As the saying goes, wonders never end—and age is certainly no barrier to crime. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recently apprehended 83-year-old Pa John Ofiel and 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel during a massive nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.
In a statement released on Sunday, May 3, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed that Pa John Ofiel was intercepted on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, during a raid at Samek by Powerline in Aba, Abia State. Operatives recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent cannabis strain, already packaged in retail sachets. The octogenarian, who claimed to be a former professional shoemaker, allegedly confessed to pivoting from the craft to the illicit drug trade.
In a similar development, NDLEA operatives in Ekiti State arrested 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel on Thursday, April 30. Samuel was apprehended at his residence on Owode Street, Ilupeju-Ekiti, for drug peddling after officers seized 350 grams of cannabis during the operation.
Continuing their successful streak against narcotics, NDLEA operatives in Oyo State arrested two women, Rebecca King (24) and Olaniyan Opeyemi (31), in connection with the seizure of 1.925kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis. Rebecca was intercepted along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday, April 29, while Opeyemi was apprehended in a follow-up operation at Iwo Road, Ibadan, as she attempted to receive the consignment.
After months of playing a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek, notorious drug dealer Taofik Adeyemi (49) finally ran out of luck. In a targeted raid on Saturday, May 2, NDLEA operatives stormed his residence in the Erunmu area of Ibadan, arresting him alongside his 28-year-old salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde. The operation yielded 3.085kg of skunk and a Toyota Camry (EPE 299 JZ). Adeyemi’s arrest follows the earlier capture of his associates, Abiodun Abiola and Aderinde Ibrahim, who have been facing prosecution since December 2025.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two suspects in Osun State following a targeted interdiction. Oladayo Awoyemi (65) was caught at the Ile-Ife toll gate on April 30 while conveying 7kg of skunk and 15g of meth concealed in a carton. His arrest paved the way for a sting operation in Ilesha, where the consignment’s owner, Ifedayo Babalola, was taken into custody.
The NDLEA recorded similar successes in Borno State, where 27-year-old Yahaya Shehu was intercepted on Wednesday, April 29. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives patrolling the Damaturu–Maiduguri Road seized 76,440 pills of 225mg Tramadol from the suspect.
In a separate operation, a truck driver, Magaji Isa (30), was apprehended with 14,000 capsules of Tramadol. A swift follow-up sting in Biu led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the shipment, 28-year-old Abdulhamid Mahmud.
The NDLEA’s momentum continued in Kaduna, where officers on the Abuja–Jos highway intercepted a Honda Ridgeline (KSF 65 EQ) on Saturday, May 2. A search revealed 393 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 290kg, leading to the arrest of Ojo Major Ebose (36) and Chika Obiechefula (32).
Meanwhile, in Jigawa State, operatives seized 49,800 Tramadol capsules on Friday, May 1. The drugs were recovered from Ahmed Garba (alias Fangale), 50, and Sale Mohammed, 41, during an operation along Bauchi Road in Hadejia.
Turning to Lagos, NDLEA officers conducted a successful raid on the Awolowo Market in Mushin on Saturday, May 2, seizing 740kg of skunk. This followed an intelligence-led operation in the Idogbo community of Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday, April 30. That raid resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Godstime Godspower, who was found with a cocktail of illicit substances, including Loud, Colorado, Tramadol, Swinol, and Methamphetamine.
However, beyond the arrests, the NDLEA continues its mission to prevent drug use before it starts. Throughout the past week, the agency’s WADA (War Against Drug Abuse) campaign took center stage, with sensitization programs held in schools, offices, and religious centers across the country to educate the public on the dangers of illicit substances.
The agency’s advocacy reached a diverse audience this week, with WADA sessions held at Day Secondary School (Niger State) and Khulafa’ul Rashidun Islamiyya (Kano). From engaging students at Community Secondary School in Anambra to educating commercial motorcyclists in Epe, Lagos, the NDLEA also collaborated with NAPPMED members in Edo State to reinforce the message of drug prevention.
NDLEA boss Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has lauded the ‘relentless spirit’ of his officers following the latest string of nationwide arrests.
He noted that the successful combination of supply reduction and community advocacy is key to the agency’s mission, urging operatives to ‘build on this current tempo’ and remain steadfast in the War Against Drug Abuse.
