NDLEA Arrests 93-Year-Old Great-Grandfather, 69-Year-Old Doctor in Nationwide Drug Crackdown

NDLEA Arrests 93-Year-Old Great-Grandfather, 69-Year-Old Doctor in Nationwide Drug Crackdown

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide offensive against drug trafficking networks, arresting a 93-year-old great-grandfather and a 69-year-old medical doctor among several suspects, while recovering large consignments of illicit substances across multiple states including Lagos, Ogun, Niger, Edo, and the FCT.

In a series of intelligence-led operations, the NDLEA recorded major breakthroughs in its sustained crackdown on drug cartels and their collaborators across the country.

One of the most striking arrests involved a 93-year-old suspect, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, who was apprehended at his residence in Abia State. A search of his home in Osisioma Local Government Area led to the recovery of 7.7 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. The nonagenarian reportedly told investigators he ventured into the illicit drug trade about a year ago, despite having used the substance since 1959.

In a related development, NDLEA operatives uncovered an international drug trafficking link following the arrest of an Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. He was intercepted while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms.

Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata, in Ogun State. He was identified as the alleged mastermind coordinating the drug movement. NDLEA operatives recovered 63 grams of promazepam and ampoules of promethazine injection from him at the time of arrest.

In Ogun State, three suspects were apprehended in Sango-Ota with 34 kilograms of skunk, while in Imo State, a 26-year-old woman was arrested along the Onitsha-Owerri road with 56.2 kilograms of the same substance.

A separate operation in Niger State led to the arrest of a couple, Abdullahi Umar and his wife Adama Umar, after 118 kilograms of skunk were discovered in their residence.

In Borno State, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer transporting vehicle spare parts along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road. A thorough search uncovered 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 variant. Two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure. In a separate raid in Mushin, officials also seized 26,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup from a truck heading to Onitsha, leading to further arrests.

A raid of a notorious drug hotspot in Abuja, commonly known as Tora Bora, resulted in the arrest of eight suspects and the seizure of over 11 kilograms of skunk.

Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives made one of the largest seizures during the period, intercepting two trucks conveying a combined 7,245 kilograms of processed skunk concealed among cartons of beer. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the consignment, which was reportedly en route to Abuja.

The agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign nationwide, engaging schools, transport workers, and community groups in sensitisation programmes aimed at reducing drug demand.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across various state commands for maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts, urging them to sustain the momentum in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.