Rita Odafe
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Bariu Aliu, a chief priest known as ‘Malo’, at the Igunuko shrine situated in the Alpha Beach area of Ajah, Lekki, Lagos State, due to alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Aliu is suspected of leading a syndicate tied to the seizure of 2,760 kilograms of skunk, which took place at the shrine in October 2024.
NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, reported that two of Aliu’s associates had already been arrested, prosecuted, and found guilty.
In a statement, it was mentioned, “Bariu Aliu, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine, where a significant quantity of skunk was seized on October 25, 2024, has been detained after a lengthy pursuit by NDLEA operatives for over three months.
“While two of his accomplices were caught at the shrine last year and have faced judicial consequences, Aliu was identified as the key figure of the operation.”
Additionally, the agency reported, “In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory, two individuals, Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested at Nyanya with a total of 1.398kg of cocaine and a precursor material used for crack cocaine.”
During another investigation, NDLEA operatives uncovered 20 wraps of cocaine, weighing 330 grams, concealed within face cream containers in a shipment headed for Australia.
A staggering total of 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup, valued at over 1.19 billion Naira (N1,190,168,200.00), was intercepted in two containers that had drawn the attention of the agency due to prior intelligence.
These illicit items were discovered during a joint examination by NDLEA personnel and Customs officials at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, on January 9th and 10th, 2025.
Moreover, a suspect named Habibu Ya’u, 23, was caught by NDLEA agents during a raid in Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria Road, Kano on January 9th, where they confiscated 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2 kg and 40,800 opioid pills, including tramadol.
