OKPEBHOLO WARNS RESIDENTS AGAINST RECRUITING CRIMINALS TO TERRORISE EDO. (PHOTO).

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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has warned residents against recruiting criminals from outside the state to carry out kidnappings and other violent crimes, describing the trend as a major setback to ongoing efforts to improve security. The governor issued the warning on Wednesday while speaking at the 2026 Ministers’ Conference organised by the Edo State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benin City. Okpebholo expressed concern over the security situation in the state, alleging that some individuals were deliberately exaggerating incidents of crime and spreading false information on social media to discredit his administration. According to him, investigations by security agencies have uncovered the involvement of local collaborators who allegedly recruit armed gangs from outside Edo State to perpetrate kidnappings and other criminal activities. “Do you know one painful thing? Our people are now going outside Edo to recruit criminals to help them do the job....

TWO DRUG KINGPINS EMAMI, AKPOMUAI CONVICTED, SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT. (PHOTOS). #PRESS RELEASE


 Two drug kingpins Emami, Akpomuai convicted, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment

. Their conviction an indication NDLEA strategies are working, says Marwa


Two notorious drug kingpins: 37-year-old Ajetsibo Emami popularly known as ‘Warri Kinsman’ and 51-year-old Solomon Akpomuai have been convicted and sentenced to a combined 10 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos.


Emami was arrested in Ikeja Lagos on Saturday 28th June 2025 after NDLEA operatives dismantled his drug trafficking network in a three-day operation leading to the arrest of three other suspects. Recovered from Emami’s network were 24 jumbo bags containing 681 pouches of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 414.2 kilograms.

The bust of Emami’s drug ring followed credible intelligence on his attempt to move the shipment to Lekki area of Lagos, from where it will be distributed to other parts of the state and across the country.


He was subsequently arraigned before Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court 8 Lagos in charge number FHC/L/636C/2025 bordering on dealing in illicit drugs. In his ruling delivered on Monday 18th August 2025, the trial judge convicted Emami on the one count charge filed against him by NDLEA prosecutor Assistant Commander of Narcotics Buhari Shuaibu Abdullahi and sentenced him to six years in prison with an option of N50million in lieu of jail.


In his case, Solomon Akpomuai was first arrested by men of Customs Service along Shagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway with 2,197.8 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis on 3rd June 2025 and transferred to NDLEA on 16th June after which he was arraigned in charge number FHC/L/635C before Justice Dipeolu for trafficking illicit drugs in large commercial quantity. Also delivering his judgement on the matter, the trial judge convicted and sentenced Akpomuai to four years in prison with an option of N50million fine.


Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) described the conviction of the two drug kingpins as an indication that Nigeria will sooner than later surmount the menace of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking as a result of the positive outcomes of the current balanced approach to the Agency’s drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts. He commended the judiciary, NDLEA officers involved in the investigation and prosecution of the cases as well as other stakeholders for their commitment to the cause of a drug free country.


Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja

Tuesday 19th August 2025.

More photos below. 




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