November 25, 2025
Troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army have seized 108.8kg of cannabis and arrested a major courier during a coordinated operation along the Kabba-Obajana road, a corridor long identified as a high-risk passage for the movement of illicit substances into Kogi State.
According to a statement released on Tuesday in Lokoja by the Brigade’s spokesperson, Lt. Hassan Abdullahi, the successful interception represents a strategic milestone in the Army’s intensified push against drug trafficking and the broader criminal networks that depend on it. He noted that the operation was part of a routine stop-and-search patrol, but the alertness of the troops played a decisive role in the breakthrough.
The arrest occurred on Monday when troops deployed to the Agbede Response Area flagged down a Toyota Camry with registration number DKA 158AU. Suspicion deepened after officers observed a branded police hat and belt placed conspicuously on the dashboard, an attempt believed to be aimed at misleading security personnel. A detailed search uncovered 10 sacks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 108.8kg, carefully concealed within the vehicle.
Abdullahi explained that preliminary intelligence indicates that drug consignments of this scale often serve as a financial backbone for criminal elements and contribute directly to the escalation of banditry, kidnappings, and weapons procurement across Kogi and neighbouring states. By cutting off the flow of narcotics, troops are effectively weakening the funding structure of armed groups active in the region.
The Army handed the suspect and recovered items over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kogi Command, for further investigation. NDLEA officials are expected to trace the supply chain, identify collaborators, and determine whether the courier is linked to wider inter-state drug cartels using the Kabba-Ekiti axis as a transit route.
Abdullahi stressed that the Nigerian Army remains fully committed to supporting national security objectives, ranging from dismantling drug networks to reducing the drivers of rural insecurity. He added that recent deployments, intelligence coordination, and inter-agency cooperation have significantly improved surveillance along key highways.
He encouraged residents to continue sharing reliable information, saying effective collaboration between citizens and security forces is vital in identifying suspicious movements and curbing criminal activities. He assured the public that the Army would seize every opportunity to strengthen the security architecture and maintain a safe environment for all.
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