Becky Momodu
An attempt to smuggle drugs into Kuje Correctional Centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was reportedly foiled by the Nigeria’s Security and Regulatory Agencies, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) inclusive.
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this during the monthly joint security briefing held at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, 13th October, 2025.
The DG stated that the NCoS has also expanded inmate rehabilitation with 291 inmates enrolled for national exams, adding that it constructed an 8-classroom block and scaled up counselling and medical outreach programs.
Mallam Issa-Onilu states that Nigeria’s security agencies sustained a robust tempo of operations in September 2025, consolidating gains and further degrading the capabilities of criminal and terrorist groups.
According to him, the Nigerian Army had in the month of September conducted 196 operations across various geopolitical zones targeting terrorists. insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and violent extremists.
Mallam Issa-Onilu also revealed that the military has rescued 76 kidnapped victims in Katsina and received the surrender of 30 terrorists, including women and children, in Borno.
He said the Nigeria Armed Forces has continued to shrink the space for terror and criminality in the country, disclosing that the military has arrested insurgent leaders and collaborators in Niger, Sokoto, and Anambra. states.
The DG added that the army also raided weapon factories and gunrunners, disrupting local arms production and trafficking networks.
According to him, the soldiers “intercepted multiple arms traffickers across Niger, Plateau, Kaduna, Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Katsina, seizing M-16s, AK-47s, PKT machine guns, over 2,000 rounds of ammunition, and disrupting major weapons supply chains using coordinated, intelligence-led surveillance.”
Mallam Issa-Onilu said the fight against illicit drugs has recorded significant gains, as the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 1,703 suspects (1,509 males and 194 females), dismantled 37 major drug syndicates across the country, and seized over 212,000 kg of narcotics.
He added that the NAFDAC, within the month under review, conducted 40 enforcement operations across various regions, targeting fake and unregistered products.
Mallam Issa-Onilu said the gains recorded reflect the government’s sustained commitment to national safety, institutional integrity, and inclusive governance.
“From armed engagements in conflict zones to non-kinetic reforms in custodial centers, the efforts of Nigeria’s security, enforcement, and regulatory agencies remain focused, coordinated, and increasingly citizen-centered.
“Yet, securing the country goes beyond operations. It rests on collaboration, vigilance, and mutual trust.
“To every Nigerian, the message remains: Your vigilance saves lives. Your voice matters. Your Cooperation strengthens national security.
“Let us work together—government, civil society, media, and citizens—to build a nation where Peace is not only a goal but a shared achievement,” he concluded.