the raid include their two daughters: Ngozi Uchenna and Blessing Uchenna, as well as their family friend Okoro Elijah, who was running the family business in the absence of the couple. ”

The anti-narcotics agency also intercepted cocaine consignments concealed in lipsticks and property title documents going to the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, respectively.

The illicit drug consignments, according to the statement, were recovered from cargo being prepared for shipment at a courier company in Lagos on Thursday, July 3, 2025, by NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) attached to the logistics firm.

“In another operation at the Lagos airport, a total of 52 pieces of the travellers cheques concealed in children’s books, worth 17,700,000 Australian dollars, going to Malaysia through Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight were on Friday 4th July intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the export shed of the airport while a freight agent, Bolarinwa Saheed has been arrested.

The Rivers State Police Command has declared two senior officials of the Ahoada-East Local Government Area wanted for their alleged involvement in the violent assault on the Administrator of the council, Goodluck Iheanachor.

The suspects — Hector Ekeakita, who serves as Chief Security Officer, and Aloni Olodi, the Chief of Staff — are accused of criminal conspiracy, stealing, assault occasioning harm, and attempted murder.

According to a statement released by the spokesperson of the Rivers Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, the incident occurred on June 20, 2025, at the council’s secretariat, where the administrator was reportedly beaten by a gang of about 30 individuals.

The suspects allegedly inflicted bodily harm, stole his mobile phones and sensitive documents, and forcefully obtained his signature under duress before carting away both personal and official items from his office.

READ ALSO: I Didn’t Attack Rivers Council Administrator — CSO

The police said Iheanachor was currently receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained during the assault.

The police said that despite a formal invitation by the authorities, both Ekeakita and Olodi had failed to present themselves for questioning.

The Command, therefore, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga A. Adepoju, had officially declared them wanted and advised the suspects to report to the state police headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, without further delay.

The CP also warned that anyone found aiding or sheltering the wanted individuals would be prosecuted.

CSO Denies Attack

Iheanachor had denied any involvement in the attack on the administrator.

The Chief Security Officer of the administrator of the Ahoada-East LG was a guest on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on June 23.

“I, as the chief security officer, how would I do that? How would I venture into carrying hoodlums to go and attack the man I’m working with? I was never found in the video,” he said.

He explained that he was in his office when he heard a noise and saw what was happening, but was told not to interfere.

Ekakita said, “When I heard the noise of the political appointees that the sole administrator did not pay for May when I barged in, I was asked to shut the door, that it was between him and those political appointees.

“I never made any video or carried any hoodlums to go and attack him. So, where did I and the chief of staff come into the picture? ”

Controversy had trailed the reported resignation of Ihemnacho after a disturbing video surfaced online showing him being beaten by some individuals.

A lion that escaped a theme park near the Turkish resort of Antalya was shot dead Sunday after attacking a man, the local governor and media reports said.

The lion, reportedly named Zeus, escaped his enclosure at the Land of Lions animal theme park in Manavgat, some 60 kilometres west of Antalya in the early hours of the morning, the local governor said in a statement.

According to BirGun newspaper, the lion then attacked an agricultural worker called Suleiman Kir who was asleep in a pistachio field with his wife.

Kir then tussled with the lion before it ran off. He was injured but not badly and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

“We were covered with blankets to protect ourselves from mosquitoes and when the prayer call sounded, I tried to stand up but I couldn’t,” he told the newspaper.

“Suddenly, I felt something touch my left foot and when I eventually managed to get up, I saw it was something huge — I thought it was a dog. ”

In a video posted online, he described the moments wrestling with the lion.

“We called for help, but there was no one around. As the lion was biting my calf and my neck, I grabbed him around the neck and began to squeeze, and he backed off. At that moment, the security forces came,” he said.

“If I had not been strong, I wouldn’t be here right now. ”

Antalya’s governor said in a statement that the lion had been tracked down and shot dead.

“It was not possible to catch the escaped lion alive because it posed a danger to people and the environment so it was shot,” he said, indicating that an investigation had been opened into the incident.

Nine people have been killed in an attack on Malamfatori in the Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attack also left four others injured in the attack on the border community, 272 kilometres from Maiduguri.

In a press statement from the Borno State Government, the Governor, Babagana Zulum, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Sugun Mele, condoled with the families of the victims of the attack, making cash donations to them.

“We are here at the instance of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who is out of the country on an official assignment to condole with the people of Malam Fatori over the recent unfortunate attack. He assured that the Borno State government and the military will do everything possible to secure the town,” he said.

READ ALSO: LASTMA Confirms Eight Dead, Eight Injured In Lagos Road Accident

See the full statement below:

Zulum Condoles Residents of Malam Fatori over Recent Attack

… Announces Resettlement of an Additional 3,000 families

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has commiserated with the people of Malam Fatori, Abadam local government area, over the recent attack by Boko Haram insurgents that claimed nine lives and left four others injured.

