General News
NDLEA Discovers multi-billion-naira meth lab in Oyo village, arrests Mexican, four Nigerians
By Seyi Balogun, Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has discovered a multi-billion-naira secret methamphetamine laboratory in Oyo State and arrested five suspects, including a Mexican national allegedly recruited to provide technical expertise for the illicit operation.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja, describing the discovery as a major breakthrough in the agency’s ongoing campaign against drug trafficking and production syndicates.
Represented by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Marwa said the laboratory, located deep inside a forest in Tapa Village, Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, was raided on June 17 following actionable intelligence. In his words:
“Today, we are proud to announce that our operatives, acting on zero-sharp, credible intelligence, have struck another decisive blow deeper into the heart of yet another cartel.
“Tactical operatives of the NDLEA stormed the highly fortified industrial-scale clandestine methamphetamine laboratory operating deep within the forest of Tapa Village. This is not a rudimentary set-up; it was a sophisticated, highly organised transnational syndicate.”
NDLEA chair gave names of suspects arrested during the operation as a 56-year-old Mexican methamphetamine expert, Jose Villa Ochoa, and four Nigerians – Maxwell Nevoh, 30; Olatunji Yusuf, 37; Bankole Owolabi, 45; and Ganiu Monsiu, 43.
The arrest of the foreign suspect shows the international connection of the drug trade, Marwa said.
“The arrest of a foreign cartel specialist on Nigerian soil underscores the transnational nature of this threat, but more importantly, it underscores our agency’s world-class intelligence capability to track, intercept and neutralise them,” he said.
He disclosed that forensic experts deployed to the site after the raid uncovered what he described as “a massive factory-level production line of poison.”
According to him, the laboratory was stocked with large quantities of precursor chemicals, industrial catalysts and processing equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Among the materials recovered were several drums containing phenyl-2-propanone, phenylacetic acid, crystalline substances suspected to be methamphetamine, caustic soda, sulphuric acid and other chemical compounds.
He said, “The laboratory was fully stocked with a frightening array of precursor chemicals, industrial catalysts, and heavy-duty processing equipment. Chemicals and Materials recovered include: Phenyl-2-propanone, which is the main, highly controlled precursor required for methamphetamine synthesis; 1800-litre drums containing Phenylacetic acid (the primary precursor used to synthesise P2P); Two 180L drums containing a staggering 300 litres of whitish crystalline substance; Four 180L drums containing dark liquid undergoing synthesis.
“Others include: 101 bags (25kg each) of Caustic Soda; 17 containers (25L each) of Sulphuric Acid; 19.5 containers (25kg each) of Tartaric Acid; 5 containers of Reniso Ultracool 68 (three 50L and two 25L capacity; 25 bottles (500ml each) of 80% Thioglycolic Acid; 2 containers (25L each) of Ethyl Phenylacetate, and 25 cartons of aluminum foil.
“The Industrial Processing Equipment discovered at the site includes: One Reactor Pot, which is the heart of the chemical synthesis; two mounted distillation units and three fabricated mixers and condensers; as well as two vegetable dehydrator machines used for the rapid drying of the crystals.”
Marwa said immediate field tests conducted by forensic experts confirmed the presence of methamphetamine.
“Samples of the finished crystals recovered yielded a definitive positive result for methamphetamine.
“Every single gramme of this acid has been safely evacuated, documented and preserved for comprehensive and strict evidential presentation in court, ” he said.
The NDLEA chairman described the seizure as another major blow to drug syndicates seeking to establish production bases in the South-West region.
“This is yet another multi-billion-dollar worth of illicit substances and production equipment ready to push millions of doses of synthetic drugs into our streets, our communities and the international community, but for the vigilance of our dedicated officers,” he said.
Marwa noted that the latest discovery came barely four weeks after the agency dismantled another large methamphetamine laboratory in Ogun State.
“The proximity of this discovery to the Ogun State lab uncovered about four weeks ago reveals a desperate attempt by drug barons to establish a synthetic drug manufacturing hub in the South-West axis.
“They thought hiding in dense forests would shield them from the long arm of the law. They were indeed very wrong, “he said.
He warned drug traffickers and manufacturers against using Nigeria as a base for their operations.
Marwa said, “Let the message go out clearly to all drug cartels, domestic and international, that Nigeria is not and will never be a safe haven for your illicit trade,” Marwa said.
“We will find you in the cities, we will track you into the forests, and we will dismantle your infrastructure of death.”
The NDLEA boss commended officers involved in the operation, particularly personnel of the Oyo State Command, for what he described as their gallantry, dedication and professionalism.
He also thanked members of the public for providing credible intelligence that aided the operation.
“To the Nigerian public, we say thank you for your cooperation, for your trust, and credible information. Together, we are securing the future of our nation,” he added.
The latest operation came barely a month after the NDLEA uncovered another industrial-scale methamphetamine production facility concealed in a forest in the Ijebu area of Ogun State.
