The Military Intelligence has arrested and detained personnel on duty on January 28, 2020, when two weaponised drones were intercepted at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

SaharaReporters had on February 5, 2020, exclusively reported how the items were discovered in a carton at the cargo section of the local wing of the Lagos airport and military officers arrested a man named Kelechi for being in possession of the two highly weaponised drones.

Investigation revealed that the following day the man was asked to write a statement after which he was detained.

Upon interrogation at the National Air Defense Corps, Ikeja, the suspect claimed to be working for the Kaduna State Government.

Further investigation revealed that Commander of NADC, Air commodore U.K Abdullah, later received a call from some unknown persons, who ordered him to release the man and drones.

Abdullah, it was gathered, later released the suspect and drones on January 30, 2020.

The commander, who only assumed duties in December 2019 at the NADC, was said to have instructed his officers to drop the further investigation on the matter.

However, in the latest twist to the matter as discovered by SaharaReporters, out of the military personnel arrest over the incident, all those from the Northern part of the country have been released by the authorities, leaving only one ACM Chike Mba, an Easterner, in detention.

The soldiers were all held for three days during, which period they are interrogated over the incident before the others except Mba were released.

SaharaReporters gathered that authorities of the NADC are currently conducting an internal investigation to identify those responsible for leaking photos of the weaponised drone.

The officers could face a court-martial and be sentenced to time in prison if found guilty of any offence by military authorities.

Recall that in May 2016, the Nigerian government placed a ban on launching Remotely Piloted Aircraft or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) in its airspace without a permit from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority as well as the Office of the National Security Adviser.

According to the rule, drones weighing more than 250 grams (.55 pounds) must be registered with the NCAA.

Though the Kaduna State Government has denied having anything to do with the intercepted drones, findings by SaharaReporters indicated that it is among states that had made moves to deploy drones to tackle bandits, kidnappers, and killer herdsmen within its territory in recent times.

Mrs Goodluck Ogbuji, wife of late Nwamaka Ogbuji, an Ugwuatti Community Youth Leader in Ukwa, Abia State, has appealed to the Federal and Abia Governments for justice.

Ogbuji was an alleged victim of extra-judicial killing by Police Mobile Force men.

Goodluck made the call while speaking to newsmen in Aba on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that policemen attached to Enyimba Economic City Land Acquisition Committee on January 15, at Ugwuatti community in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia, allegedly shot Nwamaka dead.

The widow told newsmen that the incident leading to her husband’s death was without provocation.

“It took place at the Ugwuatti community hall, without provocation and justification, hence my call for justice for my late husband and family,” she said.

The 24-year-old widow, now nursing a three months old baby, therefore, begged the Federal and Abia State Governments to ensure the killers of her husband did not escape justice.

Goodluck said since the death of her husband, life had become “a living hell” for her and her baby, whom she said was seriously ill.

She said the child and herself were going through untold hardship as the petty trading business her late husband established for her had gone down.

“It’s painful. Only God in heaven can explain my pains to you and everyone out there.

“I have been made a widow for no reason at the age of 24; my dear husband was killed for doing absolutely nothing.

“I’ve cried but have discovered that crying will not stop my pains. Only justice can solve my problem.

“I can’t forget that day they brought evil to my home. I was in the little shop he opened for me a few poles away from our house when people rushed to tell me my husband has been killed.

“My husband is the youth leader of his kindred and he only went to hear what those who came to take the community land for the Enyimba Economic City came to say.

“The police officers that came with the Enyimba Economic City team killed my husband for no reason.

“By the custom of our land, I’m supposed to be in my house mourning the evil they brought upon me, but I’m out looking for what to eat and take care of my baby.

“Now, I’m hearing they are accusing my husband whom they shot right in his own community of being a kidnapper.

“They killed my husband and in a swift move to cover up their evil, they’re now trying to prevent me from getting the deserved justice, that is evil upon evil and good people should not let it stand,” she said.

The younger brother of the deceased, Mr Vincent Ogbuji, also urged the Abia government to ensure justice was done because of his brother’s gruesome death.

“I want justice; let them prosecute those who masterminded the killing of my brother.

“We’re weeping uncontrollably day and night and the little boy whose father they killed always cry because he has been used to his father carrying him before his painful death,” he said.

NAN also recalls that the Abia Commissioner of Police, Mr Ene Okon, had told newsmen that Ugwuatti youths armed themselves and tried to snatch rifles from police officers resulting in Ogbuji’s death.

Okon’s statement was however refuted by Ugwuatti people and family members of the deceased, his wife and eyewitnesses, who also said the police were trying to hide their extra-judicial murder.