The suspended Commander of Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, and four other police officers linked to drug trafficking by the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been arrested by the Nigerian Police and handed over to the anti-narcotic agency for tampering with illicit drugs investigations and other sundry activities considered unprofessional in the country.
Others arrested and handed over to the NDLEA were ACP Sunday Ubuah, ASP Bawa James, Inspr. Simon Agrigba and John Nuhu, meanwhile, ASP John Umoru has been declared wanted after he allegedly ran away.
According to the police, the officers arrested have been handed over to the NDLEA authorities for investigations bordering on the case of criminal conspiracy, as well as tampering with exhibits in a case of illicit drug trafficking involving a perpetual transnational drug cartel.
The NDLEA has also confirmed that the five officers linked to a 25 kilograms Cocaine deal were already in its custody and that interrogations have commenced to further identify other people and law enforcement officers that may be linked to the cartel across the country.
Through a statement released by the Director, Media, and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA disclosed that the officers were brought to its Command and handed over for questioning on Monday after they were declared wanted for drug deals.
The statement reads: “Five of the wanted suspects namely: DCP Abba Kyari; ACP Sunday J. Ubua; ASP Bawa James; Inspector Simon Agirgba and Inspector John Nuhu were driven into the National Headquarters of NDLEA in Abuja at about 5 pm on Monday 14th February to formally hand them over for interrogation and further investigation.
“The Agency wishes to assure that no stone will be left unturned to ensure that all suspects already in custody and those that may still be indicted in the course of the investigation will face the full weight of the law at the end of the ongoing probe”.