By Nkechi Eze
In one of its most expansive crackdowns in recent months, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended an 80-year-old ex-convict, an 82-year-old grandmother, and a polytechnic student, while intercepting illicit drugs valued at over ₦3.2 billion across multiple states.
Among the major arrests was that of Ayuba Ashiru, an 80-year-old man previously convicted for drug-related offences and sentenced to a 10-year jail term which he served between 2014 and 2024.
An official signed statement by the director, media and advocacy, Femi BabaFemi disclosed that Ashiru, who admitted to being involved in the drug trade for 46 years, was arrested on Wednesday, 14th May 2025 at Barazana Street, Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State. NDLEA operatives recovered 2.3 kilograms of skunk, already packaged in retail quantities, from his residence.
In a similar operation in Abia State on Saturday, 17th May, NDLEA officers raided the home of 82-year-old Mrs. Uloma Uchechi Sunday at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village. The raid led to the recovery of quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, and skunk, along with a cash exhibit of ₦130,600. Also arrested was her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi. The octogenarian confessed that she and her daughter took over the family drug business after her son, who had originally established the operation, died two years ago.
In what authorities described as a significant disruption of the illicit drug supply chain, NDLEA operatives at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State, intercepted a container laden with three million pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol royal 225mg with an estimated street value of ₦2.1 billion. The seizure was made on Wednesday, 14th May, during a joint examination conducted by NDLEA officers, Customs officials, and other security agencies. The container had earlier been placed on the Agency’s watch-list based on credible intelligence.
In a related development, another intelligence-led operation at the Apapa seaport in Lagos on Tuesday, 13th May, led to the interception of a container falsely declared to be carrying new car parts and accessories from India. Upon joint examination, operatives discovered 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup concealed within the shipment. The drug cargo was valued at over ₦1.1 billion.
The Agency also made key arrests in Kwara State, where two suspects Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail were arrested with 199,200 tramadol pills on Friday, 16th May. In a follow-up operation at Favour Lodge in Ilorin, NDLEA officers apprehended Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef, an HND 1 student of the Department of Laboratory Science Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic. He was found in possession of 650 grams of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, already measured into 149 cups for resale to other students.
Meanwhile, NDLEA officers from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a parcel containing 250 grams of cocaine concealed in a female headgear intended for export to Australia. The interception took place at a courier company in Lagos on Friday, 16th May.
In Niger State, NDLEA patrol teams along the Mokwa-Jebba road intercepted a Toyota Carina with registration number AGL 945 BK on Thursday, 15th May. The vehicle was conveying 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143 kilograms. One suspect, Idris Kamal, aged 35, was arrested. A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, 39-year-old Bello Aliyu, popularly known as “Liti.” That same day, operatives patrolling Chachi Junction along Kaduna Road arrested a 26-year-old man, Emmanuel Hassan, in possession of 14.3 kilograms of Loud.
Elsewhere, in the Karu area of Nasarawa State, a 60-year-old man, Welman Kengbo, was arrested on Friday, 16th May with 594.8 kilograms of skunk. In Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Oyenuga Toheeb on Thursday, 15th May along the Lekki-Epe expressway with 67.5 kilograms of the same substance.
In Taraba State, 22-year-old Shafiu Ismail was arrested on Thursday, 15th May at Sabonlayin in Jalingo Local Government Area with 5,350 pills of tramadol and diazepam. Also on 15th May, operatives in Jigawa State apprehended 35-year-old Tijjani Mohammed at Malamawa in Garki Local Government Area with 198 kilograms of skunk.
On the Abuja–Kaduna Highway, NDLEA officers on patrol on Friday, 16th May intercepted a 29-year-old man, Ismail Isah, who was found in possession of an AK-47 rifle and two magazines concealed in a sack of maize. The suspect is expected to be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
In addition to the enforcement operations, the Agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign continued across the country. NDLEA officials delivered anti-drug lectures to students and staff of Supreme International School in Kano, Al-Arifeen International Academy in Kaduna, Nadado Primary School in Katsina, Ila Orangun Grammar School in Osun, and Government Secondary School in Onne, Rivers State, among others.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers and men of the DOGI, as well as the Abia, Kaduna, Kwara, Port Harcourt, Apapa, Lagos, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Taraba, and Niger State Commands for their commitment and effectiveness. He also praised all NDLEA formations nationwide for maintaining a balanced focus on both drug supply reduction and demand reduction in the ongoing national drug control effort.