Addressing the people of the area, governor Zulum, whose condolence message was delivered by the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Sugun Mai Mele, assured that government will continue to take adequate measures to ensure their safety and the protection of the town.

“We are here at the instance of His Excellency, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who is out of the country on an official assignment to condole with the people of Malam Fatori over the recent unfortunate attack. He assured that the Borno State government and the military will do everything possible to secure the town,” Zulum assured.

“Malam Fatori is one local government area that we are committed to ensuring its stability because of its strategic importance, urging the people to be more resilient and prayerful to avert future incidents,” he added.

While commending the military for their commitment and gallantry, the commissioner announced the deployment of excavators to dig trenches around the local government headquarters to fortify the town from further attacks by Boko Haram/ISWAP groups.

“Let me warn against colluding with Boko Haram, as we will seek divine intervention from the Holy Quran; anyone found collaborating with the insurgents to bring harm or attack to the people of Malam Fatori will be cursed. ”

Hon. Mai Mele then presented cash support of N500,000 to each of the bereaved families and N250,000 to each of the four individuals undergoing treatment.

… Announces Resettlement of an Additional 3,000 families

Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor Usman Tar, has announced that the Borno State government would soon resettle an additional 3,000 households in Malam Fatori.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the sympathy visit, the commissioner said this will bring 5,000 the total number of resettled families.

“Already, Borno State government had resettled 2,000 households, and the government is planning to resettle another 3,000 households soon, making it 5,000 households,” Tar announced.

“Let me assure the people that the state government is poised to provide necessary security arrangements, providing the necessary resources and security to consolidate their stay in their homeland. ”

Professor Tar called on the people to be resilient and prayerful, urging them to report any suspicious movements to relevant authorities.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that the International Conference Centre, Abuja, which cost ₦39 billion to refurbish and was renamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, has generated ₦700 million in three weeks.

Wike disclosed this at the Thanksgiving service for the completion of projects by the FCT administration on Sunday.

He said before the advent of the President Bola Tinubu administration, the centre was poorly managed, with low revenue accruing to the Federal Government annually.

“The Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, you know, there were people who were running it. They were paying the government ₦50 million every year.

“These are people who want to rescue Nigeria. When we went there, the President said, ‘Look, this is an eyesore,’ that this is not a quality, this is not a Nigeria we should prevent. And we shut the place down. And within six to seven months, we have rehabilitated the international control centre,” he said.

READ ALSO:  Tinubu Sees Vision, Knew Wike Would Perform As FCT Minister — Anglican Vicar

Wike added, “But do you know the shocking thing? The man who was running it, from Adamawa, was paying the government ₦50 million a year.

“But in the three weeks that we just renovated it, we have made over 700 years. This is paying into the coffers of the government ₦50 million a year, but in three weeks, we have made over ₦700 million.

“The same people who will come and tell you they will rescue Nigeria — ₦700 million in three weeks! ”

The minister further stated that it was ironic that those who had the opportunity to serve but mismanaged the country were criticising Tinubu’s administration and claiming that they wanted to rescue Nigeria.

He added, “People had the opportunity to be in the government for several years — eight years, 20 years. People had an opportunity to bring facilities and infrastructure to their states. They didn’t do it.

“That time, Nigerians were not angry. It’s only now that they are not in office that Nigerians are angry. If I say, ‘Look, we want to rescue Nigeria. ’
What you should ask me is, ‘When you had the opportunity, what happened? ‘”

‘Projects Everywhere’

Wike said Nigerians could attest to the positive changes and developments in the FCT due to Tinubu’s decision to pull the FCT out from the Treasury Single Account.

He explained, “Before now, it was difficult for the FCT to access funds. Mr. President, in his wisdom, believed that we should pull out from the Single Treasury Account that had been debilitating the development of the FCT.

“Today, we can see projects because we are no longer operating under the Single Treasury Account. All this was done because Mr. President believes that we should be on our own, have access to commercial banks, and be able to pay back.

“If we want to do projects today, we will have access to commercial banks and use our revenue as collateral. And so, that is why you are seeing projects left, right, and centre.

The inauguration of the centre by Tinubu on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, was greeted with criticism by opposition leaders, some of whom faulted the amount spent on rehabilitating the facility.

However, Wike described them as people who “don’t have good taste”.

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly constructed Left-Hand Service Carriageway in Abuja, he said, “Nigeria, as the Giant of Africa, must not only show that it is the Giant of Africa; people must see what makes it the Giant of Africa. Nobody who loves this country would criticise the International Conference Centre.