A suspected fake soldier, Hayatu Galadima, and his accomplice, Hamisu Adamu, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency while allegedly conveying drugs, ammunition and communication equipment to bandits in Kaduna State.

They were reportedly arrested by a patrol team of NDLEA officers on Gwagwalada Expressway in Abuja on Friday, September 30, 2021.

A statement on Sunday by the spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said 21 RLA 7.45mm ammunition concealed in water bottles; 16 packs of new two-way radios (walkie-talkie), and four army head masks, were among items recovered from Galadima.

Others were a wallet containing an army ID card; one USD, two FCMB, one First Bank, one Ecobank, one UBA, and one Skye Bank ATM cards; wraps of cannabis sativa; tablets of tramadol; three MTN, two 9mobile and one Airtel SIM cards.

According to Babafemi, one iPhone 12 Pro; one Samsung A31; one Nokia phone; seven NA pass letters; five handbags and one Bagco bag, containing personal belongings, as well as a gallon of palm oil, were also found on him.

While Galadima claimed to be a Lance Corporal serving in Ibadan, Oyo State, the suspects said they were taking the exhibits to Kaduna and Kano.

Babafemi said, “Preliminary investigation, however, indicates that the suspects may have contact with bandits in the North-West and were possibly moving the ammunition and the two-way radios to bandits who are presently excommunicated due to the suspension of telecommunication services in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna states.”

Meanwhile, a final-year student of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Mario Okiwelu, has been arrested for allegedly importing from the United States of America five variants of liquid cannabis weighing 49.6grams.

According to the NDLEA, Okiwelu was arrested through a controlled delivery along with his accomplice, Precious Awuse, on Monday, September 27, 2021, around the NIPOST area, Port Harcourt.

Also, narcotic officers of the NDLEA attached to some courier firms in Lagos reportedly seized different sizes of illicit drugs, including 40g of cocaine concealed in a University of Uyo degree certificate, and going to Australia.

Other items were 280g of cannabis hidden in body cream bottles going to Cyprus; 400g of tramadol tucked in plastic bottles heading for Australia and 1kg of Methamphetamine concealed in auto parts with Hong Kong as its destination.

Operatives in Kaduna were also said to have arrested a widow, Aliya Idris, on Saturday, September 25, in the house of a wanted drug dealer, Shamsu Boda, on Joji Road, Tudun Wada, Zaria.

Babafemi said, “She was arrested during an operation at Shamsu Boda’s house. Found in her possession were 30 bottles of cough syrup with codeine and 20 sachets of Rophynol with a gross weight of 4.2kg and 77.5g, respectively.”