🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
NDLEA intercepts 10,000 captagon pills in Kwara, makes other significant drug seizures nationwide
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA has reported the interception of 10,000 captagon pills in Kwara State. This seizure marks the second time the stimulant drug, widely abused in the Middle East and linked to funding criminal groups, has been found in Africa by the NDLEA, the first being five years ago at Apapa Port. The latest interception occurred on April 21, 2026, along Bode Saadu Road, Kwara State, where operatives recovered the pills from a passenger, Nasiru Mu’azu, 33, along with Tapentadol. In a separate operation at the same location on April 24, 2026, 155,900 capsules of tramadol, 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection, 3,000 tablets of co-codamol, and 9,000 tablets of bromazepam were found concealed in a trailer, leading to the arrest of Aminu Isah, 24. Other significant seizures include 1.043 kilograms of cocaine ingested by Eze Prince Emeka, 33, in Oyo State; 1,196,000 pills of pharmaceutical opioids in Edo State with the arrest of Osagie Igbinibo, 43, and Omijie Malik, 44; 810 kilograms of Arizona cannabis in Lagos with the arrest of Rasheed Ibuowo, 40; 154.5 kilograms of skunk in Bauchi State with the arrest of Muktar Bello, 35; and 466.8 kilograms of skunk in Ekiti State from Layit John Matthew, 56. Additionally, 20,000 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed on farmlands in Cross River State, and 394 improvised explosive device components were seized in Niger State from Mohammed Aliyu, 26. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mo
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Taiwo 'Esepo' Agbaje secured the WBA Africa lightweight title by defeating Tosin 'Sojar Boy' Osaigbovo via judges' decision after 10 rounds in Lagos. The highly anticipated bout, which followed pre-fight verbal exchanges between the two undefeated boxers, saw Agbaje display resilience throughout. Both fighters, Agbaje with an 18-0 record and Osaigbovo with 12 wins, went the distance in a keenly contested match. The victory marks a significant milestone in Agbaje's career, crowning him the new WBA Africa lightweight champion. The contest was promoted by De Lad’s Boxing and sanctioned by the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control.
Nigerian professional wrestler Isaac Odugbesan, known as Oba Femi in World Wrestling Entertainment, has detailed his journey from an Olympic medal hopeful in shot put to a WWE superstar. Earlier this month, Oba Femi defeated WWE veteran Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas in under five minutes. His victory involved dominating key moments, enduring Lesnar’s “F5,” and securing the win with a chokeslam and his finishing move, “Fall From Grace.” Oba Femi's rising profile is linked to his Nigerian background; he previously competed for the University of Lagos at the National University Games, winning individual honors in athletics before moving abroad in 2017. He continued track and field in the United States, winning the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2021 and 2022, and the outdoor title in 2020. By 2021, he joined WWE’s Next In Line initiative, which recruits collegiate athletes for professional wrestling. He stated that WWE contacted him via Instagram for a trial, and he signed with the company on December 8, 2021, after a tryout in August 2021.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee NOC has commended the Nigeria School Sport Federation NSSF for successfully organizing the 2nd National School Volleyball Championships, promising ongoing support for future events. The four-day tournament, held at the National Institute for Sports in Lagos, featured 28 teams from various states across Nigeria. Organized by the NSSF in collaboration with the Nigeria Volleyball Federation and backed by the Lagos State Sports Commission, the championships focused on grassroots sports development. Bayelsa and Bauchi states secured the championships, while Adamawa and Oyo states earned bronze medals. NOC President Engr. Habu Gumel praised the event as a platform for developing future athletes, noting the high quality of play and the potential for Nigerian athletes to compete in international games. NSSF President Olabisi Joseph expressed satisfaction with the tournament's success and indicated that the federation will work with the NVBF to identify top talents for the 2026 International School Sport Federation World School Volleyball Championship in China. The championships concluded on Friday, April 24, highlighting the potential of Nigeria's emerging volleyball talent.
Nigeria's U20 women's national team, the Falconets, have completed a three-week training camp in Abuja as they prepare for their FIFA U20 Women's World Cup qualifying match against Malawi. The team will travel to Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, to host the first leg of the final qualifying round on Saturday, May 2. Head coach Moses Aduku expressed confidence in the team's readiness, highlighting their character, determination, and work on tactics, fitness, and cohesion. Team captain Joy Igbokwe called for Nigerian support, stating the team is prepared and focused on making the country proud. The Falconets aim for a strong first-leg advantage as they pursue qualification for the 2026 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Poland, scheduled for September 5–26. Nigeria has qualified for every edition of the tournament since 2002.