Posted by By UCHE USIM on
Prominent Lagos socialite and textile merchant, Alhaja Toyin Igbira has been declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following the arrest of one Mohammed Babatunde Jamiu by narcotic officers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
...As NDLEA nabs 5 suspects
Prominent Lagos socialite and textile merchant, Alhaja Toyin Igbira has been declared wanted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following the arrest of one Mohammed Babatunde Jamiu by narcotic officers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
Babatunde Jamiu, 43 years, of No 1 Alhaji Adisa Odiefu Street, Badagry Expressway Iyana Iba, Lagos was arrested during the screening of passengers on Virgin Nigeria from Lagos to London at the MMIA, Ikeja on Sunday while attempting to export cocaine which he ingested.
Besides Jamiu, the narcotic agents also arrested four others either while trying to take illicit drugs out of the country or on arrival.
Jamiu, a trader based in Lagos had ingested cocaine carefully packed in pellets form and was on his way to London-Gatwick via Virgin Nigeria when the narcotic agents caught him. He was arrested about 10pm Sunday night.
During their parade to journalists on Monday, Jamiu told Daily Sun that frustration, which stemmed from huge debts, led him into the heinous crime.
Jamiu, who is still excreting the hard drug confessed to have ingested a yet-to-be ascertained quantity of it given to him allegedly by Igbira.
He disclosed that the woman had promised him that his fortunes will change once he succeeds in taking the drug to London. "I swallowed the drugs in Toyin Igbira's house in Surulere. Her brother brought me to the airport that day. She didn't tell me the quantity I swallowed.
I did it to help my family. I'm a family man with two kids. My wife is not aware I'm held held here at the office of the NDLEA. She was not even aware I was travelling to London. I only told her I was going on a trip. That's all. I regret my action but I was pushed into it. I'm a very religious man", he said.
However, Commander of the NDLEA, MMIA Command, Mr Victor Cole-Showers told Daily Sun that the command is on the trail of Toyin Igbira, who is now at large.
He disclosed that narcotic officers from the Operations department stormed the woman's house Monday morning but met a heavily secured house.
"While we were there, we called for reinforcement and got access into the building. When the occupants heard Jamiu's voice, they knew the bubble had burst. They escaped but we're on their trail. But as for Jamiu, he's still excreting. He may finish that in two or three days time. He ingested so much. He's even lucky to have survived because if the substance bursts in his tummy he's gone", he said.
Another suspect, Uchenna Okpala Emmanuel, 32-year old apprenctice from Imo State was arrested with 1.753 kg of heroin while returning from India aboard an Ethiopian Airline Monday afternoon. He said he had been in India for two years wihtout any meaningful job to do.
"The drug is mine. I bought it while there. A friend of mine who I saw on the streets told me I could make money from selling heroin in Nigeria. I used to sell baby wears in India and I once brought some of them to Lagos last February. It was the proceeds that I used to go back to India before my friend said I could do the drug business and make quick money.
Actually, hardship drove me into the bad business. There is nothing to do in Nigeria and even in India. One agent decieved five of us that we can make money in Europe. But when we got to India, he abandoned us there and ran away. I know drug business is not good, but we had to hustle to survive", he said.
On how he was able to beat the tight security check in India airport, he said; "it was God that helped me. It was by His grace I escaped."
Chinedu Raymond, 34 year-old-man who was arrested with cocaine while trying to board an Alitalia flight to Italy echoed the same reasons given by Okpala. The suspect, who was too tongue-tied to speak said "hard times and joblessness led me into the crime, my brother, e no de easy o."
Another suspect, 42-year old Odelugo Obinna Chukwudi was a Virgin Nigeria passenger to London before his trip was aborted by the NDLEA officials after they found the hard drugs on him. Officials of the command said he's been quiet and rarely speaks.
Commenting on the arrests, Victor Cole-Showers said the command has made a total of 177 drug-related seizures in MMIA within the last eight months.