The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, on Tuesday, destroyed 304,436 kg and 40,042 litres of illicit substances seized from parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement made available to journalists, said the seized drugs were publicly destroyed in Badagry, Lagos.

Babafemi quoted the agency’s Chairman, Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), as saying that the open destruction of the seized illicit drugs followed court orders.

He was also said to have called for more public support for ongoing efforts by the NDLEA and other stakeholders to curb the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.

“Though a routine exercise and an established process of removing dangerous substances from our society, the public destruction of confiscated illicit drugs is usually conducted at the end of their related cases in court”, the NDLEA boss stated, adding that the exhibits being destroyed were of mixed types, “which include illicit drugs in solid and liquid states as well as in various classes such as cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and tramadol, among others.”

He said the drugs were seized by the agency’s operatives across different formations in Lagos and Ogun states from January 2022 till date, especially at the Lagos seaports, airports, and land borders.

“To be destroyed here today on the order of the court are solid drugs, weighing 304,436.055kg and 40, 042. 621 litres of liquid drugs. The sheer volume of the drug haul speaks volumes about the extent of the nefarious activities of the drug underworld,” Marwa said.

He thanked traditional rulers, heads of security agencies, the clergy, members of NGOs and CSOs, as well as other stakeholders who witnessed the ceremony.

“The destruction of these seizures complies with the NDLEA Act, which mandates the Agency to destroy all drug exhibits after prosecution. We want to say that your presence here is a testament to this important occasion. To this end, we appreciate all stakeholders and members of the public for witnessing this exercise”, he added.

Marwa commended the Agency’s local and international partners, “especially the American Drug Enforcement Administration (US-DEA); United Kingdom NCA, Border Force; the Germans, the French; and Indian NCB, among others who had worked with us on a number of busts. Similarly, we appreciate the Nigerian military and other law enforcement agencies such as the Customs; Immigration; Police; Civil Defence; FRSC; NFIU, NAFDAC and others that have been supporting our efforts to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs.”

While assuring all that the NDLEA will not relent in its effort to end the drug scourge in the country, Marwa called for more public support for the activities of the agency.

“The safety of our society is the responsibility of every one of us. Every citizen shall be fulfilling his or her civic duty by assisting the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign to clean up our communities and cities. Together, we can make this country secure”, he added.

Similarly, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the NDLEA to tackle the scourge of illicit drugs in the country.

“Almost all crimes and criminalities are fueled by illicit drugs, so the Lagos State government appreciates the NDLEA and its leadership in their resolute fight against illicit drugs. The volume of illicit drugs being destroyed here today speaks volumes, and every right-thinking person should be worried,” he stated.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Chairman, Badagry West Local Government, Mr Olusegun Onilude, also thanked the agency for taking the War Against Drug Abuse social advocacy campaign to schools and communities across Lagos State.

“No doubt, the NDLEA is working, and the state will continue to collaborate with the agency and its leadership,” he added.

Israel launched a “diplomatic offensive” against Iran on Tuesday, calling on 32 countries to impose sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards and their missile programme.

Late on Saturday, Iran carried out an unprecedented direct attack on Israel, using more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, in retaliation for a deadly April 1 air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

The Israeli military said it intercepted 99 per cent of the aerial threats with the help of the United States and other allies, and that the attack caused only minor damage, including to a military base in the country’s south.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he had launched a diplomatic offensive to counter Iran.

“Alongside the military response to the firing of the missiles and the UAVs, I am leading a diplomatic offensive against Iran,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X.

Katz didn’t specify which governments he had asked to impose sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards, who are already blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by the United States and are subject to EU sanctions.

Israeli officials have vowed to retaliate against Iran, which said its weekend attack was in response to the strike on the Iranian consulate that killed seven Revolutionary Guards, two of them generals.

“Iran must be stopped now – before it is too late,” Katz said on Tuesday.

There is confusion in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following the murder of a 70-year-old woman, Mma-Offiong James Peter, by her son, Inyangake James Peter.

The suspect, who was arrested by the police on April 4, 2024, at about 9:00 am, said he acted based on a voice which kept prompting him to kill her.

This was contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Akwa Ibom State Command, Odiko Macdon, on Monday.

The statement read, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested one Inyangake James Peter, 40 years old for gruesomely murdering his biological mother, one Mma-Offiong James Peter, about 70 years old on 4/4/2024 at about 9:00 am at Ikpe Annang Village in Etim Ekpo LGA.

“The Suspect who confessed to the crime has been transferred to the state CID for discrete investigation.

“The suspect on interrogation alleged that he had a voice saying ‘kill her’, ‘kill her’, and he decided to oblige.”

In a related development, the statement added that the police have also arrested one Solomon Asuquo Isaac, who murdered his son as a result of a family misunderstanding.

It further read, “Also one Solomon Asuquo Isaac of Ikot Obok Nsit in Nsit Ibom LGA who murdered his son, one Iboro Isaac, 18-years-old, last year as a result of a family misunderstanding, has been arrested

“Cases of some family members killing their biological relations have been of great concern to the Command in recent times.

The statement added that the command also arrested another suspect for possession of arms and ammunition.

“On 9/4/2024, Anti-Robbery Squad of the Command on stop and search intercepted and arrested one Ekemini Edet Akpan of Ekpene Ikpan Village, Nsit Ibom LGA along Calabar Itu Highway by Raycon Construction Company, for having one locally made gun, one revolver pistol and eighteen live cartridges.

“Suspects will be charged to court after investigation”, the statement concluded.

In April 2020, Theheute reported that a 37-year-old man in Anambra State, Chigorom Ezeofor, allegedly hacked his father to death.

Theheute gathered that the incident occurred in Umuchiana village in the Aguata Local Government Area of the state.

A family source told our correspondent that the suspect had been exhibiting some unusual behaviour before the incident occurred.