The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mohamed Buba Marwa, has visited two officers injured during a violent attack while carrying out a drug enforcement operation in Abuja.

The officers, Ayegh Dooyun Zachariah and Shehu Jamil Ibrahim, are receiving treatment at the National Hospital Abuja after sustaining severe injuries during a raid on a suspected drug hotspot in Dawaki, a suburb within Nigeria’s capital.

According to the agency, the officers were attacked by a mob during the operation on 15 May 2026.

During a bedside visit on Monday, Mr Marwa assured the injured officers that the agency would fully cover their medical treatment and welfare until they recover.

“The Agency will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible for this cowardly attack are arrested, and brought to justice,” Mr Marwa said.

“An attack on our officers is an attack on the state, and it will not go unpunished.”

Why This Story Matters

The incident highlights the growing dangers faced by anti-drug enforcement officers in Nigeria as authorities intensify efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse.

Drug-related violence has increasingly become a concern for security agencies, particularly during raids targeting suspected drug distribution hubs in urban communities.

Security analysts say attacks on law enforcement personnel can undermine anti-crime operations and discourage frontline officers if perpetrators are not prosecuted.

The NDLEA has in recent years expanded operations across major Nigerian cities, targeting drug cartels, traffickers, and distribution networks linked to rising substance abuse cases among young people.

Marwa Praises Officers’ “Bravery”

Mr Marwa commended the injured officers for what he described as their “exceptional bravery” and professionalism during the Dawaki operation.

He said their sacrifices remain critical to Nigeria’s fight against illegal drugs and organised crime.

To recognise their service, the NDLEA chairman presented both officers with official Letters of Commendation and additional support packages aimed at assisting their recovery.

The agency also praised medical personnel at the National Hospital Abuja and NDLEA medical teams for their emergency response and treatment efforts.

Public Safety And Drug Enforcement Concerns

The attack is likely to renew conversations around the safety of law enforcement officers operating in high-risk communities.

Public policy observers have repeatedly called for stronger collaboration between residents, community leaders, and security agencies to tackle drug-related crime without violence.

There are also growing concerns over the influence of drug abuse on youth crime, gang activity, and insecurity in parts of Nigeria.

The NDLEA said it remains committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks despite resistance from criminal groups.

“The NDLEA remains resolute in its mission to dismantle drug cartels and sanitize communities across the country,” the agency said.

What Happens Next?

Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the mob attack, with the NDLEA promising arrests and possible prosecution of those involved.

The injured officers are still undergoing treatment in Abuja.

Security experts say the outcome of the investigation could send a broader message about accountability for attacks on security personnel during official operations.

The Lagos State Police Command says it foiled multiple kidnapping attempts, arrested suspected armed robbers and car thieves, and recovered firearms and stolen vehicles during a series of operations carried out in May 2026.

Speaking during a police briefing in Lagos, Commissioner of Police,Tijani Fatai, said the operations were part of intelligence-led policing strategies aimed at reducing violent crime across the state.

According to the police, at least 10 suspects were arrested during the period under review, while several weapons and ammunition were recovered.

Items recovered included three AK-47 rifles, two sub-machine guns, a pump-action gun, locally fabricated pistols, six magazines, and 42 rounds of live ammunition.

Police also recovered stolen vehicles, motorcycles, knives, and other weapons allegedly linked to criminal activities.

“These operational achievements further demonstrate the command’s determination to rid Lagos State of criminal elements and sustain public confidence in policing,” the police commissioner said.

Kidnap Gang Targeting Businessman ‘Neutralised’

One of the major operations highlighted during the briefing involved a suspected kidnapping gang accused of planning to abduct an Indonesian businessman in Lagos.

Police said intelligence reports showed the suspects travelled into Nigeria from abroad specifically to carry out kidnapping operations before returning overseas.

According to CP Tijani, the suspects were tracked from eastern Nigeria to Lagos after security operatives received information about their planned operation.

The police said four members of the gang were “neutralised” during a confrontation as they allegedly attempted to carry out the kidnapping through a water route.

Authorities said one AK-47 rifle, one SMG, and a Toyota vehicle were recovered from the suspects.

The commissioner linked the suspects to an earlier security incident around the Ladipo area of Lagos.

Fake Kidnap Case Uncovered

The command also revealed that detectives uncovered a staged kidnapping case in Ikorodu.

Police said a suspect allegedly fabricated his own abduction and demanded a ransom of N1.5 million through a video sent to relatives and associates.

According to investigators, the ransom was paid before police discovered inconsistencies in the video evidence.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed that the kidnapping was staged.

The police said the case remains under investigation and the suspect would be charged in court.

Vehicle Theft and Cultism Cases

In another operation, police arrested a suspect in Ibadan, Oyo State, after allegedly stealing a Toyota Hiace bus entrusted to him by his employer.

Authorities said the suspect allegedly converted the vehicle for personal use before he was tracked and arrested.

Police also announced the arrest of a suspected cult leader during a raid.

Officers reportedly recovered a locally made double-barrel pistol hidden inside the ceiling of his residence.

Further arrests were made in Bariga after residents alerted police to suspicious activity involving two men allegedly attempting to steal a parked Toyota Sienna vehicle.

Police said investigations led to the recovery of another vehicle believed to be linked to the suspects.

Armed Robbery Suspects Intercepted

The Lagos command also reported the arrest of suspected armed robbers during stop-and-search operations in the Shasha area.

Police officers reportedly recovered a locally made pistol loaded with ammunition and a knife from a Toyota Corolla intercepted during patrol operations.

In a separate incident, suspected motorcycle-riding robbers fled after spotting police patrol teams in the Ikola area, abandoning a motorcycle and firearms at the scene.

