By Nkechi Eze
In a sweeping nationwide offensive against narcotics trafficking and distribution, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two notorious drug kingpins in Lagos, intercepted suspected suppliers of illicit substances to bandits in Borno and Yobe States, and destroyed over 24,000 kilograms of cannabis sativa (skunk) in Edo forests.
The arrests and seizures, which were part of the Agency’s sustained crackdown on drug cartels, came after weeks of intelligence gathering and targeted operations across the country.
Director, Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement that two alleged drug barons, Victor Nwosa, 64, and Felix Chika Obiegbu, 49, were apprehended in Lagos following the recovery of consignments of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine prepared for export to Europe and beyond.
According to Babafemi, Nwosa, who had paraded himself for years as a successful textile merchant, was arrested on Wednesday, 17th September 2025, at his residence at 16 Femi Kila Street, Okota. A search of his house yielded 4.33 kilograms of heroin and 448 grams of cocaine. In a related operation, Obiegbu, who posed as a wine distributor, was arrested on Thursday, 11th September, at his residence at 5 Shada Shonefun Street, Aguda Surulere, where NDLEA operatives discovered 2.902 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The Agency also thwarted attempts by suspected drug couriers to supply illicit substances to terrorists and bandits in the North-East. In Borno State, operatives acting on credible intelligence arrested 26-year-old Baba Kaka Ibrahim on Saturday, 27th September, at Njimtilo village while driving a Mercedes Benz GLK with registration number JRE 987 AE towards Damaturu Road. A search of the vehicle uncovered 39,380 pills of tramadol 225mg and exol-5 tablets concealed in the engine compartment.
On the same day in Yobe, NDLEA operatives intercepted a female suspect, Halima Adamu, along the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway with 39 parcels of Colorado, a potent synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 1.4 kilograms hidden inside her travel bag. A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of another woman linked to the consignment, Habiba Muhammad, at her residence on Baga Road, Maiduguri.
In Kano, two suspects, Aliyu Sani, 27, and Yahaya Tata, 26, were arrested along the Zaria-Kano road on Saturday, 27th September, with 30,030 pills of tramadol. Similarly, operatives in Bayelsa arrested three men, Friday Elebechi, 35; Tobin Godgift, 30; and Aya Clement, 30 on Monday, 22nd September, at Swali Jetty, Yenagoa, where 12 kilograms of skunk and 50 cartridges of live ammunition were recovered.
The NDLEA also re-arrested an ex-convict, Femi Owoeye, popularly known as “Do Good,” at his residence in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Thursday, 25th September. He was found in possession of 32 kilograms of skunk and 10.5 grams of tramadol. Owoeye had previously been sentenced to three years in prison in 2016 for a similar drug trafficking offence.
In Kaduna, operatives arrested 56-year-old Adedamola Olayeni on Monday, 22nd September, at the Abuja-Kaduna tollgate with 404 blocks of skunk weighing 262.6 kilograms. The drugs were discovered in his Honda Pilot jeep, which was traced from Osogbo, Osun State, en route to Katsina. In another operation in the state, 30-year-old Zubairu Haruna was intercepted with 506 grams of methamphetamine on Wednesday, 24th September, at the Gwantu-Fadan Karshi checkpoint. A follow-up operation in Gombe State led to the arrest of the intended recipient, 25-year-old Babangida Mohammed.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives seized no fewer than 85,100 pills of tramadol and other opioids from three suspects, Dauda Abubakar, Abdullahi Umar, and Ismaila Muhammed in Apapa on Monday, 22nd September. Meanwhile, in Abuja, officers arrested 40-year-old Opeyemi Ogundipe along the Abaji-Gwagwalada expressway on Tuesday, 23rd September, with 2.1 kilograms of Colorado.
The Agency also intensified its offensive against cannabis cultivation in Edo State. On Tuesday, 23rd September, operatives destroyed 12,115.6 kilograms of skunk cultivated on 4.8 hectares of farmland in Uromi forest, Esan West Local Government Area, where two suspects, Ernest Uche, 44, and Felix Mugorga, 31, were arrested and 345.5 kilograms of processed cannabis evacuated. On Wednesday, 24th September, another 12,031.2 kilograms of skunk was destroyed in Ogu forest, Igueben LGA, while 106.1 kilograms of processed cannabis was seized.
In addition, a truck loaded with 82 bags of skunk weighing 1,025 kilograms and concealed in bags of charcoal was intercepted along Wareke-Auchi road, Etsako West LGA, on Friday, 26th September. Two suspects, Kabiru Abdulahi, 35, and Anas Safiyanu, 20, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Beyond arrests and seizures, NDLEA Commands across the federation continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, communities, worship centres, and workplaces. Awareness lectures were held at RCM Primary School 1, Igboora, Oyo State; Champion International Academy, Enugu-Ezike, Enugu State; Government Day Secondary School, Babban-Mutum, Katsina; Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Dakata Kawaji, Kano; and Solomon Primary School, Oko Balogun, Epe, Lagos. In Kogi State, the Command also paid an advocacy visit to the traditional ruler of Ankpa, HRH Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Yakubu.
Commending the officers and men involved in the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), hailed their dedication and professionalism. “The success of the various operations across the country underscores our commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from illicit substances that threaten public health and national security. Every gram of these dangerous drugs we seize and remove from our streets and communities reinforces our determination to protect our youths, disrupt criminal networks, and strengthen national security,” Marwa said.
