NDLEA arrests two octogenarians for drug trafficking in Abia, Ekiti

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly men, aged 83 and 78, alongside several other suspects in separate operations linked to drug trafficking in Abia and Ekiti states.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesperson disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the suspects, Pa John Ofiel and Ogunjobi Samuel, were apprehended in Abia and Ekiti states over alleged drug trafficking.

According to the agency, “Pa Ofiel was nabbed by NDLEA officers on Tuesday 28th April 2026 during a raid operation at Samek by Powerline, Aba, Abia state following credible intelligence that he was dealing in illicit substances.

“As at the time of his arrest, 700 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets were recovered from him.”

The agency said the suspect, a former shoemaker, admitted venturing into the illicit drug trade.

In Ekiti, Samuel was arrested at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti, where “350 grams of the same psychoactive substance were seized from him at the time of his arrest.”

The agency also reported additional arrests across the country, including two women linked to the seizure of 1.925kg of Colorado in Oyo State, and a suspected drug dealer, Taofik Adeyemi, arrested in Ibadan with 3.085kg of skunk.

In Osun, Oladayo Awoyemi, a 65-year-old driver was intercepted with “a carton containing 7kg of skunk and 15 grams of methamphetamine,” while a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment.

Further operations in Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Lagos, and Edo states resulted in multiple arrests and the recovery of large quantities of illicit drugs, including tramadol tablets and hundreds of kilograms of skunk.

In Lagos, operatives raided a market in Mushin where 740kg of skunk was recovered, while in Edo, a suspect was arrested with assorted drugs including Loud, Colorado, and methamphetamine.

The agency added that its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign continues nationwide, targeting schools, markets, worship centres, and transport hubs.

Mohamed Marwa, chairman of the NDLEA commended officers for the operations and urged them to sustain the ongoing crackdown.