A 93-year-old great grandfather and a 69-year-old medical doctor have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as the agency intensified nationwide operations against drug trafficking syndicates.
The arrests were part of a series of intelligence-led raids and interdictions carried out across multiple states, leading to the seizure of large consignments of illicit substances including cocaine, skunk, codeine syrup and other controlled drugs.
The nonagenarian suspect, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was apprehended at his residence in Abia State, where operatives recovered 7.7 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. He reportedly confessed to engaging in the illicit trade for over a year, despite having previously worked as a truck pusher and artisan.
In a related operation, NDLEA officers arrested a 41-year-old Ivorian, Gohouri Michael, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms. He was intercepted while attempting to board an outbound Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa.
Further investigations uncovered a local accomplice identified as Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata, a 69-year-old medical practitioner, who was subsequently arrested at his residence in Ogun State. Items recovered from him included 63 grams of promazepam and ampoules of promethazine injection.
Elsewhere in Ogun State, three suspects were arrested with 34 kilograms of skunk during a raid at Sango-Ota, while another 56.2 kilograms of the substance was recovered from a female suspect along the Onitsha–Owerri road in Imo State.
In Niger State, a couple—Abdullahi Umar and his wife, Adama—were arrested after 118 kilograms of skunk were discovered in their home.
A major seizure was recorded in Borno State, where NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer conveying spare parts and recovered 42,290 tablets of Rohypnol, 82,700 millilitres of codeine syrup, and 10,000 millilitres of pentazocine injection. The owner of the consignment was later arrested.
In Lagos, operatives intercepted a commercial bus along the Lagos–Ibadan expressway, recovering 15 kilograms of “Scottish Loud,” another strong cannabis strain, leading to the arrest of two suspects. A separate operation in Mushin led to the seizure of 26,800 bottles of codeine syrup and the arrest of two individuals.
Read also:
- NDLEA uncovers cocaine in palm kernel oil cans, nabs kingpin in Lagos
- NDLEA apprehends major drug distributor, seals pharmacy, seizes opioids worth millions
- NDLEA, US-DEA move to crush drug cartels, link fight to anti-terror war
Eight suspects were also arrested during a raid of a notorious drug hub in the Federal Capital Territory, where over 11 kilograms of skunk were seized.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted two trucks conveying a combined 7,245 kilograms of processed skunk concealed in cartons of beer. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the haul.
Meanwhile, the agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued nationwide, targeting schools, motor parks and community groups with sensitisation programmes.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers across commands for sustaining momentum in both drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.
