The Kano State Special Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking has denied reports that a luxury passenger bus seized in a drug investigation is being released before the probe is completed.
Task force chairman Muhuyi Magaji said the vehicle and suspects linked to the case remained under investigation and that the matter would be pursued through prosecution.
Daily Post and Daily Trust reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency intercepted the bus during an intelligence-led operation in August. The reports said illicit substances valued at about N500 million were recovered from, or in connection with, the vehicle.
Six suspects were named in the reports as Onyeka Vincent, Success Chibuzie, Nwankwo Wisdom, Emmanuel Jude, Chinedu Peter and Okodili Ogbuachie. Daily Post spelt the last name as Okodili Ogbuach, while Daily Trust used Okodili Ogbuachie.
Magaji said he had contacted the Kano NDLEA commander and was told the investigation had not ended. He also said drivers and conductors had been summoned for questioning, with early findings suggesting possible complicity.
The task force chairman said ownership of the bus would form part of the investigation and argued that a claim of ignorance should not automatically clear an owner when a vehicle is used in alleged criminal activity.
Sources: Daily Post, Daily Trust
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