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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鈥檃zu, 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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The National Youth Service Corps NYSC, a mandatory one-year program for Nigerian graduates, is increasingly viewed with apprehension due to widespread insecurity across the country. Many prospective corps members, like Oluwakemisola, express fear of being posted to unsafe states and are planning to seek redeployment, even if it involves additional arrangements or payments. Some, such as Abayomi, have opted out of the scheme entirely, prioritizing personal safety over national service. Parents are also concerned, with many preferring their children serve closer to home. A recent poll among corps members indicated that 80% were influenced by fear of insecurity when deployed to their current states. Incidents of abductions, attacks, and disappearances involving corps members have been reported, highlighting the risks. For example, between 2013 and 2023, at least 80 corps members were abducted, with Rivers State accounting for half of these cases. An NYSC official noted that while redeployment was once for career or personal preferences, it is now primarily driven by the desire to avoid dangerous states, leading some to pay for favorable postings. Psychologists acknowledge the anxiety and emotional distress caused by the security situation but argue against canceling the scheme, emphasizing its role in national unity. However, security experts like Olalekan Jackson-Ojo suggest restricting corps members to their home states or regions as a practical reform, given the inability to
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