The Kebbi State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Rabi’u Abdullahi Sokoto, and the State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi, have debunked reports alleging the existence of a secret airstrip in Kebbi State purportedly used for smuggling cocaine into Nigeria.
The clarification was made at a joint press briefing held in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday evening.
According to the NDLEA Commander, the story about a so-called secret airport in Kebbi State is entirely false and was generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
He explained that following the directive of the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), the Command conducted a thorough investigation into the alleged airstrip in Argungu Forest, which the false report claimed was being used for cocaine trafficking between Nigeria and Bogotá, Colombia.
“On the orders of the NDLEA Chairman, Gen. Marwa, our officers visited the alleged site, and we can confirm that there is nothing of such in that forest,” Sokoto said.
“Investigations also revealed that there is no one in Kebbi State by the name of Ibrahim Musa, a retired Assistant Comptroller of Customs, who was alleged to have constructed the airport.
“How can a so-called hidden airport supposedly contain 12 aircraft at once?
“The short video circulating online is AI-generated and intended to mislead the public for ulterior motives,” he added.
On his part, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed, described the report as childish, illogical, and laughable.
“This is yet another baseless attempt by desperate politicians to smear Governor Nasir Idris and the good people of Kebbi State in their bid to gain power by any means,” he stated.
“This is both irresponsible and criminal. Such individuals do not care about the damage they cause to the image of the State as long as it serves their ambition.”
He urged the people of Kebbi State to remain vigilant and disregard such malicious fabrications.
“The enemies of progress will continue to try, but they will not succeed. Do not give them the chance,” the Commissioner emphasized.
He further condemned attempts to tarnish the image of the administration of Governor Nasir Idris (Kauran Gwandu), despite the numerous developmental achievements recorded across the State.
In a related development, the Kebbi State Police Command also dismissed the report as baseless, misleading, and an orchestrated attempt to discredit both the State and the Police Command.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar, in Birnin Kebbi, noted that the fake report was designed to create unnecessary fear, embolden criminal elements, and undermine the professionalism and dedication of officers in the fight against crime.
