The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested six Igbo suspects over an alleged N500m drug haul in Kano State, Daily Nigeria reports.
The suspects—Onyeka Vincent, Success Chibuzie, Nwankwo Wisdom, Emmanuel Jude, Chinedu Peter and Okodili Ogbuach—were arrested after NDLEA operatives intercepted a luxury passenger bus during an intelligence-led operation in August.
The operation also led to the seizure of the bus, which was reportedly linked to the suspected drug trafficking operation.
However, there have been reports that the bus, said to belong to a prominent Igbo businessman, was being considered for release despite the ongoing investigation.
The Chairman of the Kano State Special Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Muhuyi Magaji, however, dismissed the reports, saying the investigation was still ongoing.
Speaking on the development, Magaji said he contacted the Kano State Commander of the NDLEA, who assured him that the investigation had not been concluded.
“I am aware of the arrest of the vehicle. It was not only the vehicle that was seized; other suspects were also arrested in connection with drug-related offences involving substances found in the bus,” he said.
According to him, some drivers and conductors had been summoned, while preliminary findings indicated “some level of complicity.”
Magaji said the ownership of the vehicle was also part of the issues being examined, noting that the use of a person’s property to commit a crime could not automatically absolve the owner of responsibility.
He said the NDLEA leadership and the Kano State Government were monitoring the case to ensure that the investigation was not compromised.
“I can assure you that the leadership of the NDLEA, together with the Kano State Government, is monitoring the case closely. We will follow the matter through to prosecution and will not allow any form of compromise,” Magaji said.
He urged the public to await the conclusion of the investigation, assuring that the authorities would follow the matter to its logical conclusion.
“We will follow it up to the letter, no matter whose ox is gored,” he added.
