NDLEA Nabs Lagos Drug Kingpins, Blocks Supplies to Bandits, Destroys Over 24,000kg Skunk in Edo

NDLEA Nabs Lagos Drug Kingpins, Blocks Supplies to Bandits, Destroys Over 24,000kg Skunk in Edo

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a series of major breakthroughs in its nationwide operations, arresting notorious drug kingpins in Lagos, intercepting illicit supplies allegedly bound for terrorists and bandits in the Northeast, and destroying massive cannabis farms in Edo State.

In Lagos, operatives of the Special Operations Unit (SOU) arrested 64-year-old Victor Nwosa and 49-year-old Felix Chika Obiegbu following months of intelligence gathering on their syndicates. Nwosa, who posed as a textile merchant, was arrested on September 17, 2025, at his residence in Okota where officers recovered 4.33 kilograms of heroin and 448 grams of cocaine. Obiegbu, known as a wine distributor, was arrested earlier on September 11, 2025, at his home in Aguda, Surulere, where operatives seized 2.9 kilograms of methamphetamine.

In the Northeast, NDLEA officers thwarted attempts to deliver illicit drugs to terrorists. On September 27, operatives arrested 26-year-old Baba Kaka Ibrahim in Borno State while driving a Mercedes Benz GLK along the Njimtilo–Damaturu road. A search of the vehicle revealed 39,380 pills of tramadol 225mg and Exol-5 concealed in the engine compartment. That same day in Yobe, Halima Adamu was intercepted along the Damaturu–Maiduguri road with 1.4 kilograms of Colorado (a synthetic strain of cannabis) hidden in her travel bag. A swift follow-up led to the arrest of Habiba Muhammad at her Maiduguri residence.

In Kano, Aliyu Sani (27) and Yahaya Tata (26) were arrested with 30,030 tramadol pills, while in Bayelsa, operatives apprehended Friday Elebechi (35), Tobin Godgift (30), and Aya Clement (30) at Swali jetty, Yenagoa, recovering 12kg of skunk and 50 cartridges of Diana AAA ammunition.

The Agency also re-arrested an ex-convict, Femi Owoeye (aka Do Good, 45), on September 25 in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State. He was found with 32kg of skunk and 10.5 grams of tramadol, just years after serving a three-year jail term for a similar offence.

In Kaduna, Adedamola Olayeni (56) was caught on September 22 with 262.6kg of skunk packed in a Honda Pilot jeep at the Abuja–Kaduna tollgate. Another suspect, Zubairu Haruna (30), was arrested two days later with 506 grams of methamphetamine, while follow-up operations led to the arrest of 25-year-old Babangida Mohammed in Gombe, the alleged receiver of the consignment.

Further seizures include 85,100 opioid pills from three suspects in Lagos, 2.1kg of Colorado from Opeyemi Ogundipe (40) in Abuja, and large cannabis farms in Edo. NDLEA officers destroyed 12,115.6kg of skunk on 4.8 hectares of cannabis farmland in Uromi, Esan West LGA, and another 12,031.2kg in Ogu forest, Igueben LGA. A truck loaded with 1,025kg of skunk hidden in charcoal bags was also intercepted along the Wareke–Auchi road, leading to the arrest of Kabiru Abdulahi (35) and Anas Safiyanu (20).

Alongside enforcement, the Agency intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitization programmes across schools, religious centres, and communities in Oyo, Enugu, Katsina, Kano, Lagos, and Kogi states.

Commending the operatives, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised their “dexterity and commitment” in disrupting criminal drug networks. He said:

> “The success of the various operations across the country underscores our determination to safeguard 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 resolve to protect our youths, disrupt criminal enterprises, and strengthen national security.”

Femi Babafemi

Director, Media & Advocacy

NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja

Sunday, September 28, 2025