Troops of 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army, in conjunction with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested two suspected drug traffickers impersonating police officers in Taraba State.
The suspects were intercepted during a joint operation under Operation LAFIYA NAKOWA, which is ongoing across Taraba to rid the state of bandits and criminal elements. Acting on credible intelligence, troops and NDLEA operatives apprehended the suspects at Takum Junction in Wukari Local Government Area while they were transporting large quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis.
According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade, the suspects were dressed in mobile police uniforms and were in possession of two Toyota Hilux vehicles loaded with illicit drugs. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are not serving police personnel.
The vehicles were reportedly loaded with cannabis in Akure, Ondo State, and were en route to Adamawa State before being intercepted by security operatives. One of the suspects, identified as Monday George, a 71-year-old dismissed Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), and Ezeugo Destiny Uche, aged 41, were arrested at the scene. The occupants of the second vehicle abandoned it and fled upon sighting the troops.
A total of 1,134 blocks of cannabis were recovered from both vehicles. The suspects and the exhibits have since been handed over to the NDLEA office in Wukari for further investigation and prosecution.
Commander of 6 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops and NDLEA operatives for their professionalism and effective collaboration. He reiterated the Brigade’s determination to make Taraba State unsafe for criminals, especially drug traffickers, and called on residents to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing operations.
