By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has disclosed that its security team recovered two riffles, live cartilages, matchetes and other weapons hidden by unknown persons at the Onitsha Bridge Head Drugs market, in Anambra State.
Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, who disclosed this during a press conference held yesterday in Onitsha the commercial town of Anambra state, said that not less than 50 trailers loads of counterfeit and substandard drugs discovered in the market have been shifted to safer place for further action.
She expressed surprise over the huge discoveries which she said led to an assassination attempt on the agency’s director in South-east zone, Dr Martins Iluyomade who normally conduct debriefing at that particular spot on daily basis.
NAFDAC has embarked on clampdown against dealers of fake and counterfeit drugs across all drugs markets in the country.
Recall, that NAFDAC and its security operatives have been at the drug sections of Onitsha bridge head market since February 10, 2025.
The move is part of ongoing nationwide campaign to strengthening public health and confidence by ensuring that fake and counterfeit drugs being peddled by cartels are pulled out of various markets.
Adeyeye, who was represented by Iluyomade, stated that their security team had foiled two attempts made by some hoodlums to gain entrance to the stores where they parked seized drugs at Onitsha as well as the two arrested suspects.
She assured the public that the exercise would not be brought to an end abruptly because according to her, it was not targeted at any person or groups but a national assignment for the general good of the populace.
“With prompt interventions of our security, we saw and recovered dagger, machetes, two guns and riffles. All other nights, we have arrested people who try to break in and do one things or another in this market. They are in the custody and volunteering useful information,” she added.
She commended the leadership of the markets for working with the agency throughout the period of the operations.
The NAFDAC boss assured that some sections of the market would be reopened this week while they begin the next aspect of the exercise.
