Russia has placed the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list.

The state news agency, TASS reported that the Russian Interior Ministry database showed Zelenskyy was on a wanted list but gave no further details.

This was as Russia opened a criminal case against Zelenskyy.

Responding, Ukraine dismissed the report which it described as evidence of Moscow’s “desperation”.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said Russian President Vladimir Putin was himself subject to arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant.

The statement said: “We would like to remind you that unlike the worthless Russian announcements, an International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on suspicion of war crimes is quite real, and subject to implementation in 123 countries.”

According to the ministry, the Russian announcement was “evidence of the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda, which can think of no other way to attract attention”.

In February 2022, Russia had issued arrest warrants for a number of Ukrainian and other European politicians.

Russian police in February put Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Lithuania’s culture minister and members of the previous Latvian parliament on a wanted list for destroying Soviet-era monuments.

.…. Intercepts 4,752kg cannabis concealed in gas tanker in Abuja, nabs ex-convict with assorted illicit drugs in Osun

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have smashed an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand.

No fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-weeks intelligence led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

The unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday 20th April when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived the NAHCO shed on an Airpeace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa.

After days of close monitoring and investigation, the first suspect, Umeh Chisom Peter was arrested on Wednesday 24th April after he showed up to pick two of the suitcases containing Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis owned by a Thailand based member of the syndicate, Obum Michael.

The consignment of four parcels was concealed in false bottoms of the two suitcases, while the four suitcases contain a total of 17.6 kilograms Loud and drug candies.

Another member of the syndicate, Mrs. Chiwendu Uche Ugbe whose South Africa based husband, Aloytus Uche Ugbe sent some of the consignments, was traced to Anambra state where NDLEA officers arrested her on Saturday 27th April while attempting to collect the drug parcels sent to her by her husband.

Two other suspects: Onyejakor Francis Chimezie and Naaji Valentine Chukwukere, with links to the cartel were also arrested in parts of Lagos on Monday 29th April.

Their arrest led to another operation in Abia state where Mrs. Chinazo Osigwe was arrested when she was to pick up some of the parcels containing Loud and drug candies sent by her husband, Osigwe Chidiebere Anthony who is equally operating from South Africa.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on stop and search operation along Abuja-Abaji highway on Wednesday 1st May intercepted a 40-ft gas tanker marked RBC 77XG and upon a thorough search discovered 511 jumbo sacks of cannabis sativa weighing 4,752kg concealed in the gas tank compartment of the truck.

The consignment was loaded into the tanker in Ondo state and meant to be delivered in Abuja for further distribution.

Four suspects: Efe Abel Mikel, 39; Ebigide Cyril, 29; Ejechi Monday, 41; and Friday Benson Chukwudi, 39, have been arrested in connection with the seizure.

While two suspects: Aminu Umar, 25, and Anas Umar, 22, were arrested with 207.1 kilograms of cannabis sativa in their house at Unguwan Rimi, Basawa, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state on Monday 29th April, Bashir Umar, 35, was nabbed at Ladanai, Hotoro area of Kano on Friday 3rd May with 194 bottles of codeine syrup.

In Osun state, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 1st May arrested an ex-convict, 51-year-old Suleiman Usman who is currently facing trial for another drug offence at the Federal High Court Osogbo.

At the time of his latest arrest at Okinni town, Suleiman was found in possession of 4.4grams of Cocaine, 28.5kg of cannabis sativa, 20 tabs of rophynol weighing 6.2grams and 812 pills of tramadol.

The following day, Thursday 2nd May, NDLEA operatives at Agbara checkpoint, Seme border, Badagry Lagos intercepted a Toyota camry car marked KJA 825 FT conveying 113 jumbo parcels of cannabis with a total weight of 64kg. The driver, Charles Amoni, 45, was promptly arrested.

In Bauchi state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Bauchi-Jos road on Monday 29th April arrested Clement Chukwuka, 39, with 595 bottles of codeine; 38,260 pills of opioids such as tramadol, rohypnol and diazepam, while another suspect, Friday Ibochi was nabbed at NDLEA check point, Aloma junction, Otukpa, Benue state on Tuesday 30th April with 66 blocks of cannabis weighing 33kg.

In the same vein, 42-year-old Ifeanyi Stanley was arrested with 12kg of same substance at Swali Jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country
continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitisation lecture for students and teachers of Ekimogun Community Grammar School, Bolorunduro, Ondo East LGA, Ondo state; students of Lafenwa High School (Senior), Abeokuta, Ogun state; students of Sky Brain International School, Enugu Ezike, Enugu state; intending Muslim pilgrims on dangers of illicit drug trafficking, Katsina state and WADA advocacy visit to Olobaoke of Oba Oke land, Oba Adam Iyiola Bamidele Yusuf and his chiefs, Osun state as well as WADA advocacy visit to Lagos state First Lady, Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, FCT, Kano, Kaduna, Osun, Seme, Bayelsa, Bauchi, and Benue Commands of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures.

Following the recent brutal attack on a female nurse, the activities of masquerades have been suspended indefinitely in the nine communities that make up Nsukka town, in Enugu State.

A nurse, who was heading to duty call, was last Sunday beaten to a pulp by a horde of masquerades at the University of Nigeria town of Nsukka.

The development attracted condemnations from all quarters.

It was gathered that the decision was reached at a meeting attended by the stakeholders from the area banning operations of masquerades indefinitely.

The meeting, summoned by the Nsukka Town Federated Union, was well attended by the Oha Nsukka, the Akpuruaru Nsukka, the Igwes, the PGs of the 9 autonomous communities and the youths.

A resolution was reached that “Oriokpa Masquerade operation has been suspended until further notice.

“The suspension is to enable the Council of Elders conclude on the assault on the nurse, Miss Blessing Ogbonna and come up with modalities on the Oriokpa masquerade operation.

“All security agencies are hereby requested to help the Town enforce this decision, while further developments will be duly communicated.”

Meanwhile, a group, Otobo Nsukka Cultural Zone Community Developmental Initiative, has hailed the decision.

The non-governmental organisation, which earlier visited the brutalised nurse in the hospital, appreciated the swift action taken by the Nsukka Town Federated Union and the Council of Elders to address the recent incident.

A statement issued by the group on Saturday night was signed by Prince Chibeze Onah, Convener and Agu Chineme, Head of Admin.

It reads, “ We commend the Council of Elders for their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Nsukka community members and support the resolution to suspend the Oriokpa masquerade operation until further notice.

“We urge all stakeholders to respect this suspension and cooperate with the Council of Elders as they work to establish new modalities for the Oriokpa masquerade operation.

“Let us continue to work together for the progress and development of the Nsukka community.” (daily post)