The Federal Government yesterday pledged to take decisive action against individuals involved in kidney trafficking, describing the practice as barbaric and criminal. The commitment comes in response to an investigative report by Daily Trust titled “Inside Abuja’s kidney ‘market’ where the rich prey on the poor,” which exposed an illicit kidney trade network operating within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The investigation revealed a clandestine economy where kidney brokers collaborate with local agents to target economically disadvantaged persons, convincing them to sell their kidneys. Private hospitals in the FCT were implicated in surgical operations to remove kidneys from minors, exchanging them for N1 million. Many Nigerians, on social media, have expressed concern and demanded the arrest and prosecution of those exposed to the illegal trade.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) announced that an air strike conducted by its air component of Operation Whirl Punch on Wednesday eliminated multiple terrorists and kidnappers in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. This was made known on Sunday in a statement issued by NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, stating that the terrorist kingpin, Yellow Jambros and his cohorts were trailed from Zamfara State and killed in the airstrike along the Kaduna-Niger State border.

3 Personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were injured in Edo State during a gun battle with armed hoodlums in Edo State. This was made known on Thursday in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Agency, Femi Babafemi, which stated that the armed hoodlums blocked all roads leading to Opuje community, Owan West LGA of Edo State, in order to prevent NDLEA operatives from accessing their forest warehouses filled with narcotics.

The Federal Government secured the conviction of four Boko Haram financiers, awarding them some year’s imprisonment.

The Federal High Court sitting in Dawaki, Abuja convicted four Boko Haram financiers who are Modu Aisami, Umar Mohammed, Zana Zarama and Bunu Kame. This was disclosed on Monday in a statement issued by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which stated that the prosecution team was led by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Taraba State Command, has identified the State as a hub for illicit drug consumption.