In a relentless drive to rid the nation of illicit drugs, the NDLEA has arrested Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, a former two-term Ibeju-Lekki councillor. Acting on credible intelligence linking him to a narcotics ring, operatives apprehended the ex-official as part of a wider crackdown on high-profile trafficking.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi announced on Sunday, March 8, the arrest of a 45-year-old former local council chief currently serving as a legislative aide. Operatives apprehended the suspect on Monday, March 2, at his Ilado residence in Ibeju-Lekki, where a search uncovered 40 kilograms of skunk hidden in one of his rooms.
During interrogation, Sheleru confessed to the crime, admitting ownership of both the illicit consignment and the property where it was seized. He further disclosed his political background, noting he had served two terms as a Councillor representing the Orimedu community in Ibeju-Lekki.
In another significant breakthrough, NDLEA officers in the FCT intercepted Emeka Hyginus Okwor, a 32-year-old businessman, on Tuesday, March 3. Okwor was traveling from Obollo-Afor, Enugu, to Zuba when a search of his luggage revealed 1,000 pills of Tapentadol (250mg) cleverly concealed inside baby diapers. The suspect confessed to owning the consignment, which he intended to sell at his provision store in Guduwa village, Niger State.
On that same day, March 3, NDLEA operatives on the Kabba-Obajana highway in Kogi State intercepted 1.55kg of “Colorado” (synthetic cannabis). The drugs were found hidden inside a standing fan carton belonging to Mey Ali Muhamat, a 36-year-old Cameroonian national. Muhamat, who hails from Maroua, was traveling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon, via a route through Lokoja, Kano, and Maiduguri.
In a high-stakes security breakthrough, NDLEA operatives in Niger State intercepted 500 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components hidden in a white sack. The discovery, made on Wednesday, March 4, along the Mokwa-Jebba Road, led to a swift sting operation in Pelegi, where the 21-year-old intended recipient, Osama Abdullahi, was apprehended.
On the same day in Adamawa State, officers uncovered 122,000 Tramadol pills and 700g of Methamphetamine stashed in the false bottom of a truck hauling 2,000 cartons of local drinks. Meanwhile, the agency’s nationwide sweep continued with the arrest of Muhammed Ali in Kano with over 11,000 pills, and a raid in Ogere, Ogun State, that netted two suspects with 46kg of skunk.
The NDLEA’s offensive continued in Delta State, where Joy Chukwuma (25) and Eugene Felix (22) were intercepted at Ogwashi-Uku on Saturday, March 7. The duo was found with an assortment of narcotics, including 18.63kg of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine, and over 4,000 pills of Tramadol and Swinol.
Meanwhile, in a major “search and destroy” operation in Edo State, operatives raided the Egbisi forest, arresting Eke London (48) and Austin Isusi (49). On-site, officials destroyed 1,910kg of skunk across two sprawling farms. A separate raid in Ikhin town led to the arrest of Alaba Adeboye (47) with an additional 176.50kg of the illicit herb.
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA formations nationwide sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign over the past week.
The sensitization activities reached schools, worship centres, and workplaces across the federation. Key highlights included enlightenment lectures at Government Senior College (Ibadan), GGSS Katcha (Niger), GGDSS Tsafe (Zamfara), and Sango Junior Secondary School (Lagos). Other participating institutions included Government Day Secondary School (Sokoto), Archbishop Akinola International (Ebonyi), and Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School (Anambra).
Applauding the strategic precision and grit shown by operatives across ten state commands, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) hailed the latest string of successes as a testament to the NDLEA’s growing efficiency.
The Chairman urged all formations to sustain the ‘balanced approach’ combining fierce enforcement with proactive prevention—to ensure a safer, drug-free Nigeria.
