
News
NDLEA arrests 18,940 drug traffickers in 18 months — Marwa
Retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, said the Agency had arrested 18,940 drug traffickers in the last 18 months.
“This is an indication of the magnitude of the problem, and indeed a problem with dire consequences,” Marwa added.
Marwa spoke on Thursday in Abuja at a one-day: “Drug Awareness Conference, 2022,” with a theme: “Drug and Substance Abuse: The Effect on Mental Health and National Security.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the conference was organised by the Initiative Against Addiction and Substance Abuse and National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and NDLEA.
Marwa said: “Today, the public is familiar with NDLEA’s arrests, prosecutions, convictions and seizures.
“We are doing much more behind the scene.

“We are scaling up efforts for the prevention, treatment, care and rehabilitation of drug-dependent individuals in our facilities.
“In this regard, we have counselled, treated and rehabilitated not less than 12,326 in the past 18 months.
“In collaboration with and support of UNODC, we have launched standard guidelines for our counselling in all our centres.”
Marwa said that the agency had inaugurated a drug abuse call centre with the toll-free helpline 0800-1020-3040 where drug users, their families or employers can call in for help and are offered tele-therapy services by certified professionals.
“They include counsellors, psychologists, psychotherapists and other mental health experts. And this is free of charge – both the call itself and the services offered are free,” the NDLEA chairman said.
He said the NDLEA had found out that there was a strong nexus between illicit drugs and the spate of insecurity being unleashed by terrorists, bandits and other non-state destabilising actors.
In a message to the occasion, the National Security Adviser, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, represented by Ambassador Mohammed Ahmed, said that Nigeria was experiencing rising demand and trafficking of illicit drugs.
Monguno also said that the ugly development had given rise to crimes, banditry, kidnapping and other related security challenges.
The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger Traditional Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, said the drug problem in Nigeria was an emergency that required a collective action.
Abubakar, who is also the Chairman, Board of Trustees of IAASAN, said: “We are deeply concerned about the escalation witnessed in recent times in the trafficking and use of unwholesome substances and drugs in the society.”
He said that IAASAN was determined to complement efforts to curb the menace of substance and drugs abuse in the country.
The convener and CEO of IAASAN, Ambassador Princess Raphael, said that traditional rulers play key roles in fighting the drug menace in the country.
Raphael said: “Some of the victims of drug and substance abuse feel more comfortable to talk to the traditional rulers.
“Therefore, we will increase our collaboration with them to complement the efforts of NDLEA to fully combat the menace.”

News
Terrorists kill kidnapped Zamfara teacher after collecting ransom
A teacher at Federal Government College, Anka, Mustapha Yahaya Maru, has reportedly been k!lled by armed band!ts despite the payment of ransom for his release.
Sahara Reporters reports that Maru was abducted early May while travelling to Anka in Zamfara State alongside several other passengers after their vehicle was intercepted by the attackers.
Following the abduction, the k!dnappers contacted his family and demanded a ransom far beyond their financial capacity.The report states that after intense efforts and negotiations, the family eventually raised and paid the agreed amount in hopes of securing his freedom.
Tragically, the bandits k!lled Maru on Tuesday instead of releasing him.
His de@th has thrown his family and the Maru community into mourning and has further heightened concerns over the worsening insecurity in the region.


News
VDM must face law over fake viral Tinubu Audio, Says Presidency
The Presidency on Wednesday said social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VDM, should face the law over the circulation of an alleged fake audio purportedly involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated this in a post on X, accusing VDM of disseminating false content on social media.
“This VDM needs to face the weight of the law for being the conveyor and disseminator of a fake audio of President Tinubu. This is a clear case of an egregious abuse of the social media platform,” Onanuga wrote.
The presidential aide was reacting to a post by an X user, identified as Aneex, who questioned why some people believed the voice in the audio belonged to Tinubu.
The user described the audio as “cheap propaganda” and alleged that VDM was exploiting emotions to spread misinformation.
In the viral content, VeryDarkMan allegedly used the audio to call on Nigerians to reject President Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general elections.

The development comes just days after President Tinubu secured the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress at the party’s nationwide direct primary held on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
During the exercise, Tinubu reportedly polled 10,999,162 votes, defeating his sole challenger, APC chieftain Stanley Osifo, who secured 16,503 votes from over 12 million registered party members.
Meanwhile, opposition figures are already positioning ahead of 2027, with Peter Obi expected to fly the flag of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also expected to lead the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket.

News
Eid-el-Kabir: Mbah preaches unity, tolerance, sacrifice, hope
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has felicitated Muslim faithful in the state and the nation as whole on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, urging unity, tolerance, sacrifice, and hope.
Mbah, in his Eid goodwill message on Tuesday, also called for charity, urging Nigerians to rise in solidarity with one another, especially the less privileged.
He said, “On the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir, I extend warm felicitations to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Enugu State and across Nigeria as they commemorate this sacred festival of faith, sacrifice, and devotion to Almighty Allah.
“Eid-el-Kabir reminds us that sacrifice lies at the very heart of true service to God and humanity. It calls to mind the profound blessings inherent in the virtues of patience, obedience, trust, and unwavering faith – values exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim and which remain timeless lessons for us all.
“At a time when our nation continues to navigate important political and economic transitions, the significance of this celebration becomes even more profound.
“Let us be reminded that we all belong to one shared humanity and our collective progress as a people depends on our ability to uphold unity, mutual respect, peace, and compassion above all divisions.

“This season, therefore, offers us another opportunity to recommit ourselves to the ideals of tolerance, sacrifice for the common good, and solidarity with one another, especially the vulnerable among us.
“As we celebrate, I urge all citizens to continue to pray for the peace, stability, and prosperity of our dear state and nation. Let us also continue to work together in harmony to build a society defined by justice, opportunity, and shared progress for all.”
He concluded by wishing the Muslim faithful a peaceful and joyous Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

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