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Customs intercepts ammunition, cannabis, others worth N10bn, arrest 5

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Some of the impounded weapons
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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 16 containers of cannabis indica, arms, expired pharmaceuticals, and other counterfeit goods valued at more than N10 billion.

Already, five suspects have been arrested over the seizures  of the prohibited items at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi disclosed this at a news conference on Monday, highlighting that the seizures followed weeks of intelligence gathering, coordinated inspections, and inter-agency collaboration; stressing the Service’s commitment to protect the country from harmful imports and enforce existing trade laws.

In attendance were the representatives of key enforcement agencies, including the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), attended the event.

“Today, we have seizures of 16 containers laden with prohibited drugs, expired medication, expired food, and other items that run foul of our import prohibition guidelines, including arms and ammunition.

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“These smuggled items have a harmful effect on the health and well-being of unsuspecting Nigerians who would have consumed them, in addition to causing insecurity in the country.”

He particularly noted that among the intercepted items was a container, which initially passed inspection but, upon a second search prompted by intelligence, was found to contain 202 cans of Colorado Loud, a Canadian hard drug, weighing 101kg.

Further scanning revealed concealed arms and ammunition, including two pump-action rifles, 25 ammunition cartridges, one pistol with 55 rounds, and related accessories.

According to the Customs Boss, the consignment was linked to a Lagos resident, Babatunde Ogidiolu. Other seizures included seven containers of expired drugs and prohibited medicaments, three containers of expired food items, particularly margarine and three containers of absolutely prohibited used clothing.

He emphasised that the NCS would continue to work closely with sister agencies to ensure that harmful, substandard, and counterfeit products do not reach Nigerian markets.

“Our vow to protect the national economy and the well-being of citizens and residents of Nigeria remains unshaken”, he highlighted, warning that the NCS, with the support of other strategic partners, will continue delivering uncompromising enforcement, backed by intelligence to detect and seize prohibited items”.

Adeniyi said the intercepted items, aside from cannabis indica, arms, expired pharmaceuticals, and counterfeit goods, also included frozen poultry and used clothing.

He explained that three suspects had been charged to court and remanded in Ikoyi Prison, while two others were on administrative bail pending further investigation.

According to him, a 40-foot container with the number MRSU6407089, initially cleared as clean cargo, was discovered during a joint examination with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to contain 202 cans of Canadian cannabis.

The Customs boss said other seizures included seven containers of expired drugs and banned medicaments, three containers of expired food products, mainly margarine, three containers of prohibited used clothing, and two 40-foot containers with 1,290 sacks of frozen poultry each.

Adeniyi added that one container with the number ZZSU7277511 held 305 cartons of unregistered toothpaste concealed under beads and jalabiyas, while two other containers of expired chest and lung tablets without NAFDAC registration numbers were intercepted.

He noted that two newly arrived 40-foot containers of codeine syrup were also traced to the same syndicate.

Adeniyi placed the duty-paid value of the seized goods at over N10 billion, stressing that the street value in the hands of criminals would be far higher.

He said the operation demonstrated the NCS’s determination to prevent Nigeria from becoming a dumping ground for harmful imports.

He also confirmed that prosecutions had begun and warned that the service would sustain strict checks on pharmaceutical imports.

According to him, this will be achieved by stopping the transfer of such containers to bonded terminals outside the ports. He also cited operators’ failure to meet compliance standards.

Speaking at the event, Dr Olakunle Olaniyan, NAFDAC Director of Ports, said the intercepted pharmaceuticals were fake and dangerous to public health.

He affirmed that NAFDAC had inspection offices in China and India to monitor exports before they arrive in Nigeria.

Also, NDLEA Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Buba Wakawa, confirmed that the cannabis indica was imported from Canada and posed more harm than the locally grown cannabis sativa.

The Zonal Coordinator of NCCSALW, retired Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Alamutu, commended the NCS for consistently supporting the agency’s work against illicit arms trafficking.

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Security guard kidnaps employer’s two children, demands ransom

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The abducted children
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A private security guard has escaped with two kids from his employer in Minna, with the police suspecting abduction.

