Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) have arrested a suspected fake soldier, Hayatu Galadima and his accomplice, Hamisu Adamu who were conveying drugs, ammunition and communication equipment to bandits in Kaduna.
The duo was arrested by a patrol team of NDLEA officers along Gwagwalada expressway, Abuja on Thursday, September 30, 2021.
Confirming the arrests, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Femi Babafemi in a statement, said: “Recovered from the suspects include 21 RLA 7.45mm ammunition concealed in water bottle; 16 packs of new two-way radio (Walkie talkie); four army coloured head masks; wallet containing army identity card, 1United States Dollar, 2 FCMB, 1 First Bank, 1 Ecobank, 1 UBA, 1 Skye Bank ATM cards; wraps of cannabis sativa; tablets of tramadol; three MTN, two 9mobile and one airtel simcards packs; one iPhone 12 pro; one Samsung A31; and one Nokia phones; seven Nigerian Army pass letters; five handbags and one bagco bag containing personal belongings, as well as a gallon of palm oil.”
While Galadima claimed to be a Lance Corporal serving in Ibadan, they added that they were taking the exhibits to Kaduna and Kano.
Preliminary investigation by the anti narcotics agency, however indicated that the suspects may have contact with bandits in the North West and were possibly moving the ammunition and the two-way radios to bandits who are presently excommunicated due to the suspension of telecommunications services in Zamfara, Sokoto and Kaduna states.
Babafemi added investigation by NDLEA revealed that the two suspects had been on the watch list of the Nigerian Army.
“Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed that Federal Capital Command of the Agency, which made the arrest to transfer the suspects to authorities of the Nigerian Army and another intelligence agency, which had earlier placed the two men on its watch list, for further investigation,” he said.
