NDLEA arrests octogenarians for drug trafficking in Abia, Ekiti
Two octogenarians, John Ofiel, 83,and Ogunjobi Samuel, 78, were among the suspects arrested in a crackdown on illicit drug traffickers and dealers by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement
- Operatives hold notorious drug dealer in Ibadan
- Recovers large consignments of illicit substances in Lagos, Borno, others raids
Two octogenarians, John Ofiel, 83,and Ogunjobi Samuel, 78, were among the suspects arrested in a crackdown on illicit drug traffickers and dealers by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement in Abuja.
According to Babafemi, Ofiel was nabbed last Tuesday, during a raid at Samek by Powerline, Aba, Abia State, following credible intelligence that he was dealing in illicit substances.
It was learnt 700 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets, were recovered from him. The octogenarian claimed he was a professional shoemaker before delving into the illicit drug trade, Babafemi said.
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Also, last Thursday, NDLEA operatives in Ekiti State arrested a 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel at his residence, H22 Owode Street, Ilupeju-Ekiti, for drug peddling, while 350 grams of the same substance were seized from him at the time of his arrest.
Two ladies, Rebecca King, 24, and Olaniyan Opeyemi, 31, were arrested by operatives in Oyo State in connection with the seizure of 1.925kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis.
Babafemi said while Rebecca was nabbed conveying the consignment on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway last Wednesday, Opeyemi was arrested in a follow-up at Iwo Road, Ibadan, when she attempted to take delivery of the cargo.
He said in another operation in Ibadan, a notorious drug dealer, 49-year-old Taofik Adeyemi, was arrested last Saturday, along with his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, 28, at his residence in Erunmu, after months of evading arrest.
Two of his associates, Abiodun Abiola and Aderinde Ibrahim, had earlier been arrested on December 8, 2025 and are being prosecuted at a Federal High Court in Ibadan, according to the statement.
Babafemi said at the time of Taofik’s arrest, 3.085 kilograms of skunk and a Toyota Camry car marked EPE 299 JZ were recovered from him.
He said in Osun State, a 65-year-old driver, Oladayo Awoyemi, was last Thursday, arrested at Ile-Ife toll gate on the Ibadan-Ilesha Expressway while conveying a carton containing 7kg of skunk and 15 grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle with registration number LES 114 AG.
A follow-up in Ilesha town led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Ifedayo Babalola, 40.
The agency’s spokesman said a 27-year-old suspect, Yahaya Shehu, was arrested last Wednesday by NDLEA operatives on patrol on the Damaturu-Maiduguri Road, Borno State, following credible intelligence, leading to the seizure of 76,440 pills of Tramadol (225mg).
In Borno, a truck driver, Magaji Isa, 30, was arrested following the interception of 14,000 capsules of Tramadol, while a follow-up in Biu led to the arrest of the owner, Abdulhamid Mahmud, 28, Babafemi said.
He said a total of 393 compressed blocks of skunk, weighing 290 kilograms, were recovered from two suspects, Ojo Major Ebose, 36, and Chika Obiechefula, 32, last Saturday, when their Honda Ridgeline vehicle marked KSF 65 EQ was intercepted by NDLEA officers on patrol on the Abuja-Jos highway in Kaduna.
Babafemi said no fewer than 49,800 capsules of Tramadol were seized from another set of suspects, Ahmed Garba (a.k.a. Fangale), 50, and Sale Mohammed, 41, on Bauchi Road, Hadejia, Jigawa State, last Friday.
“In Lagos State, NDLEA officers on Saturday, 2 May, raided Awolowo Market, Mushin, where they recovered 740kg of skunk, while an intelligence-led operation at Idogbo community, Benin City, Edo State, on April 30, led to the arrest of a suspect, Godstime Godspower, 25.
“Assorted illicit drugs seized from him include 57 grams of Loud, three grams of Colorado, eight grams of Tramadol, three grams of Swinol, and five grams of methamphetamine.
“With the same zeal, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, among others, in the past week.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), parised the officers for their efforts.
