The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated 50 trailer loads of fake and counterfeit drugs from the Niger Bridge Head drug market in Onitsha, Anambra State, as part of its ongoing nationwide crackdown on substandard medicines.
During the operation, NAFDAC’s security team also discovered and seized dangerous weapons, including two rifles, live cartridges, machetes, and daggers, hidden in the market. The agency suspects these weapons were meant for violent attacks.
Weapons Found at NAFDAC Director’s Usual Spot
Addressing journalists at the market on Wednesday, NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, expressed shock over the discovery. She viewed it as a possible assassination attempt on Dr. Martins Iluyomade, the agency’s Director for the South-East Zone, who regularly conducts debriefings at the exact location where the weapons were found.
Adeyeye stated, “This is very worrisome. It is shocking that weapons were hidden at the very spot where our director holds daily briefings. This could have been an assassination attempt.”
Adeyeye, represented by Dr. Iluyomade, also revealed that security officers arrested two suspects who attempted to break into the storage facility where the seized drugs were kept. “With the prompt intervention of our security team, we recovered two guns, a rifle, a dagger, and machetes. Every night, we catch people trying to break in and cause trouble,” she added.
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Massive Drug Seizure and Continued Operations
The agency, which has been conducting operations at the Onitsha market since February 10, 2025, remains committed to removing fake drugs from circulation. Adeyeye assured that the exercise is not targeted at any individual or group but is a national mission to protect public health.
She emphasized that 50 trailer loads of counterfeit and substandard drugs have already been moved to a secure location for further action. “This is about the health and safety of Nigerians. We are not here to witch-hunt anyone, but to ensure only safe and quality drugs are sold in our markets,” she said.
NAFDAC to Reopen Some Market Sections
Despite the security threats, Adeyeye praised the *market leadership* for cooperating with NAFDAC throughout the exercise. She assured traders that some sections of the market would be reopened this week while the agency moves on to the next phase of its operations.
“We appreciate the support of the market leaders, and I can confirm that some sections will be reopened soon,” she said.
NAFDAC’s crackdown is part of a larger effort to dismantle drug cartels distributing counterfeit medicines across Nigeria. The agency urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious drug activities to protect lives and strengthen healthcare standards