Suspected drug cartels arrested in Kaduna military cantonment
Military authorities in Kaduna have dismantled a drug trafficking network operating around the Jaji Military Cantonment, arresting 28 suspected peddlers, including 17 men and 11 women. The operation was prompted by rising concerns over drug abuse among the children of military personnel and civilians living in nearby communities. The military discovered Railway Settlement and Unguwan […]
Military authorities in Kaduna have dismantled a drug trafficking network operating around the Jaji Military Cantonment, arresting 28 suspected peddlers, including 17 men and 11 women.
The operation was prompted by rising concerns over drug abuse among the children of military personnel and civilians living in nearby communities.
The military discovered Railway Settlement and Unguwan Loya as key hubs of illegal drug activity.
Captain Olusegun Abidoye, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations at the Infantry Corps Centre, led journalists on a tour of the affected areas, debunking social media reports of forced demolitions by the military as “completely false.”
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He explained that while communities such as Unguwan Aboki, Unguwan Alhaji, and Unguwan Alasan provide informal services to the cantonment, they have also become breeding grounds for social vices.
“These settlements overlap with military training grounds, putting both residents and soldiers at risk during live-fire exercises,” Abidoye said.
He said surveillance and intelligence operations identified over 15 ringleaders involved in the trafficking and sale of drugs such as Indian hemp, skunk, Exol, crystal meth (ice), crack cocaine, tramadol, and other harmful substances.
“The surge in drug abuse among soldiers’ children and civilians was alarming. We had to act. This operation is both a warning and a commitment: we will not allow drug barons to endanger our communities,” Abidoye said.
The 28 suspects, along with confiscated exhibits, have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Reaffirming the military’s resolve, Abidoye said, “The military remains fully committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the country and safeguarding the well-being of all communities within its operational zones.”