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NDLEA Apprehends Long Wanted Drug Kingpin After 13 Years In Hiding
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Reginald Peter Chidiebere, a high-profile drug kingpin who had been on the run since 2013, following the seizure of large consignments of cocaine and heroin linked to him.
The NDLEA in a statement, said that Chidiebere was arrested after operatives uncovered drug shipments connected to him at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
“After 13 years in hiding, a notorious drug kingpin Reginald Peter Chidiebere has been taken into custody following the seizure of large consignments of cocaine and heroin linked to him by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos.” the agency stated.
The NDLEA said the suspect was first arrested in 2013 over the shipment of cocaine into Nigeria and was later arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in charge number FHC/L/187c/2923. He was granted bail but jumped bail shortly after and went into hiding, remaining at large for years.
“In February 2024, his name featured prominently as one of the masterminds of the shipment of 49.70 kilograms heroin imported from South Africa following the interception of the consignment by NDLEA operatives at the import shed of the Lagos airport,” the agency said.
A follow-up operation was carried out on February 19, 2024, at his Golden Platinum Hotel & Suites located at No. 16/18 Reginald Peter Chidiebere Street, Hope Estate, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos. During the operation, an additional 2.20 kilograms of heroin was recovered from one of his guests, Igbuanugo Ebuka ThankGod.
“As a result, Chidiebere went underground,” the agency stated.
The agency later secured the interim forfeiture of his hotel and blocked all bank accounts traced to him since 2024.
The NDLEA explained that the suspect later surrendered himself after he could no longer survive on the run.
“Following these developments, Chidiebere could no longer sustain himself in hiding, prompting his surrender to the agency on 13th February 2026 and has since been taken into custody to face his pending charges for which he jumped bail in 2013 and fresh charges based on the 2024 heroin consignments linked to him,” the agency said.
Meanwhile, a clandestine drug laboratory in Imo State was dismantled by the NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Isiozi Obiato, Umuaka, Njaba Local Government Area, where 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine were recovered along with large quantities of precursor chemicals and equipment used for drug production.
At the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a Togolese woman, Hadiza Musa, on Friday, February 27, after she concealed 5,000 pills of tramadol in her luggage. In another operation, 1,040 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, were recovered from an uncompleted building at Akodo village, Seaside Eleko, along the Ibeju-Lekki axis of Lagos on Wednesday, February 25.
In Kano State, a suspect, Ashiru Bala, 45, was arrested at Lambu, Tafa LGA, with 1,499 bottles of codeine syrup while conveying the consignment in a Volkswagen Golf car marked CA 911 ABC.
Another suspect, Yahaya Usaini, 21, was arrested on Friday, February 27, while transporting 87.4 kilograms of skunk in a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number KUJ 544 RL along the Zaria–Dutsinma road in Katsina State.
The NDLEA also said that no fewer than 637,600 pills of opioids including tramadol, diazepam and exol-5 were recovered on Thursday, February 26, when operatives intercepted a Mercedes-Benz vehicle marked KWL-607DC along Bali–Suntai road while conveying the drugs to Baruwa in Gashaka LGA, Taraba State. A similar operation at Lankaviri Yorro led to the arrest of Musa Usman, 27, and the seizure of 126.022 kilograms of skunk.
In Abuja, 499.2 kilograms of skunk were recovered at Dei-Dei area of Abuja on Wednesday, February 25, while a suspect, Bulama Modu, 24, was intercepted in a commercial vehicle conveying 7,000 capsules of tramadol along Bama–Konduga road in Borno State on Tuesday, February 24.
While commending officers across commands, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd.), praised their efforts for ensuring a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
News
Wike Begins 6-Council “Thank-You” Tour In FCT
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has begun a thank-you visit to the six area councils of the territory, over the outcome of the Feb. 21 area council elections in the FCT.
The visits, which began with Bwari Area Council on Tuesday, according to the Minister, is to thank the people for keeping to their promises to support President Bola Tinubu’s candidates in the election.
“So, on behalf of Mr President, let me thank you all for fulfilling the promise you made, that you will support the candidates that are supporting him to win.
“Mr President said I should thank you and that he is not going to take this show of love for granted. He will also fulfill his own part, and that will be done through me.
“Some people don’t understand when we say agreement—what is agreement? When we agree on something, you do your own part, I do my own. That means we have fulfilled the agreement,” he said.
