ETIM EFFIONG
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested three men who were in security agent uniforms to escape checks with over 427 kg of illicit drugs in Born State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
One of the suspects Yakubu Kotri, who was conveying Cannabis Sativa weighing 208 kilograms in a gulf car to Bama, Borno State, was arrested on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, for impersonating a soldier.
Salisu Mohammed who adorned the uniform of another security agency to traffic Tramadol to Bama was also apprehended by narcotic officers on patrol on the route the same day.
“Although the pictures of the arrest of Yakubu Kotri in uniform have been trending on social media since Wednesday, the agency wishes to disclaim such because the suspect has not been confirmed to be serving military personnel.
“In the same vein, another impersonator, Dada Adekunle was on Wednesday arrested along with his 60-year-old accomplice, Usman Isa, in Abaji area of FCT with 15.843kg Cannabis, while 20kg of the same drug was seized from Alfred Aminu who was intercepted at Gwagwalada same day,” according to a statement by the NDLEA.
Meanwhile, in Plateau a commercial DAF truck with registration number GME 874 YX, coming from Onitsha, Anambra State to Mubi, Adamawa State was intercepted on Tuesday, Dec 28 along Jos-Bauchi Road.
The statement added: Upon search, 7.8kg of 225mg Tramadol was recovered. Also, on Tuesday in the Yauri area of Bauchi state, operatives arrested one Shaft’atu Abubakar with 174 kilograms of cannabis and 2.1kg Diazepam, while a suspected bandit, Usman Sani was arrested in Dan-Anacha town, Gasol LGA, Taraba with two pistols and ammunition.”
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has commended officers and men of Borno, FCT, Plateau and Taraba state commands for their vigilance.
According to Marwa, the arrest of the fake security agents should serve as a warning to drug traffickers who want to wear uniforms of security agencies as a cover to escape scrutiny, adding that they would not go undetected.