The operation led to the seizure of more than 2.4 tonnes of methamphetamine and other precursor chemicals used in the production of synthetic drugs.
During the raid, the agency arrested three Mexican nationals identified as Martinez Felix Nemecto, 46; Jesus López Valles, 40; and Torrero Juan Carlos, 51, alongside four Nigerian suspects — Nwankwo Sunday Christian, 41; Igwe Abuchi Remijus, 42; Ifeanyichukwu Chibuike Joshua, 23; and Egwuonwu Uchenna Victor, 38
By Vincent Tyosuugh
The suspension of Mr Vitalis Neji, Chairman of Kwande Local Government Area,
has been extended by six more months over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office, by the Benue State House of Assembly.
The Majority Leader, Mr Bemdoo Ipusu, on Thursday during plenary in Makurd, moved a motion for the extension and it was seconded by the Minority Leader, Mr Isaac Ochekliye.
Mr Alfred Emberga, speaker, ruling on the motion, directed Mrs Rita Iortsor, to continue in her acting capacity as chairman of the council until the conclusion of the investigation.
Neji was suspended on August 20 for three months based on the interim report by an ad hoc committee set up by the House to investigate allegations against him.
The committee’s report which was presented by the then Majority Leader and committee chairman, Mr Peter Ipusu, said Neji appeared in his appearance was unable to satisfactorily defend himself against the allegations.
Consequently, the House recommended his suspension, with the speaker ruling that it should take immediate effect to allow for further investigation into the allegations.
By Isa Abdul, Abuja
The hurdles for the African Democratic Congress leadership and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, are certainly multiplying ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a Federal High Court in Abuja invalidating a resignation letter allegedly written by former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The development has further complicated the dispute over the party’s leadership, following last week’s judgment which nullified the emergence of the National Working Committee led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark.
Justice Peter Lifu made a consequential declaration rendering every decision taken by the Mark-led NWC null and void, including the nomination and candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate of the ADC.
The weight of that decision has sunk deep against Atiku’s ambition to lead Nigeria.
According to the Punch, in the Certified True Copy of the judgment obtained on Wednesday, the court ordered that “…all actions, decisions, and steps taken by the 2nd (David Mark) and 3rd (Rauf Aregbesola) defendants [and other members of the NWC they represent] as national officers of the 1st defendant (ADC), from July 29, 2025, the date of their unlawful and illegal emergence as such officers, are null, void, and without effect.”
Although the court stopped short to declare Gombe the party’s substantive National Chairman, it ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission should recognise him as the only elected member of the ADC’s National Working Committee whose four-year tenure remained valid.
But holding on a string for survival, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council claimed that Gombe had acknowledged Mark as the National Chairman of the party during a National Executive Committee meeting. It also claimed that Gombe had officially resigned.
But Gombe denied resigning from his position, claiming that the purported letter of his resignation was fake with his signature bring forged to give it validity.
Lifu in his judgment also acknowledged some discrepancy in the signature which gave heft to his decision that it was forged.
Furthermore, Justice Peter Lifu, in the judgment of November 5, held that the invalidation of the process that produced Mark and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, did not automatically confer leadership of the party on Gombe.
In the CTC, the judge said the invalidity of the disputed leadership arrangement and Gombe’s claim to a particular office were separate legal issues.
“I must, however, distinguish the invalidity of a process from the plaintiff’s claim to automatic succession,” Lifu held.
He said Gombe’s argument that he was the only elected member of the party’s NWC who had not resigned might entitle him to supervise the party’s affairs. Still, he did not automatically establish his entitlement to a specific national office.
“The validity of the challenged process and the plaintiff’s entitlement to a particular office are related but separate questions,” the judge stressed.
He further stated that any declaration recognising Gombe as entitled to act as a national officer must be supported by the relevant provisions of the party’s constitution, evidence and applicable laws.
“Any relief declaring him entitled to act as a national officer must be supported by the applicable constitutional provisions and evidence, and subject to the internal working arrangements and decisions of the 1st Defendant and the provisions of applicable laws,” he said.
The court, however, declared that INEC was bound to recognise Gombe as “the only elected member” of the party’s NWC “whose four-year tenure remains in effect.”
Gombe had told the court that he was elected Deputy National Chairman on October 12, 2022, for four years.
Meanwhile, ADC has vowed to contest the judgment at the Court of Appeal with the view of upturning Justice Lifu’s rulings.
By Lazarus Oko
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) community has been thrown in grief, shock and mourning over the deaths of four students who reportedly participated in an off-campus party.
The deaths were confirmed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, who disclosed in a statement posted on the university’s Facebook page on Thursday that six other students who attended the gathering were receiving treatment at different hospitals.
Ten students from different departments, according to the statement, attended the party organised to celebrate a friend who had completed his final-year examinations. The four reportedly died after consuming substances suspected to be alcohol and drugs.
“Within these three days, all social and academic activities will be suspended in the University,” Ortuanya announced, saying the incident was “death too many”.
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