The Minister said that the time has come for politicians to keep to their promises, stressing that under Tinubu’s administration “we will give Bwari the necessary support”.
He promised to work closely with the council’s Chairman-elect, Mr Joshua Ishaku saying, “anything you ask through Joshua, consider it done”.
He thanked the traditional leaders in the area and promised to do everything possible to give them their due honour and respect.
In his remarks, Ishaku thanked Wike for the visit and for the good job he was doing for Tinubu.
Describing Wike as a “humble father”, Ishaku assured the Minister that Bwari Area Council would leave no stone unturned in supporting the restoration of the Renewed Hope Agenda in 2027.
“As you assured us yourself, we can see, we can feel and we can touch the developmental strides you have recorded just within two years of your assumption into office.
“What more can we say? What more can we ask for? This is indeed what governance is all about,” Ishaku said.
News
MDCN Panel Suspends Euracare Director, Two Doctors After Establishing Negligence In Death Of Chimamanda’s Toddler
The Medical and Dental Practitioners Investigation Panel has invoked its order of suspension against the Medical Director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital, Dr. Tunde Majekodunmi, and two others, after establishing a prima facie case of medical negligence against them in the management of the 21-month old son of renowned writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nkanu Adichie-Esege.
Nkanu passed away on January 7, 2026, after receiving care at Atlantis Hospital and undergoing medical procedures at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
Channels TV reports that apart from the Medical Director at Euracare, the panel also suspended the anesthesiologist at the same hospital, Dr. Titus Ogundare, as well as the Chief Medical Officer at Atlantis Pediatric Hospital, Dr. Atinuke Uwajeh.
In a statement signed by its secretary, Dr. Enejo Abdu, the panel mentioned that the trio are suspended from medical practice in Nigeria pending the determination of their case by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
The panel also stated that there is a prima facie case of misconduct in a professional respect against 10 other doctors. They are Dr. Adeseye Akinsete, Dr. Chidinma Ohagwu, Dr. Anthony Ajeh, Dr. Amarachi Bayo, and Dr. Nkechi Peji. Others are Dr. Olaoye Oludare, Dr. Agaja Oyinkansola, Dr. Patricia Akintan, Dr. Babatunde Bamgboye, and Dr. Raji Faidat.
The panel, which also cleared 8 other doctors, reached these decisions after considering the complaint against all 21 doctors and reviewing their counter-affidavits, including their oral depositions on oath.
The panel concluded its investigation at its 25th session held at Excel Hotel & Resort in Abuja on Feb 17th & 18th, 2026,
The 21-month-old child, Nkanu Adichie-Esege, was initially admitted to Atlantis Hospital in Lagos for what was described as a worsening but initially mild illness.
While arrangements were being made to transfer him to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States, Atlantis referred him to Euracare for pre-flight diagnostic procedures, including an MRI, lumbar puncture, and insertion of a central line.
However, the child passed following the procedures.
His parents have alleged medical negligence and professional misconduct in connection with his death.
News
DSS Detains Five Airport Officers Over El-Rufai Security Breach
Following a joint investigation into a security breach at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) involving former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, five security officers have been arrested.
The arrests are coming weeks after security operatives attempted to arrest El-Rufai at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on February 12, 2026, shortly after he arrived from Cairo, Egypt, aboard Egypt Air flight MS 877.
It was gathered that suspects and are set to face prosecution.
The arrests followed a joint investigation conducted by the Department of State Services, DSS, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and the Federal Ministry of Aviation.
Those detained include ASP Ayuba Yakubu of the Nigeria Police Force, Murtala Inuwa of the DSS, Najeeb Murtala of the Immigration Service, and Aviation Security personnel Musa Adamu and Salihu Victor.
According to AIT, investigators disclosed that the suspects allegedly admitted to receiving bribes to grant unauthorised access to restricted sections of the airport and to interfere with lawful security procedures.
Authorities described the development as a grave insider breach of critical national infrastructure.
The suspects have since been transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC) for prosecution.
Meanwhile, additional Immigration and Customs personnel who were found to have misused their official uniforms to facilitate unauthorised access but were not deemed criminally liable will face internal disciplinary measures.
According to the authorities, the action reflects zero-tolerance to internal compromise within Nigeria’s aviation security system.
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