NDLEA ARRESTS 83-YEAR-OLD, 78-YEAR-OLD OVER DRUG TRAFFICKING IN ABIA, EKITI
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By: Muftau Fatimo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly men—83-year-old Pa John Ofiel and 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel in separate operations linked to drug trafficking in Abia and Ekiti states.
The agency disclosed the arrests in a statement on Sunday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to the statement, “Pa Ofiel was apprehended on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, during a raid at Samek by Powerline in Aba, Abia State, following credible intelligence indicating his involvement in the sale of illicit substances.
“At the time of his arrest, 700 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets, were recovered from him.”
The octogenarian was said to have told investigators that he was formerly a professional shoemaker before venturing into the illicit drug trade.
In a separate operation, NDLEA operatives in Ekiti State arrested Samuel on Thursday, April 30, at his residence on H22 Owode Street, Ilupeju-Ekiti, for alleged drug peddling.
“350 grams of the same psychoactive substance were seized from him at the time of his arrest,” the statement added.
In a related development, the agency said two women—Rebecca King, 24, and Olaniyan Opeyemi, 31—were arrested in Oyo State over the seizure of 1.925kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis.
Rebecca was apprehended while transporting the substance along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday, April 29, while Opeyemi was arrested in a follow-up operation at Iwo Road, Ibadan, where she allegedly attempted to receive the consignment.
The NDLEA also disclosed that a 49-year-old suspected drug dealer, Taofik Adeyemi, was arrested on Saturday, May 2, in Ibadan alongside his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, 28, at his residence in the Erunmu area.
The agency added that two of Adeyemi’s associates had earlier been arrested in December 2025 and are currently facing prosecution at the Federal High Court in Ibadan.
Items recovered from him included 3.085kg of skunk and a Toyota Camry with registration number EPE 299 JZ.
In Osun State, a 65-year-old driver, Oladayo Awoyemi, was arrested on Thursday, April 30, at the Ile-Ife toll gate along the Ibadan-Ilesa Expressway while allegedly conveying a carton containing 7kg of skunk and 15 grams of methamphetamine.
A follow-up operation in Ilesa reportedly led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, Ifedayo Babalola, 40.
In Borno State, NDLEA operatives arrested Yahaya Shehu, 27, on Wednesday, April 29, along the Damaturu-Maiduguri Road, following intelligence that led to the seizure of 76,440 tablets of Tramadol 225mg.
In a related operation, a truck driver, Magaji Isa, 30, was arrested after the interception of 14,000 capsules of Tramadol, while a follow-up operation in Biu led to the arrest of the alleged owner, Abdulhamid Mahmud, 28, the NDLEA said.
The agency also said 393 blocks of compressed skunk, weighing 290kg, were recovered from Ojo Major Ebose, 36, and Chika Obiechefula, 32, after their Honda Ridgeline vehicle was intercepted along the Abuja–Jos Highway in Kaduna State.
It added that 49,800 capsules of Tramadol were seized from Ahmed Garba (a.k.a. Fangale), 50, and Sale Mohammed, 41, along Bauchi Road in Hadejia, Jigawa State.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives raided Awolowo Market in Mushin on Saturday, May 2, where 740kg of skunk was recovered.
In Edo State, an intelligence-led operation at the Idogbo community, Benin City, on Thursday, April 30, led to the arrest of Godstime Godspower, 25, with assorted drugs, including Loud, Colorado, Tramadol, Swinol, and methamphetamine, the agency added.
The NDLEA also said its commands nationwide continued their war against drug abuse sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, markets, and transport hubs across several states.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the affected state commands for their efforts and urged them to sustain the momentum.
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