FCT Police Arrest Dispatch Rider for Alleged Transport of Illegal Nitrous Oxide

The FCT Police Command has arrested 27-year-old Magaji Adamu, a dispatch rider, for allegedly transporting several cartons of nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas”, suspected to be used illegally.

Adamu, a graduate of Gidan Waya College of Education, Kafanchan, Kaduna, was apprehended during a routine patrol in Abuja on January 20, 2024.

During questioning, he admitted to working as a dispatch rider for the logistics platform Gonymble since December 2024. He confessed that he had delivered the substance four times previously, always receiving the packages from a man identified as Mr. Danladi.

According to Adamu:

• He was instructed over the phone by Danladi to pick up and deliver the goods to a police station in Jabi, Abuja.
• He received N5,000 per delivery.
• Initially, he was unaware of the true nature of the material, believing it was used in hospitals.
• After realizing its actual purpose, he cooperated with the authorities and led them to his residence, where more nitrous oxide was discovered.

On July 11, 2023, a sister law enforcement agency had ordered a nationwide crackdown on the illegal sale and abuse of nitrous oxide due to growing concerns over its recreational use.

This followed controversy over a viral social media image of a Nigerian rapper holding a balloon, leading to speculation about the substance’s growing popularity among youth.

While nitrous oxide is legally used in food processing and as a medical sedative, its inhalation for recreational purposes can cause:

• Short-term effects: Euphoria, giggling, hallucinations, dizziness.
• Long-term risks: Heart problems, oxygen deprivation, depression, memory loss, nerve damage.

Though Nigeria lacks official statistics on laughing gas-related deaths, the UK’s Office for National Statistics recorded 56 deaths from nitrous oxide between 2001 and 2020, with 45 occurring after 2010.

Confirming Adamu’s arrest, SP Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, warned residents, particularly logistics and distribution workers, to exercise caution and due diligence when handling packages.

“Criminal elements often exploit innocent individuals to transport illegal substances, putting them at risk of legal consequences,” she stated.

Authorities are continuing investigations into the case as part of broader efforts to curb the illegal distribution and abuse of nitrous oxide in Nigeria.