A National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) member, Michael Otobor, is in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly trying to traffic 84 wraps of cocaine worth over N2 million.
Mr. Otobor, a serving corp member with the Keffi local government area of Nassarawa state was last week arrested in a taxi on his way to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos by operatives of the anti-narcotics agency based on a tip-off.
The 27 year old Mr. Otobor is from Ikpoba Okha local government area of Edo State, and is a graduate of Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic Bida in Niger state.
He said he was paid the sum of N300, 000 as initial payment to traffic the cocaine weighing 1.150kg to Spain in Europe. “I was lured into this business by some of my friends,” Mr. Otobor said, in tears. “Initially, I did not want to do it because I know the consequence of trafficking in hard drugs. My friends kept telling me that they know the officials at the airport and I will not be caught but I still refused. Now look at me, I don’t know how I got myself into this mess.”
Mr. Otobor said he intended to use the money from the cocaine peddling deal to start a farm in Kwara state. “Like I told you, I did not want to go into this drug peddling deal,” he said. “But my sponsors checked me into three exquisite hotels in six days. I was given a treat, but I did not know that they were manipulating me. They gave me N300, 000 and promised to give me more money if I succeeded in trafficking the drugs. I thought of what to do with the money and then I decided that I have been thinking of starting a mechanised farm in Kwara state where I can plant, corn, melon and cassava. I regret yielding to these people.”
The Lagos state commander of the NDLEA, Wesley Midala, however revealed that Mr. Otobor could have died considering the large quantity of the cocaine he had swallowed. “Mr. Otobor vomited seven wraps and excreted seventy seven wraps of cocaine weighing 1.150kilogrammes. He is lucky to be alive as this hard drug would have destroyed his intestine and he would have died in the process. We are still interrogating him and as soon as we are through with our investigation, he will be charged to court. I will advice youth to be patient in life. They should not seek illegal means to actualize their dreams as the law is no respecter of persons or status.” Mr. Midala said.
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