84-Year-Old Grandpa, 75-Year-Old Patent Medicine Dealer Arrested Over Alleged Drug Supply to Students in Abia

An 84-year-old pensioner, Godfrey Orji, and a 75-year-old patent medicine dealer, Godwin Obulunbiya Obiora, have been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over allegations of involvement in illicit drug activities in Umuahia, Abia State.

The two elderly men were accused of allegedly supplying prohibited substances to secondary school students and other individuals within the state capital.

According to the NDLEA, Obiora was arrested on Friday, June 19, 2026, following intelligence that he was allegedly selling illicit substances from his patent medicine store located along Club Road, Umuahia.

During a search of his premises, operatives reportedly recovered 4.64 kilograms of opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.

The agency alleged that the suspect had been involved in supplying the substances to young persons, including teenage students.

In a separate incident, Orji, who is also a pensioner, was reportedly arrested after security guards at Saint Silas Secondary School, Old Umuahia, caught him allegedly supplying illicit drugs to two teenage students.

The guards reportedly handed him over to the police, who later transferred the case to the NDLEA on Thursday, June 18.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said one of the students, a 15-year-old Senior Secondary School 2 pupil, claimed that the 84-year-old man was his supplier.

According to Babafemi, the teenager admitted that he not only consumed the substances but also sold them to other students within the school.

The NDLEA spokesperson added that while the two elderly suspects would be prosecuted in court after investigations are concluded, the affected students have been placed under counselling and rehabilitation.

The development has raised concerns over the growing problem of drug access among young people and the need for stronger monitoring of substances capable of being abused.