By Aliyu Dangida
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a suspected fake soldier, Hayatu Galadima, and his accomplice, Hamisu Adamu, while they were transporting drugs, ammunition, and communication equipment to bandits in Kaduna.
In a separate operation, the agency recovered imported liquid cannabis from a final-year University of Port Harcourt student, as well as 40 grams of cocaine hidden in a University of Uyo degree certificate bound for Australia.
Galadima and his associates were apprehended by an NDLEA patrol team on the Gwagwalada expressway in Abuja on Friday, September 30, 2021.
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According to Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, items recovered from them include 21 RLA 7.45mm ammunition concealed in a water bottle; 16 packs of new two-way radio (walkie-talkie); four army colored head masks; wallet containing army ID card, 1USD, two FCMB, one First Bank, one Ecobank, one UBA, and one Skye Bank ATM cards; wraps of cannabis Sativa; tramadol tablets; According to Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, items recovered from them include 21 RLA 7.45mm ammunition concealed in a water bottle; 16 packs of new two-way radio (walkie-talkie); four army colored head masks; wallet containing army ID card, 1USD, two FCMB, one First Bank, one Ecobank, one UBA, and one Skye Bank ATM cards; wraps of cannabis Sativa; tramadol tablets;
While Hayatu Galadima claimed to be a Lance Corporal serving in Ibadan, they also stated that the exhibits would be taken to Kaduna and Kano. According to preliminary investigations, the suspects may have had contact with bandits in the North West and were possibly transporting ammunition and two-way radios to bandits who are currently excommunicated due to the suspension of telecommunications services in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kaduna states.
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Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, has directed the agency’s FCT Command, which made the arrest, to transfer the suspects to authorities of the Nigerian Army and another intelligence agency, which had previously placed the two men on its watch list, for further investigation.
Mario Okiwelu, a final-year Fine Arts and Design student at the University of Port Harcourt, was arrested in Rivers State for importing from the United States five variants of liquid cannabis weighing 49.6g.
On Monday, September 27, 2021, he and his accomplice, Precious Awuse, were apprehended via controlled delivery in the NIPOST area of Port Harcourt.