NDLEA Dismantles Colos Laboratory, Arrests Saudi-Bound Wanted Drug Lord in Lagos

After months of intelligence gathering and surveillance, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a notorious wanted drug lord, Yussuf Abayomi Azeez, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. Azeez was apprehended while attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, the lesser Hajj. According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the 40-year-old suspect had previously been arrested and charged with drug offences in the United Kingdom before jumping bail and fleeing to Nigeria. Upon his return, he allegedly established a large-scale drug production laboratory in the Lekki area of Lagos, specializing in the manufacture of Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis. “At about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2025, Yussuf walked into the waiting hands of NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport while attempting to board his flight to Saudi Arabia for Umrah,” the statement said. “He was swiftly taken to his clandestine laboratory located at 17 Vincent Eku Street, Ogombo, Lekki, which had been under surveillance for some time.” During the operation, NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring dismantled the facility and seized laboratory equipment, precursor chemicals, and already processed substances, including Colorado, weighing 148.3 kilograms. Azeez was arrested alongside Abideen Kekere-Ekun, 43, who was present at the laboratory during the raid. The NDLEA says the arrest marks a major breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on synthetic drug production networks operating within Nigeria.

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Kano Protesters Take To Streets To Reject Trump’s Allegations Of Christian Genocide

Massive protests erupted in Kano State on Saturday as Islamic groups marched to denounce U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statements on Nigeria’s security situation. Demonstrators flooded the streets with placards reading “We condemn Trump’s threat to attack Nigeria,” “There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria,” and “America wants to control our resources,” rejecting claims of a Christian genocide in the country. Trump had earlier labeled Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians and warned that the U.S. military could step in if the killings continued. The Nigerian government has dismissed these allegations, describing them as false, misleading, and an attempt to misrepresent the country’s security challenges.

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Ondo State Signs $50bn Investment Deal for Mega Refinery and Free Trade Zone

The Ondo State Government has signed a landmark $50 billion investment agreement with a consortium of international firms under the Sunshine Infrastructure Joint Venture (JV) to establish a 500,000-barrels-per-day refinery and a 1,471-hectare Free Trade Zone in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, announced the development in a statement on Wednesday, describing it as a “strategic milestone toward sustainable industrialisation and long-term economic stability.” According to the statement, the Sunshine Infrastructure JV comprises Backbone Infrastructure, MJ Care Investment Finance, China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), and Honeywell OUP. “This investment marks a new dawn for Ondo State. It will fast-track industrial development, attract more investors and create jobs for our people,” Governor Aiyedatiwa said. He assured the investors of his administration’s commitment to transparency, a business-friendly environment, and the protection of their investments, adding that his government’s policies were deliberately structured to promote ease of doing business. Project Overview The Ondo refinery project, to be located within the proposed Sunshine Free Trade Zone, will include large-scale storage, transport, and export infrastructure designed to position Ondo as a regional refining and logistics hub. The funding package, reportedly valued at NGN71.8 trillion ($50bn), follows the successful execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the consortium through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA). Backbone Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, the lead Nigerian partner, said the project had evolved from an earlier 100,000-barrel-per-day concept—estimated at $15 billion—to the current 500,000-bpd integrated development, reflecting its expanded capacity and infrastructure scope. Global Partners and Scale China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company, is expected to serve as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner, while Honeywell OUP, a private real estate and industrial arm of the Honeywell Group, will contribute expertise in industrial estate development. NEFEX Holding Limited, a Canadian strategic partner, will also participate in financing and project coordination across the energy and logistics value chain. From Vision to Execution Managing Director of the Sunshine Infrastructure JV, Mr. Henry Owonka, said the initiative had moved “from conception to execution” through consistent collaboration with ONDIPA and other state agencies. “The Sunshine JV is not just an investment; it’s a development framework that will transform industries, strengthen communities, and improve livelihoods,” Owonka stated. He noted that the project’s initial valuation of $30 billion was increased to $50 billion to accommodate expanded infrastructure and community-driven programmes, including education, local employment, and rural development. When completed, the refinery is expected to supply petroleum products both domestically and internationally, boosting Nigeria’s refining capacity and reducing dependence on imports.

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Tinubu Holds Private Talks With Sierra Leonean President, Julius Bio in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu and Sierra Leonean President Julius Bio held a private meeting on Friday night at the State House in Abuja. Bio arrived at the Villa at 9:08 pm, greeted by a full row of presidential bagpipers from the Brigade of Guards, before being escorted into Tinubu’s office for the closed‑door talks. The meeting comes four months after Bio took over as chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, succeeding Tinubu, who served in the role for two years. Although the details of the discussion were not made public, sources say it likely focused on regional and ECOWAS-related matters. The talks were held amid growing international attention on Nigeria’s handling of terrorism, following US President Donald Trump’s warning of potential military action over alleged mass killings of Christians—a claim Tinubu has denied, calling it inaccurate. Earlier this week, ECOWAS dismissed the genocide allegations as “false narratives designed to inflame tensions,” noting that extremist groups in the Sahel and West Africa target civilians of all faiths to destabilize communities and undermine social cohesion. This visit marks Bio’s first official trip to Nigeria since assuming the ECOWAS chairmanship.

