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Smuggling: Cartel, Nigerian security Operatives Allegedly Pocket N24Billion Monthly

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Smuggling: Cartel, Nigerian security Operatives Allegedly Pocket N24Billion Monthly

A notorious smuggling network operating along the Seme–Badagry and Idi Iroko corridors within Nigerian security forces has been exposed.

The Union of Pioneers Association of Smugglers disclosed this.

Members of the union alleged that Nigerian security operatives and border-area residents have long served as foot soldiers for an illicit trade worth around N24 billion monthly.

Speaking anonymously, union leaders claimed that a powerful syndicate backed by senior security figures oversees the flow of contraband, including rice, vehicles, fuel, and other restricted items, from the Republic of Benin into Lagos. They say goods are routinely cleared after “settlements” with customs officers and escorted safely by military personnel.

The union accused a well-known smuggling coordinator of running what they described as a “mafia-style structure” that enriches a select few at the expense of indigenous operators.

“He doesn’t own a single vehicle, but he collects returns from every operation,” a member said. “His investment keeps growing, while the real indigenes can’t boast of any.”

Attempts by the union to create a new operational team, known as Team C, have allegedly been blocked repeatedly by security operatives. Despite interventions from community leaders and even a prominent Yoruba traditional ruler, the union claims officials have stalled the process to protect their financial interests.

Bandits claim Kebbi, Niger abductions, vow more attacks on soldiers, politicians [VIDEO]
“They don’t want Team C because it will cut into the billions they make,” another union executive said.

Members further accused soldiers attached to two major formations in Badagry of providing escort services for smuggled goods instead of securing Nigeria’s borders. As recently as Saturday, one source claimed, army personnel were seen supervising loading operations after a clearance arrangement involving some customs officials.

“The military are supposed to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity, but they are escorting smuggled rice and cars into Lagos,” a member alleged.

Multiple senior officers across several formations, including the customs service, were also named by insiders as allegedly offering top-level protection for the network.

While Lagos border routes are described as “crippled” due to the cartel’s grip, the union claims several Ogun State border points are fully active and currently serve as alternative entry routes for smuggled goods, further expanding the cartel’s reach.

“Lagos is dead unless you are connected. But Ogun is booming. That’s why the money is huge,” one union member said.

With December approaching, a month typically marked by heightened smuggling, union members say they were again informed this week that their long-requested operational approval would not be granted. They now accuse security operatives of colluding with the cartel to monopolise the Christmas surge in contraband movement.

Feeling sidelined, the union says it is preparing a petition to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, calling for a full-scale investigation into what they describe as a “billionaire smuggling empire backed by uniformed personnel.”

They insist the alleged involvement of soldiers, customs officers, and police officers shows how deeply entrenched corruption is at Nigeria’s borders.

The spokesperson of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, has yet to comment on the allegations as of filing this report.

This comes despite the operation of the NCS anti-smuggling unit.

NCS announced in July that it had seized N1.84 billion worth of contraband in South West Nigeria alone.

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NDLEA Destroys Illicit Drug Warehouses In Ondo, Ekiti Forests

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NDLEA Destroys Largest Seizure

NDLEA Destroys Illicit Drug Warehouses In Ondo, Ekiti Forests

NDLEA destroys illicit drug warehouses in Ondo, Ekiti forests. A total of 2,483 compressed blocks of skunk and 247 bags of the same substance, all weighing 5,442 kilogrammes, were recovered, and five suspects were arrested.

Operatives of a special operations unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency stormed forests in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti, destroying 14,654 kilograms of skunk and arresting two suspects.

The agency disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. It said the operatives in another operation on December 2 stormed the forests in Asin-Ekiti, Ikole LGA, Ekiti, where they destroyed 54,300kg of skunk in two large warehouses that were razed.

It said that 28.3kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered for the purpose of prosecution.
NDLEA operatives raided the Igoba forest in Akure North LGA, Ondo, on December 2. A total of 2,483 compressed blocks of skunk and 247 bags of the same substance, all weighing 5,442 kilogrammes, were recovered, and five suspects were arrested.

According to the anti-narcotics agency, 500kg of the same substance was recovered from a Mercedes-Benz van marked MGU 614 XB by NDLEA officers on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road in Niger, on December 4, with the driver arrested.

It disclosed that NDLEA operatives in the FCT Abuja on December 3 intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis, weighing 22kg at Abaji expressway. A follow-up operation at the Jabi park in Abuja led to the arrest of a female receiver.
Also in the FCT, a suspect was arrested by operatives on Friday with 24kg of skunk and 573,500 pills of exol-5 along the Kwali-Gwagwalada expressway.