Police said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

Wedding Killings Investigation Continues

Responding to questions from journalists, CP Tijani said investigations were continuing into the killing of a groom’s father and a disc jockey during a wedding ceremony in Lagos.

The police commissioner said several suspected cultists had been arrested in connection with cult-related violence in the area, although no direct confession had yet linked suspects to the wedding attack.

“We are tying the incident to the issue of cultism within that environment,” he said.

More Than 10,000 Officers Deployed Across Lagos

Ahead of the holiday season and Children’s Day celebrations, the Lagos State Police Command said more than 10,000 officers had been deployed across the state.

The commissioner said the deployment was aimed at improving visibility policing and protecting residents, visitors, and Nigerians returning from abroad for the festivities.

“We know that there is an influx of people into Lagos State from the diaspora and other parts of the country and the world.”

Why This Matters

Security remains one of the biggest concerns for residents and businesses in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub.

Recent cases involving kidnappings, cult clashes, and armed robberies have raised concerns about public safety, especially during festive periods when travel and commercial activities increase.

The latest police operations may reassure residents and investors, but security analysts say sustained intelligence gathering and faster prosecution of suspects will be critical to maintaining public confidence.

What Happens Next?

Police say all suspects arrested during the operations will be charged in court after investigations are completed.

Authorities also urged residents to continue providing timely information to security agencies to help prevent crime.

The Lagos command said its special holiday security operations would continue beyond the festive period.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has arrested a 63-year-old Chinese woman and intercepted multiple illicit drug shipments across Nigeria, including opioids valued at more than N2.1 billion.

The agency said the suspect, identified as Ting Hung Kiong, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, after arriving from Thailand through Dubai on an Emirates flight.

According to the NDLEA, the woman — described as a Chinese national naturalised in Malaysia — was found with two large suitcases containing 31 kilograms of “Canadian Loud”, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

Investigators said she travelled from Malaysia to Thailand before heading to Nigeria through the United Arab Emirates.

During questioning, the suspect reportedly told officers that her daughter sponsored the trip and that the drug consignment was handed to her at an airport in Thailand for delivery in Nigeria.

N2.1bn opioid shipment recovered from India

In a separate operation, NDLEA officials said they recovered 1,825,710 tablets of Tapentadol 250mg at the import section of the Lagos airport.

The consignment, which arrived from India aboard an Emirates Cargo flight, was valued at N2,190,852,000, according to the agency.

The NDLEA said the shipment was handed over by the Nigeria Customs Service after days of surveillance and monitoring.

Tapentadol is a strong opioid pain medication that authorities say is increasingly being trafficked illegally across West Africa amid rising concerns over drug abuse and addiction.

Why it matters

Nigeria has become a major transit and destination point for illicit narcotics, particularly synthetic opioids and cannabis products.

Security analysts and public health advocates have repeatedly warned that rising drug trafficking networks could deepen addiction, increase organised crime and place more pressure on healthcare and law enforcement systems.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has also identified West Africa as a growing hub for transnational drug trafficking operations.

Arrests made in Abuja and Enugu airports

At the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, NDLEA operatives arrested a passenger identified as Onyeka Valentine Emeka during passenger clearance on an Ethiopian Airlines flight arriving from Sierra Leone through Addis Ababa.

The agency said the suspect later excreted 185.36 grams of cocaine while under observation.

Meanwhile, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, officers arrested 29-year-old building engineer Babatunde Prosper Afekhide as he prepared to board a flight to Milan, Italy, through Addis Ababa.

NDLEA officials said a search of his luggage uncovered 10,280 pills of Tramaking 225mg, Tramadol 200mg and Tapentadol 250mg hidden inside a carton wrapped in foil paper.

Authorities believe the concealment method was intended to evade airport detection systems.

Courier interceptions and warehouse raids

The agency also reported several seizures linked to international courier shipments in Lagos.

According to the NDLEA:

1,174 MDMA (Ecstasy) pills were concealed inside a bicycle luggage carrier destined for the Netherlands.

66 tramadol pills hidden inside a soap container were bound for the United States.

18 tramadol tablets concealed in a body cream container were heading to the United Kingdom.

In Edo State, operatives raided the Igwe community in Owan East Local Government Area, recovering 489kg of skunk and 9kg of cannabis seeds.

In Ekiti State, officers said they recovered 1,116kg of skunk during a warehouse raid in Ikole-Ekiti and arrested a 54-year-old suspect, Ogundana Adebayo Julius.

Another suspect, Isah Sani, was arrested along the Zaria-Kano road with 196,000 pills of Exol-5, the agency added.

NDLEA highlights anti-drug awareness campaigns

Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA said it continued its “War Against Drug Abuse” (WADA) sensitisation programme in schools and communities nationwide.

The agency said awareness lectures were held in schools across Oyo, Anambra, Katsina, Lagos, Enugu, Ekiti and Kano states during the past week.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers involved in the arrests and seizures.

He urged personnel across the country to sustain both enforcement operations and anti-drug awareness campaigns.

“Their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities” should continue across the country, Mr Marwa said.

Industry and public reactions

Security experts say the seizures reflect growing sophistication in drug trafficking routes involving Africa, Asia and Europe.

Public health advocates have also raised concerns about the increasing circulation of opioids such as tramadol and tapentadol among young Nigerians.

Community groups and educators have meanwhile welcomed expanded anti-drug awareness campaigns in schools, warning that substance abuse is increasingly affecting students and vulnerable youths.

What happens next?

The suspects are expected to face further investigation and possible prosecution under Nigeria’s drug trafficking laws.

Authorities are also likely to intensify surveillance at airports, courier facilities and border communities as international trafficking networks continue to evolve.