The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide offensive against narcotics, recording significant arrests and seizures across multiple states. In a striking development from Akwa Ibom State, an 80-year-old former convict was apprehended, highlighting the agency's relentless pursuit of offenders regardless of age or status.
Major Arrests Across Akwa Ibom and Oyo States
In Akwa Ibom, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, an octogenarian with a prior conviction, was arrested at his residence in Mmanta-Abak, Abak Local Government Area. Operatives recovered 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, from the suspect. Nkanta had previously been convicted for drug trafficking in December 2022 and served a two-year sentence, marking him as a repeat offender.
In a separate operation within the same state, NDLEA officers intercepted 37-year-old businessman Ani Onyebuchi Romans along the Oron-Ibaka Road in Oron. Romans, who claimed residency in Cameroon, was transporting 5.3 kilograms of tramadol pills concealed inside full-body mannequins. He reportedly procured the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra State, with the intent to traffic them to Cameroon.
Operations in Oyo State yielded multiple arrests. At Sasa, Ibadan, 45-year-old Remi Bamidele, alias ‘Aluko the Mafia,’ was caught with 10.696 kilograms of cannabis in various strains. Two vehicles, a Toyota Venza and a Toyota Yaris, were also seized. Additional arrests in Ibadan included Adeola Toheeb, 27, and Habeeb Ali, 29, found with cannabis and cash totalling ₦1,307,100.
Widespread Seizures from Edo to Adamawa
The agency's net was cast wide, leading to significant drug busts in other regions:
- Edo State: Dispatch rider Osagbovo Edigin, 30, alongside Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were arrested at Ihama/Airport Road, GRA, Benin City with 118 grams of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado. Other seizures included 17.552 kilograms of cannabis from Jimoh Agbonmhegbe, 49, at Irrua and 930 grams of skunk from Evelyn Okoyomon, 38, at Ubiaja.
- Niger State: Officers recovered over 4,000 tramadol pills (225 mg) from 22-year-old Nazifi Umar in Dakwa town, Tafa Local Government Area.
- Taraba State: Yusuf Usman, 41, was arrested in Lankaviri, Yorro LGA, with 47 kilograms of skunk.
- Adamawa State: Ugwoke Chibueze, 40, was arrested at Lamido Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola. A subsequent search of his residence in Bachure, Yola South LGA, led to the recovery of 30,950 tramadol capsules.
Balancing Enforcement with Prevention
Concurrent with these enforcement operations, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns. These advocacy programs reached schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities in Jigawa, Kano, and Ebonyi states, aiming to reduce the demand for illicit substances.
Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the officers for their dedication. He emphasized the critical importance of their dual-focused work in simultaneously reducing drug supply through enforcement and curbing demand through community engagement. The agency reiterated its commitment to maintaining this strategic balance to effectively disrupt drug-related activities across Nigeria.