The security guard, named Sani Abdulrahaman, a Fulani by tribe, on Sunday, reportedly took Umaru and Anas, both six years old, on Sallah picnic without the knowledge of their father, Alhaji Danjuma, a businessman, and failed to bring them back home.

The father of the children raised the alarm asking the public and security agencies to help him locate the fleeing security guard and his children.

Danjuma said someone called him on Sunday evening and said he was in Erena forest in Shiroro Local Government Area with the children.

According to him, the caller asked for undisclosed ransom before his children who were in their custody would be released.

When contacted, Niger State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, which he said occurred about one o’clock on Sunday, May 31.

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Abiodun explained that the security man pretended that he was taking the children for Sallah celebration in the town, but did not return.

He said the police suspected abduction but disclosed that “investigation has commenced and efforts to locate the children are ongoing.”

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Police arrest suspect behind AI-generated Tinubu voice note

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Ifechukwu Dennis, the suspect
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The Nigerian Police Force has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis, the man identified as the originator of an AI-generated voice note that was widely circulated online as a leaked recording of President Bola Tinubu.

Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the arrest on Thursday in a post on his official X account.

“The IGP crack team has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis who originated the fake voice that he passed on to his gullible targets as President Tinubu’s voice,” he said.

The arrest closes a week-long controversy that began on May 27, 2026, when a video of social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, went viral.

In the clip, an AI-generated voice resembling Tinubu’s was heard making inflammatory statements — including that insecurity in the South-East was deliberate, that he had pressured Peter Obi to step down ahead of the 2023 election, and that he was indifferent to Nigerians’ suffering.

Investigations by multiple news organisations, however, established that VDM had not posted the doctored audio.

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An unidentified individual had extracted footage from VDM’s original Instagram video and superimposed the AI-generated voice notes before recirculating the manipulated version online.

Despite this, the Presidency had initially called for VDM’s prosecution.

Onanuga had described the incident as “a clear case of egregious abuse of the social media platform,” drawing criticism after fact-checkers confirmed VDM’s original video contained none of the fabricated audio.

Further details on the circumstances of Dennis’s arrest and the charges he may face were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.

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Five abducted Kwara worshippers killed, one escapes, others still held

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Terrorists have killed five out of the eight worshippers abducted at ECWA Church Omugo in Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state, says one escaped abductees.

Rev Sunday Omole had urged federal government to expedite action on the release of the abductees from the captivity of the terrorists.

The clergyman said government intervention had become necessary after the community paid the terrorists N20 million and provided additional items worth more than N300,000, yet the abductors refused to release the worshippers and instead demanded an additional N300 million ransom.

He added that from the action of the terrorists it was clear that they just wanted to be exploiting the community.

Recall that eight of the worshippers including the Pastor’s wife were kidnapped in the morning of March 22,2026 during a Sunday service.

The death of the five worshippers including the Pastor’s wife was disclosed in a statement issued by the Pastor of the church, Rev Sunday Omole, Wednesday evening.

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The statement reads:

“It is with deep pain in my heart that I inform the church, families and individual concerned in regard to the 8 people that were abducted from ECWA OMUGO on 22nd of March, 2026.

“We received one of our son’s, Mr Sunday Bakare also abducted over a month ago, he escaped and brought the following news that only 3 out of 8 of our people are remaining with the kidnappers. The remaining 5 have gone to be with the Lord.

“They are; Elder Chief David Omopariola,
Chief Joseph Ibitoye Afariogun,
Mrs Iyabo Aniyi,
Elder Joshua Akanbi Adeyemi and
Mrs. Rachel Oluwaremilekun Omole(his wife).

“Brethren, let’s know that God knows why He allows this to happen. The great comforter will comfort us in Jesus name, amen.

“The prayers of the saints in the beginning of the church also worked and answered still they had martyrs. John 16:33 says (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace . In this world you will have trouble . But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Heaven is our home and Gain. Let’s reason as child of God as we navigate this moment. God bless you, and comfort you all in Jesus name, amen.”concluded the statement.

It was also gathered that the three remaining worshipers are in terrible health condition, while a member of church who escaped from the terrorists captivity is currently receiving an urgent medical attention in a private hospital in OmuAran.

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