In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered 217 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 113kg from a suspect at Ladipo Market, Mushin.
A suspect was nabbed with 351kg of skunk at the Onipanu area of the state on December 5,  adding that another suspect was arrested with 104.1kg of the same psychoactive substance at the Trade Fair complex, Ojo, on December 2.

NDLEA Destroys Largest Seizure

NDLEA Destroys Largest Seizure

A total of 447.5 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered from two Honda Accord cars marked: ABC-678 KK and GGE-772 FB at Agho forest, Akoko Edo LGA, Edo.

A suspect was apprehended in connection with the seizure. A raid operation at a warehouse in the Isiefve community, Uhunwonde LGA, led to the seizure of 315.8kg of skunk and the arrest of a male suspect.

“With the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities, among others, in the past week,” said the statement.

These include WADA sensitisation lectures to students and staff of St. Michael’s Academy, Sabon Gari, Kano; Harry Pass Secondary School, Masaje, Gboko LGA, Benue; and Community Junior Secondary School, Okuru-Ama, Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers, among others.

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High Court Summons Wike In N40bn Defamation Suit Filed By Tonye Cole

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High Court Summons Wike In N40bn Defamation Suit Filed By Tonye Cole

High court summons Wike in N40bn defamation suit filed by Tonye Cole. A high court in Abuja has ordered Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to enter an appearance in a N40 billion defamation suit instituted against him by Tonye Cole. The suit also lists Channels Incorporated Limited, owners of Channels Television, as a defendant.

The court, in a notice seen on Friday, said the matter, marked CV/4502/25, will be heard on December 9 before M. A. Hassan, judge of court 33. “Take notice that suit no: CV/4502/25 Tonye Patrick Cole vs Nyesom Ezenwo Wike & Anor will come up on the 9th day of December 2025 before Hon. Justice M. A. Hassan (Court 33) for mention,” the notice reads.

Cole’s legal team, led by Jibrin Okutepa, said the action was initiated after Wike and Channels Television allegedly failed to comply with a pre-action notice and a letter of demand dated October 8.
Cole, the 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, is seeking N40 billion in damages over comments made by Wike during a live interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on September 18.

The claimant said the statements were false and malicious, adding that they damaged his reputation in personal, professional, and public spheres.

Court filings indicate that Wike’s remarks suggested Cole was involved in financial misconduct and mismanagement of state resources, including matters linked to Rivers state gas and the Olympia Hotel.

High Court Summons Wike

High Court Summons Wike

 

 

Cole’s counsel argued that the comments were defamatory because they imputed dishonesty and wrongdoing, thereby injuring the former APC governorship candidate’s standing nationally and internationally.
Cole said he suffered humiliation, mental anguish, and reputational harm owing to a “malicious, reckless, and unfounded defamatory broadcast and publication.”
He is asking for N500 million to cover the cost of the litigation and a judicial declaration that the statements were false and defamatory.

He wants an order compelling the defendants to retract the claims, delete the broadcast from all platforms, and issue a public apology on Channels Television and in at least five national newspapers.
Cole is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing any further defamatory material about him.

The court directed the defendants to enter an appearance within 21 days of receiving the writ.

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Police Arrests Seven Suspected Kidnappers In Gombe

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Police

Police Arrests Seven Suspected Kidnappers In Gombe

Police arrests seven suspected kidnappers in Gombe. According to Mr Abdullahi, the suspects will be charged to court on completion of investigation.

The police in Gombe have apprehended seven suspects for alleged kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state.

This is contained in a statement by the spokesman for the command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, on Friday in Gombe.

Mr Abdullahi said operatives of the command on November 23 detained a 40-year-old suspect (name withheld), who is a member of an interstate kidnapping syndicate.

He said the operatives acted on intelligence indicating that the suspects were harbouring criminals, engaged in kidnapping and cattle rustling.

Mr Abdullahi said preliminary investigation showed that the suspects have accomplices in Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe and Adamawa.
“Acting on intelligence, police operatives attached to Operation Hattara in collaboration with the Gombe State Professional Hunters Association, stormed identified criminal hideouts.

“Engaging the suspects in a gun duel and successfully arresting six additional members of the gang,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi said the operatives neutralised two suspected members of the gang, while one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and eight rounds of live ammunition were recovered.

Police

Police

He said the corpses of the neutralised kidnappers had been deposited at the mortuary, Specialist Hospital Gombe
The spokesman said preliminary investigation also showed that the suspects participated in several kidnappings and collected about N160 million ransom.

According to Mr Abdullahi, the suspects will be charged to court on completion of investigation.

While urging the residents to cooperate with the police, Mr Abdullahi reiterated the command’s commitment to protect lives and property.

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