NDLEA seizes 27 rifles in Niger, destroys 5 hectares of cannabis farm in Ondo

Etim Effiong

The operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Niger State Command have seized 27 new rifles from two suspects during a routine stop and search operation in Kontagora area of the state.

The suspects: Danjuma Auta, 35, and Daniel Danrangi, 25, both male and from Dirin Daji, Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State, were arrested along Kontagora – Zuru Road, Niger State on Monday night.

The Niger State Commander of the agency, Mr. Aloye Isaac Oludare, said the duo were arrested with 12 locally fabricated AK 47 rifles and 15 locally fabricated pistols.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi.

The rifles were concealed in a white sack while on a motorcycle to an unknown place when they were arrested.

“Kontagora, where the weapons were seized is about 107 kilometers from Kagara, a town in Niger State, where there have been mass abductions of women, children and secondary school students in the last one month.

“Preliminary investigation shows that the fabricator of the weapons resides in Kamfaninwaya, not far away from Kontagora, while one of the pistols is fully loaded. The suspects and the weapons will be transferred to the Nigerian Police Headquarters, Minna for further investigation and prosecution of the suspects,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA operatives, Ondo State Command raided Ita-Ipele and Ipele forests, Owo LGA of Ondo State.

“During the operation, six suspects, namely; Stephen Ikechukwu, 38; Stephen Friday, 32; Austin Osadebe, 58;  Friday Paul, 29;  Adebayo Raphael, 25 and John Pius, 45, were arrested.

“A total of 41kgs of Cannabis Sativa and 6kgs of Cannabis Seeds were recovered during the operation, while a total of five hectares of Cannabis farm was located and destroyed”, the Ondo state Commander of the agency, Mr. Haruna Gagara said.