By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a convicted cocaine trafficker who disguised himself as a herbal tea merchant in Lagos.

In a statement on Sunday, the agency said the arrest occurred weeks after it intercepted a 1.2kg cocaine consignment concealed in phone chargers and destined for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at a courier company in Lagos on 31st July 2026.

“The suspect, arrested in a sting operation at Article Market, opposite Trade Fair Market, Ojo area of Lagos, on Friday, 4th September 2026, while posing as a herbal tea businessman, was identified as 54-year-old Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu.

“In his statement, he admitted being the mastermind of some illicit drug shipments in the past while stating that he discarded his telephone SIM card once he learnt his latest consignment had been intercepted by the NDLEA,” the agency stated.

According to the NDLEA, further investigation revealed the suspect is no stranger to the agency: he was first arrested in 2011 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos after ingesting 900 grams of cocaine and 130 grams of heroin in an attempt to fly to Austria under the name Dunu Chukwuyenre Enoch.

The agency disclosed that the suspect was prosecuted for the crime, convicted and sentenced to five years in jail, adding that he thereafter changed his name to Dunu Bethel Ebubechukwu and returned to the criminal trade.

“A search of his residence located at 6 Yemishola Street, Ejigbo, Lagos on Friday, 4th September led to the recovery of phone chargers similar to those used to conceal the intercepted cocaine, with their internal components removed to create space for drugs,” the NDLEA noted.

The NDLEA also said that, in another development, it chased down a 20,000-litre fuel tanker marked MKA 960 XC, notorious for evading arrest in the past, in Ondo on Friday after its driver refused to stop.

“The driver later abandoned the vehicle at a church premises in Ugbe Akoko and fled into the bush. A search of the tanker revealed a false compartment concealing 165 bags of cannabis weighing 2,145kg alongside its legitimate fuel cargo destined for Jos, Plateau State,” it added.

A group of suspected thugs on Saturday attacked journalists covering an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Kano State, smashing the windows and damaging a Radio Nigeria vehicle conveying members of the media.

The incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of a rally held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, where the leadership of a coalition of groups supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was inaugurated.

According to eyewitness accounts, the thugs attacked a team of journalists who had gone to the venue to cover the event, targeting the Radio Nigeria, Pyramid FM vehicle in which some of the journalists were travelling.

The attackers reportedly used machetes and knives to strike the vehicle repeatedly, smashing its windows and damaging various parts of the bus.

Among the journalists affected in the attack were Abdulbaki Ali Ahmad Sharifai of Guarantee Radio and Yakubu Gwagwarwa of Pyramid Radio.

One of the journalists who spoke to Nigerian Tracker said the presence of security personnel inside the Radio Nigeria bus did not deter the attackers from carrying out the assault.

The journalist said the thugs continued attacking the vehicle despite the fact that security agencies were inside the bus with the journalists.

According to him, the attack created fear and confusion among the journalists, who had attended the political gathering in the course of carrying out their professional duties.

The incident has raised concerns over the safety of journalists covering political activities in Kano, particularly during large political gatherings where journalists are expected to move freely and report events without intimidation or attacks.

The motive behind the attack was not immediately clear, and it was also unclear whether any arrests had been made in connection with the incident as of the time of filing this report.

The attack comes amid increased political activities in Kano and across the country as political groups mobilise support for their respective interests ahead of future elections.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has directed temporary closure of public and private primary schools across the state over diphtheria outbreak.

The disclosure was made in a statement on Saturday by the commissioner for information and communications, Joyce Ramnap.

She stated that the directive was effective from Monday.

She noted that the government took the decision as preventive measures against the spread of the disease.

Mrs Ramnap noted that the suspected cases had been recorded in parts of Jos North, Wase, Jos South and Bassa Local Government Areas of the state.

“‎‎Accordingly, schools that have already resumed academic activities are also directed to close from Monday, September 7, 2026, and remain closed until further notice,” the statement noted.

The statement said the governor directed school proprietors, administrators, teachers, parents and guardians were to comply with the directive.

The governor also said schools should ensure that students and pupils remain at home throughout the period as part of measures to ensure their safety including the teaching and non-teaching staff during the period.

The statement added that Mr Mutfwang appreciated the stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation as the government continued to take appropriate measures in the best interest of the residents.

‎”Further information on the resumption of academic activities will be communicated to the public in due course,” he said.

Reports have it that 23 peoples have been killed by diphtheria in several communities, and 143 others infected in Jos North.