Metro
Couple Nabbed for Selling Drugged Cookies to Children, Unsuspecting Public
A 300-level student, Rhoda Agboje, and her boyfriend, Ifeanyi Nwankwo, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for allegedly selling drugged cookies to schoolchildren and other unsuspecting members of the public.
It was gathered that Agboje was arrested at the NNPC Cooperative Estate in Abuja after she allegedly gave a young girl drugged cookies to eat, which made the victim to lose her mind and unable to sleep.
Our correspondent learnt that the victim was making incoherent utterances.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Tuesday, said Agboje was arrested on Sunday with four pieces of the spiked cookies.
According to him, Rhoda confessed under interrogation that she prepared the cookies with a friend and sold each pack of three pieces for N1,500, adding that a follow-up operation in her boyfriend’s house led to the recovery of over 200 pieces of the cookies.
The statement read in part, “According to the Commander, FCT Command of the NDLEA, Mohammed Malami Sokoto, the boyfriend, Ifeanyi Nwankwo, and all the equipment used for the production of the cookies were brought to the office for further investigation.
“The suspect confirmed that she usually sells at parties and to unsuspecting members of the public, including schoolchildren, who are the most vulnerable. The suspect also supplies some supermarkets and clubs in the FCT.”
Babafemi added that narcotics agents with the Federal Capital Territory Command of the NDLEA had launched a manhunt for another member of the syndicate involved in producing the cookies with Arizona, a highly psychoactive variant of cannabis, alcohol and Rohypnol, among other ingredients.
Commending the operatives of the command for busting the syndicate, the Chairman of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), noted that the activities of the syndicate were not only criminal, but unconscionable as they were deliberately luring schoolchildren into drug under the cover of selling to them cookies.
“I wish to draw the attention of parents to this new devious strategy to get children addicted to drugged cookies and to urge them to remain vigilant, while monitoring what their children and wards bring home from school or consume as snacks,” Marwa stated.
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has called for the dismissal of the soldier who resisted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The soldier had blocked Wike and officials of the FCTA from accessing a portion of land in the FCT.
The officer, claiming he was acting on instructions, told Wike that he would not be allowed into the property. Wike, however, questioned his authority, leading to a heated confrontation and name calling.
Reacting on Facebook, Igbokwe questioned who was behind the military officer in challenging the FCT Minister.
He wrote, “Who is this man in uniform? Of what meat is he fed? Who is beating the drum for him? This is unacceptable? His uniform has to be removed.”
The Lagos State Police Command has vehemently denied reports making the rounds that it was involved in the attempted release of a Lebanese national, who is in custody for the defilement of eight children.
The Police made the rebuttal via a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Lagos, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
In the statement titled, RE: OUTRAGE AS LAGOS POLICE ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPT TO RELEASE LEBANESE ACCUSED OF DEFILING EIGHT CHILDREN, the Police noted as follows:
“The Lagos State Police Command is not involved in any alleged attempt to release a Lebanese accused of defiling eight children.“
The story is therefore inaccurate and misleading.
The above case is being handled discreetly by the Gender Unit of the Command with the highest level of professionalism, diligence, and in line with international best practices, by specially trained gender case specialists.
Furthermore, the investigation strictly follows the standard operating procedures for cases involving children and young persons. The Gender Unit of the Command remains firmly committed to child protection and upholding due process in the pursuit of justice, without fear, favour, or sentiment toward anyone involved, whether a foreign national or Nigerian.
The case in question, which is under thorough investigation, does not involve any Lebanese, but rather a national of one of the Southern African countries. Every necessary step has been taken to ensure that justice is served in the matter. It is important to inform the public that both the biological mother of the child and the child herself made statements to the Police affirming that the child was neither molested nor defiled by the accused person.
However, the complaint by the child’s father, who has custody of the child, on his allegations against the accused person, is being carefully investigated to ensure justice in the matter and prevent any miscarriage of justice. The outcome of the investigation will definitely be made public.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has directed a discreet investigation into the allegations highlighted by the reporter in the report to ensure that no stone is left unturned in getting to the root of the matter . The writer of the story has also been contacted and briefed on the steps being taken by the Police to ensure that justice is achieved.
The Commissioner of Police furthermore wishes to reiterate his full confidence in the impartiality, competence, and high level of professionalism in the Officer-in-Charge of the Gender Unit, Lagos Police Command,Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Toyin Kazeem, who was officially out of the country on IACP in the United States when the matter was reported to the Gender Unit. Her exemplary track record, both locally and internationally, exemplifies her integrity, dedication, and commitment to handling gender-related and other sensitive cases. Under her leadership, the Gender Unit has brought pride to the Command and provided justice to numerous vulnerable persons, including women and children.
The Lagos State Police Command therefore urges the public and the media to continue to repose trust and confidence in the ability of the Command to deliver justice in all cases, particularly those involving children and other vulnerable groups. The outcome of this case will be made known to the public on completion of the investigation.
The family of former President Shehu Shagari has announced the death of his last surviving widow, Hajiya Saratu Shehu Shagari.
She passed away on Monday at the age of 89, after a prolonged illness.
A statement signed by the eldest son of the former president, Captain Mohammed Bala Shagari, confirmed that Saratu died at about 3 pm.
He described the late Hajiya Saratu as an embodiment of grace, humility, and quiet strength, who lived a life of dignity and service.
The family also said details of the funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
