In a major breakthrough, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled an international drug syndicate operating through Lagos, arresting two British nationals and two Nigerians in a sting operation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja. The suspects — Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra, Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon (both British nationals), along with Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole and Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami (Nigerians) — were caught red-handed with 92 bags of “Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 51.10kg. According to a statement released by the NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the arrests followed an intelligence-led operation on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Alexander arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, where NDLEA operatives allowed him to pass security while monitoring his movements. He was intercepted at the airport car park, where Adejuwon, Shonowo, and Ayobami were waiting in an SUV to collect the consignment. The suspects were arrested while attempting to leave the airport, with the drugs concealed in the vehicle. Alexander confessed that he had been recruited during a recent vacation and was promised £1,300 for the delivery. Adejuwon, identified as the ringleader, admitted that he had flown into Nigeria via South Africa and Ghana a day before. A subsequent raid on their apartment in Lekki led to the recovery of ₦3.81 million in cash, an Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four canisters of laughing gas (Nitrous Oxide). Additionally, ₦93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand were found on Adejuwon during his arrest. The NDLEA has vowed to continue its crackdown on international drug trafficking networks, warning that no syndicate will escape the long arm of the law.

The family of Okasime Olowojoba, the Labour Party (LP) chairman for Ward I in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, has raised fresh concerns over his continued captivity, one month after he was abducted along the Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo road. Olowojoba was kidnapped on Friday, April 26, 2025, while travelling with his family. He had gone to Auchi to pick up his wife, children, and housemaid in preparation for the children’s school resumption, when their vehicle was ambushed at a notorious bad spot near Sasaro. Despite paying a ransom of over N5 million, Olowojoba’s captors have yet to release him. His family says they have not heard from the kidnappers in over a week. Speaking to journalists, his younger brother, Omozame Olowojoba, expressed the family’s deep distress. He said: “Today is eight days since they last called us. They collected ransom on upper Tuesday and called us the next day to demand an additional N30 million, claiming the N5.3 million we paid was for feeding. The following day, they called again, asking for another N5 million, which we couldn’t raise. Since then, there has been no word from them. I spoke directly with my brother the day before they requested the N5.3 million.” The family has appealed to the Edo State Government, security agencies, and the public to intervene and help secure Olowojoba’s release. Omozame pleaded: “We are appealing to his abductors to please release him. He is a young man struggling to care for his family.” The people of Igarra and the entire Akoko-Edo community have joined the family in calling for urgent action to rescue Olowojoba.