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Nnamdi Kanu Skips Defence In Terrorism Trial, Case Adjourned To November

Nnamdi Kanu Says He Cannot Be Convicted Without Written Law Ahead Of November 20 Judgment

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has declared that he cannot be convicted without a written law, expressing his anger during his trial at the Abuja Federal High Court on Friday. A visibly agitated Kanu insisted that no one has the authority to convict him as he faces terrorism-related charges before Justice James Omotosho. He argued that the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, under which he is being prosecuted, has been repealed, rendering the charges against him invalid. Kanu’s outburst came after he refused to open his defense, even though the prosecution had concluded its case. In response to his refusal, Justice Omotosho scheduled November 20 for the delivery of judgment in a trial that has dragged on for 10 years. In open court, Kanu declared: “You can’t convict me without a written law. Are you insane? It’s not possible. Nobody can. I’m Nnamdi Kanu—who is going to try it?”

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Okonjo-Iweala Denies Fake Post Criticizing Tinubu As Trump Threatens Military Action In Nigeria

World Trade Organization Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has disavowed a viral social media post falsely attributed to her that criticized President Bola Tinubu’s handling of insecurity in Nigeria. The post, widely shared under the headline “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did,” falsely claimed that Okonjo-Iweala accused Nigerian leaders of prioritizing speeches over action in addressing banditry and insurgency. It also allegedly urged Tinubu to “stop the damage control speeches” and “secure the people.” Responding via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Okonjo-Iweala labeled the message as fake and malicious, warning the public not to believe or share it. She said legal action is being pursued against those behind the impersonation. “Beware, this story going around on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is false! We are taking action! The person who did this could not even spell my name,” she wrote, adding: “Whichever coward did this should write the message in their own name and not hide behind mine or anyone else’s! Scammers and 419ers, stop!” Her clarification comes amid renewed controversy following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claims that Christians in Nigeria are under attack. Trump warned on his Truth Social platform that the United States could intervene militarily, “guns blazing,” if the alleged violence continued. President Tinubu and the Nigerian government quickly rejected the claims of religious persecution. Tinubu stressed that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that his administration actively works with leaders of all faiths to maintain peace and security. He also dismissed foreign portrayals of Nigeria as intolerant, emphasizing the country’s diversity and unity. Despite these reassurances, Trump reiterated his willingness to take direct action if the alleged persecution persisted. He also called on U.S. lawmakers, including Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to investigate the situation and report back.

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Pastor Adeboye Tells Tinubu To Pressure Trump, Warns Security Chiefs: “Fix Terrorists Or Resign”

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has weighed in on U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threats of military action in Nigeria. In a video recorded during a recent church program, Adeboye appealed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to approach the matter with speed, diplomacy, and careful judgment. “My children, if I were asked to make suggestions, I will say quietly to our government, move fast, move diplomatically, move wisely. Find a way to convince the president of America to please delay his actions for about 100 days,” Adeboye said. He also urged that Nigeria’s security agencies be held accountable, advising: “Then come home and say to our security chiefs: get rid of these terrorists within 90 days, or resign.” The call comes after Trump designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” and threatened military intervention, citing what he described as ongoing attacks on Christians and the government’s failure to protect religious minorities. The Nigerian government, however, has strongly denied any persecution of religious groups, emphasizing that the country faces security challenges but no targeted religious violence.

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Russia Tells U.S. To Back Off Nigeria Amid Reports Of Planned Military Strikes

Russia has cautioned the United States to stay clear of Nigeria following reports that Washington is preparing for possible military intervention in the West African nation. During a press briefing in Moscow on Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow is “closely monitoring developments” and called on “all parties involved to strictly comply with international legal norms.” Reports earlier in the week indicated that U.S. defense officials had drawn up plans for air and ground strikes in Nigeria under President Donald Trump’s directive. The reported plan, according to American officials, is aimed at protecting Christians allegedly under attack by Islamic militants. President Trump recently redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” alleging that Christians in the country are victims of persecution. He warned that the U.S. would enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if the government “continued to ignore the attacks.” However, President Bola Tinubu and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have rejected the genocide claims, insisting that Nigeria’s conflict is driven by terrorism and banditry rather than religion. The presidency stated that while it welcomes international support to combat insecurity, it would not tolerate actions that threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty. Reaffirming Russia’s position, Zakharova said her government is watching the issue closely and expects “all nations to respect international law.” In a related interview with Russian national television, Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Communication, said Nigeria “does not need American boots on its soil.” He acknowledged that the country faces security challenges but emphasized that the government has made “massive progress” in addressing them.

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