By Grace Edet

President Bola Tinubu has dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi State today to console families of the kidnapped schoolgirls from the Government Secondary School, Maga, and to reassure the state that the Federal Government is moving urgently to secure their release.
The President also mourned Brigadier-General Musa Uba and several soldiers killed during an anti-insurgency operation in Borno State, describing their deaths as a painful reminder of the sacrifices made to protect the nation.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga in a statement, said Tinubu, who has been “fully briefed” on both incidents, expressed deep sadness over the abduction, especially after intelligence agencies had reportedly warned of a possible bandit attack.
The President commended Kebbi State Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris for his attempts to prevent the kidnapping but lamented that the bandits still succeeded.
Tinubu urged communities facing security challenges to strengthen cooperation with the military, police and Department of State Services (DSS), stressing that security forces require intelligence from local residents to operate effectively.
“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier-General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes,” Tinubu said.
He also condemned the attack on the school, declaring: “I am also depressed that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. I have directed the security agencies to act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State.”
The President emphasised that community collaboration remains essential to defeating insecurity.
“Our security forces cannot succeed in protecting us if the people don’t cooperate and share information that will help them keep our communities safe,” he said.
Vice President Shettima is expected to meet with Governor Idris, traditional leaders and affected families as security agencies intensify search-and-rescue operations to secure the safe return of the abducted girls.
The President offered prayers for the fallen soldiers and renewed his commitment to restoring safety across troubled regions.

By Grace Edet

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 42-year-old wanted drug baron, Frank Chijioke Ibemesi, and seized over 14,440 kilograms of illicit drugs in coordinated operations spanning seven states.
The arrest followed weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance, culminating in a Saturday morning raid on his Lagos hotel.
Ibemesi, popularly known as “Chisco Bee”, was picked up by operatives of the NDLEA Special Operations Unit at Daisy Garden Hotel, 66–68 Agbeke Street, Ago Palace Way, Isolo. He is listed as the MD/CEO of Franc CJ Ibemesi Nig. Ltd, a business used as cover for large-scale drug trafficking.
Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday, saying operatives recovered a major drug stockpile shortly afterward.
“He was taken to his warehouse at 7 Pius Ezeobi Street, Isolo, where 42 jumbo bags and four cartons of Loud weighing 1,762.8 kilograms were recovered,” Babafemi said.
He added that foreign currency found on the suspect included $11,600, 2,000 Pounds, 2,200 Euros, and 50 Canadian dollars, all seized as exhibits.

11,135kg skunk intercepted in Osun forest
In Osun State, NDLEA operatives thwarted a drug syndicate loading processed skunk weighing 11,135kg at the Orita-Apeje, Araromi-Okeodo forest reserve in Ife South LGA. After days of surveillance, two trucks — a Volvo (WWR 29 XA) and a Mercedes (AWK 713 YZ) — were intercepted and seven suspects arrested.
Those arrested include Lucky Abiodun, Julius Amos, Victor Ngbikili, Sunday Oduegwu, Ibrahim Akanni, Eze Godstime, and Fred Ifeanyichukwu.
Edo raids yield 1,902kg, multiple arrests
In Edo State, 1,902.1kg of skunk was recovered from multiple locations, including:
184.1kg along Oza/Igbanke road, Orhionmwon LGA; 672kg from Utese forest, Ovia North-East LGA; 494kg from a Mercedes-Benz (DE311BEN) where Felix Edah (45) was arrested; and 552kg from another Mercedes-Benz (JJJ 56 JW) driven by Lucky Abagha (51).

