On Monday, November 24, 2025, the Nigerian Army conducted a stop-and-search operation in Obajana, Lokoja Local Government Area, and seized a large shipment of what seemed to be cannabis from a suspect.
Troops of 12 Brigade claim that this is a continuation of the army’s continuous efforts to deny criminal elements freedom of action and impede the flow of illegal drugs, which regularly contribute to the increase of banditry and other violent crimes throughout the state.
The public was informed of this via a news statement by Lieutenant Hassan Abdullahi, the acting assistant director of Army Public Relations 12 Brigade, on the Nigerian Army’s X account (previously Twitter).
Lieutenant Abdullahi reported, “The operation took place on November 24, 2025, when troops stationed at Agbede Response Area conducted a routine stop-and-search on a Toyota Camry with registration number DKA 158AU.”
Further suspicion was raised when it was discovered that the car, driven by Mr. Johnson Ayo, had a branded police cap and belt on the dashboard.
“Ten sacks of Cannabis Sativa weighing 108.8 kilograms were found concealed in the car after a thorough search of the vehicle,” he said.
According to preliminary research, this kind of large-scale drug trafficking not only provides financial support to criminal networks but also feeds the cycle of events that frequently leads to banditry in the state and its environs.
The suspect and the confiscated exhibits have been turned over to the state’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for additional investigation and appropriate action.
He stated that “the Nigerian Army remains steadfast in supporting national efforts to eradicate drug trafficking, curb the enabling factors of banditry, enhance public safety, and maintain a secure environment for all citizens.”
