By Omoyeni Ojeifo, Abuja
In a sweeping nationwide crackdown across multiple states, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two elderly men aged 83 and 78 alongside several other suspects.
An 83-year-old Pa John Ofiel was arrested on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, during a raid at Samek by Powerline in Aba, Abia State.
700 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis packaged in retail sachets, were recovered from him at the time of his arrest, a statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday emailed to Persecondnews said.
The octogenarian reportedly told investigators he had previously worked as a shoemaker before venturing into the illicit drug trade.
Similarly, in an operation in Ekiti State, NDLEA operatives on Thursday, April 30, arrested 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel at his residence on Owode Street, Ilupeju-Ekiti. About 350 grams of skunk were recovered from him.
Meanwhile, in Oyo State, two women, Rebecca King, 24, and Olaniyan Opeyemi, 31, were apprehended on Wednesday, April 29, in connection with the seizure of 1.925 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis.
King was intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while transporting the consignment, while Opeyemi was arrested in a follow-up operation in Ibadan.
Also in Ibadan, after months of evading arrest, NDLEA operatives on May 2 arrested a suspected drug kingpin, Taofik Adeyemi, 49, alongside his associate, Mustapha Oyerinde, 28.
About 3.085 kilograms of skunk and a Toyota Camry with registration number EPE 299 JZ were recovered during the operation.
Two of his alleged accomplices had earlier been arrested in December 2025 and are currently facing prosecution at a Federal High Court in Ibadan.
A 65-year-old driver, Oladayo Awoyemi, was arrested on April 30 in Osun at the Ile-Ife toll gate while transporting 7 kilograms of skunk and 15 grams of methamphetamine.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the drugs, Ifedayo Babalola, 40, in Ilesha.
The agency also reported multiple interceptions in the northern region.
76,440 pills of Tramadol were seized from a 27-year-old Yahaya Shehu on Wednesday, April 29, along the Damaturu–Maiduguri road in Borno State, while a truck driver, Magaji Isa, 30, was arrested after the interception of 14,000 capsules of Tramadol.
A follow-up operation in Biu led to the arrest of the owner, 28-year-old Abdulhamid Mahmud.
About 393 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 290 kilograms were recovered from two suspects, Ojo Major Ebose, 36, and Chika Obiechefula, 32, in Kaduna State after their Honda Ridgeline vehicle with registration no. KSF 65 EQ was intercepted by NDLEA officers on patrol along the Abuja–Jos highway on Saturday, May 2.
No fewer than 49,800 capsules of Tramadol were seized from Ahmed Garba (a.k.a Fangale), 50, and Sale Mohammed, 41, along Bauchi Road, Hadejia, on Friday, May 1, in Jigawa State.
In Lagos State, NDLEA officers on Saturday, May 2, raided Awolowo Market, Mushin, where they recovered 740kg of skunk.
An intelligence-led operation at Idogbo community, Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday, April 30, led to the arrest of Godstime Godspower, 25.
Assorted illicit drugs seized from him include 57 grams of Loud, 3 grams of Colorado, 8 grams of Tramadol, 3 grams of Swinol, and 5 grams of methamphetamine.
The agency also said Commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities.
These included outreach programmes in Niger, Kano, Anambra, Lagos, and Edo States.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa commended officers of Abia, Ekiti, Edo, Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Oyo, Osun, and Lagos Commands for their efforts, urging them to sustain the momentum in both drug supply reduction and public sensitization campaigns.
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