More seizures across Taraba, Ogun, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kwara
In Ogun State, four suspects — Michael Okoh, Offor Agada, Raphael Nkemjika and Nwabueze Franklin, were arrested along the Ijebu-Ode expressway after operatives found 68kg of skunk and 3.15kg of methamphetamine in their possession.
In Taraba State, NDLEA operatives seized 172kg of skunk from 50-year-old Danjuma Tukura in Ardo Kola Local Government Area, while an additional 84kg was recovered from 24-year-old Wisdom Titus in Takum.
At the Aliyu Mustapha International Airport in Yola, Adamawa State, officers intercepted 396,000 capsules of Tramadol from a suspect identified as Ahmed Isyaku Nda, aged 50.
In Nasarawa State, a warehouse belonging to a drug dealer currently at large was raided in Asob Maraba Karu, leading to the evacuation of 785kg of skunk.
Lagos operations also yielded major seizures. In Surulere, 65.15kg of Canadian Loud was recovered from two suspects, Jamiu Kunle Kardoso and Oriyomi Waliu. At Oyingbo, operatives intercepted 141kg of Ghana Loud from a suspect, Taofeek Moraina.
In Kwara State, 78.565kg of skunk and 155 cartons of rubber solution were seized from a truck marked T-T-T-T-T-0262KT along the Ilorin–Jebba expressway, with the driver, Umar Yakubu, taken into custody. In a separate operation, officers intercepted a commercial bus with skunk concealed inside a 50-litre jerry can, leading to the arrest of its driver, Ibrahim Bello.

NDLEA intensifies WADA Campaign in schools, communities
The NDLEA also expanded its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across multiple schools and communities in Zamfara, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Enugu, Lagos, and Ogun states during the week.

Marwa commends operatives, orders sustained pressure
Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the operatives for their nationwide interceptions.
“I commend the officers and men of the SOU, Osun, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, and Kwara Commands for the arrests and seizures.
“I urge them to continue with the Agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts,” Marwa said.
The NDLEA says investigations into Ibemesi’s network and other cartel links are ongoing.

By Grace Edet

The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, to Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of hearing in the ₦80.2 billion fraud case filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Emeka Nwite announced the adjournment after a lengthy session that featured cross-examinations and testimonies from four bank officials subpoenaed by the court. Bello is standing trial for the alleged diversion and misappropriation of ₦80.2 billion belonging to the Kogi State Government during his tenure as governor.
The EFCC, in a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, said the court session “featured the continuation of the cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel, and the testimonies of three other witnesses from Zenith Bank, Ecobank, Keystone Bank, and Access Bank.”
The statement reads: “The defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, continued the cross-examination of Arhyel, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, who earlier testified as the fourth prosecution witness.
“Arhyel confirmed that several cash withdrawals were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke in multiples of ₦10 million.
“He further testified that several hotels, including Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites, and Hope Confluence Hotels, were beneficiaries of various transactions from the account.
“After the cross-examination, prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, declined re-examination, and the witness was discharged.”
The prosecution thereafter called Jesutoni Akoni, a compliance officer with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, as PW5.
“Akoni, who appeared under subpoena, produced and tendered the statement of account of one Moses Wadzu Ileku, covering January to December 2016, which was admitted in evidence as Exhibit 29.
“She identified several deposits made by Ileku, Abdulwahab Sabo, and Shehu Bello, among others, which ranged from ₦3 million to ₦20 million.
“The Sixth Prosecution Witness, PW6, Mohammed Bello Hassan, a relationship officer with Keystone Bank, also appeared under subpoena. He produced the statement of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, which was admitted as Exhibit 31.
“He testified that between February 17 and February 22, 2021, a total of ₦100 million was transferred into the account by Maigari Murtala and Yusuf Mubarak. He disclosed under cross-examination that he did not know Murtala and Mubarak,” the statement added.
According to the anti-graft agency, the day’s proceedings ended with the testimony of Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank, who appeared as PW7. He produced 12 sets of documents in compliance with a subpoena issued to the bank.
Egoro, EFCC, noted, informed the court that while some account opening packages could not be retrieved, the bank provided sufficient customer details extracted from its database.
“After clarification between the prosecution and defence, the documents were admitted in evidence without objection.
“Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of trial,” the statement concluded.