crime

Woman Dies After NDLEA Arraignment in Benin Court

Published

7 months ago

April 1, 2026

Q Tinny

A 52-year-old woman dies after NDLEA arraignment in Benin City, Edo State, sparking calls for investigation into alleged negligence by operatives

Pandemonium erupted at the Federal High Court in Benin City on Tuesday after a 52-year-old woman, identified as Titilayo, collapsed and died shortly after being arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Also read: NDLEA arrests 74-year-old with 11kg cocaine at Abuja airport

The deceased, who had been held in custody since January 2026, was accused of selling substances suspected to be hard drugs. She was initially arrested by the Edo State Task Force before being handed over to the NDLEA.

Relatives who gathered at the court expressed outrage, alleging that Titilayo had not received adequate medical care while in custody.

They claimed she had been ill prior to her arraignment and criticised operatives for leaving her body unattended in the courtroom following the collapse.

The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, denied allegations of negligence, stating, “She was arraigned in court.

There was no issue that she was not physically fit. She personally walked to the car, got to the court, and came down herself. What happened is not something you can start trading blame.”

Ofoyeju added that the deceased had been arrested for selling Loud and suggested that the incident involved mistaken identity.

He said operatives focused on securing other accused persons amid the crowd, which may have created the impression that officers were abandoning the scene.

Also read: NDLEA Captures Notorious Drug Kingpin After 13 Years

The incident has intensified public anger, with calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Titilayo’s death and the conduct of NDLEA operatives during the arraignment.

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crime

Police Arrest Convicted Drug Dealer, Rescue 14-Year-Old Boy in Bauchi

Published

9 hours ago

October 27, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Bauchi drug dealer arrest leads to the rescue of a 14-year-old boy allegedly used as a drug courier and the recovery of suspected illicit substances

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer and rescued a 14-year-old boy who was allegedly being used to deliver illicit drugs in the state.

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The command said operatives of its Violent Crimes Response Unit intercepted the teenager during a routine patrol and recovered a granular whitish substance suspected to be methamphetamine.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to Habib, the operatives, led by the unit’s officer-in-charge, intercepted the minor, identified as Samuel Nkemakolan Kosi, at about 11 am on October 26, 2026, while he was allegedly on his way to deliver the suspected drug, also known as Ice, to a customer.

The statement said the teenager told investigators that he had been sent by Samuel Ogochukwu, a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery.

“Upon interrogation, the minor confessed that he was sent by one Samuel Ogochukwu, 22 years old, a convicted drug dealer, to make the delivery,” Habib said.

Following the information, detectives traced Ogochukwu to his location and arrested him.

A search of the suspect’s shop and residence reportedly led to the recovery of 3.5 grammes of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 17 sachets of 100mg tramadol capsules, five sachets of 300mg pregabalin capsules and seven sachets of diazepam.

The police also recovered 12 Exol tablets, two wraps of a substance known as Yellow Boys and one sachet of Shine Shine Leather.

Habib said the principal suspect told investigators that he received supplies of illicit drugs through waybills from Onitsha, Anambra State.

The police spokesman added that the 14-year-old had been handled in accordance with juvenile best practices and would be reunited with his family after counselling.

“The 14-year-old minor has been handled in line with juvenile best practices and will be reunited with his family after counselling, while the principal suspect will be charged to court upon completion of investigation,” the statement said.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the operatives for their work and urged the public to remain alert to criminal activity.

According to Habib, the commissioner said four major drug busts and subsequent convictions recorded within 10 days demonstrated the command’s continued efforts to combat drug trafficking.