NDLEA Nabs 80-Year-Old Repeat Offender in Multi-State Drug Crackdown

NDLEA operatives conducted sweeping raids across multiple states, arresting suspects including an 80-year-old recidivist and a businessman smuggling opioids in clothing mannequins, while seizing substantial quantities of cannabis and tramadol. These operations, spanning early January 2026, highlight the agency’s intensified efforts against drug trafficking networks. Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), NDLEA Chairman, praised the balanced approach to supply reduction and public sensitization. ​

Akwa Ibom Highlights

In Abak LGA, 80-year-old Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, previously jailed for two years in 2022 for drug dealing, was rearrested on January 10 with 5.7kg of skunk cannabis at his Mmanta-Abak residence following intelligence leads. ​ Separately, on January 9 along Oron-Ibaka Road, officers intercepted 37-year-old Ani Onyebuchi Romans transporting two full-body mannequins stuffed with 5.3kg of tramadol pills destined for Cameroon, sourced from Onitsha, Anambra State. ​ Romans claimed he was heading back to his Cameroon base post-holidays. 

Oyo State Raids

Raids in Ibadan yielded major hauls: 45-year-old Remi Bamidele, alias ‘Aluko the Mafia,’ was nabbed at Sasa on January 8 with 10.696kg of cannabis strains like Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud, and skunk, plus Toyota Venza and Yaris vehicles (HG 06 LYD). ​ Adeola Toheeb, 27, faced arrest at Adegbayi on January 9 with Colorado, Ghana Loud, and skunk, while Habeeb Ali, 29, was caught at Ring Road on January 10 with 1.264kg of similar strains and ₦1,307,100 cash. ​

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Operations in Edo, Niger, Others

Edo saw arrests on January 9 at Benin City’s Ihama/Airport Road GRA: dispatch rider Osagbovo Edigin, 30, Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, with 118g Canadian Loud and Colorado; Jimoh Agbonmhegbe, 49, at Irrua with 17.552kg cannabis; Evelyn Okoyomon, 38, at Ubiaja with 930g skunk. ​ In Niger, Nazifi Umar, 22, yielded 4,000 tramadol 225mg pills at Dakwa, Tafa LGA; Taraba’s Yusuf Usman, 41, had 47kg skunk (100 blocks) at Lankaviri, Yorro LGA; Adamawa’s Ugwoke Chibueze, 40, arrested at Yola Airport on January 6, led to 30,950 tramadol capsules from his Yola South home. ​

WADA Sensitization Efforts

NDLEA sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) with lectures at Government Day Science and Technical College, Babura (Jigawa); Abiayubal Ansari Islamiyya School, Kano; and Oshituma Umuogudu Akpu Ngbo youths, Ebonyi, emphasizing prevention alongside enforcement. ​ Marwa commended commands in Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Edo, Niger, Taraba, and Adamawa for these successes.