By Ayo Kehinde
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 93-year-old great-grandfather and a 69-year-old medical doctor over alleged involvement in cocaine and skunk trafficking, as operatives intensified intelligence-led operations that exposed and disrupted major drug networks across Nigeria.
NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday disclosed that the arrests and seizures were carried out across multiple states, including Abia, Ogun, Lagos, Niger, Edo, Imo, Borno, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as part of sustained, intelligence-driven operations targeting entrenched drug trafficking networks nationwide.
In Abia State, NDLEA operatives apprehended a nonagenarian, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Government Area, on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
A search of his home led to the recovery of 7.7 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. The suspect reportedly confessed to having ventured into the illicit drug trade over a year ago after decades of personal use, which he said began in 1959.
In a separate operation targeting international trafficking routes, operatives at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport arrested a 41-year-old Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan, Italy. He was found to have ingested 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms and was to be paid €5,000 upon successful delivery.
Further investigation uncovered a wider network behind the operation, leading to the arrest of a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata, identified as the alleged mastermind coordinating the movement of the cocaine consignment.
He was tracked to his residence at Teachers’ Land Estate, Magboro, Ogun State, where he was arrested on March 27 and later transferred to Kano. Recovered from him were 63 grams of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection.
In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives also arrested three suspects including Azeez Sanni, Olayinka Oke, and Adekunle Adeyemi with 34 kilograms of skunk during a raid at Sango Ota.
Similarly, in Imo State, a 26-year-old woman, Ayoka Akinwale, was apprehended along the Onitsha–Owerri road with 56.2 kilograms of the same substance.
In Niger State, a couple, Abdullahi Umar, 32, and his wife, Adama Umar, 25, were arrested after operatives discovered 118 kilograms of skunk concealed in their kitchen in Takuti village, Lapai Local Government Area.
A major interception occurred in Borno State, where NDLEA officers on patrol along the Damaturu–Maiduguri road recovered 42,290 tablets of Rohypnol, 82,700 millilitres of codeine syrup, and 10,000 millilitres of pentazocine injection hidden in a trailer transporting vehicle spare parts from Nnewi. The owner of the consignment, Eleje Ibeabuchi, was subsequently arrested.
In Lagos, operatives intercepted a Chisco Transport luxury bus along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway en route to Port Harcourt, leading to the seizure of 15 kilograms of “Scottish Loud,” a strong strain of cannabis. Two suspects, Kingsley Nsofor and Opara Ifeanyi, were arrested.
Another operation in the Mushin area of Lagos led to the interception of a truck conveying assorted goods to Onitsha, from which 26,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered. Two suspects, Adesunloye Dada and Chibuzor Chime, were taken into custody.
In the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA operatives raided the notorious Tora Bora drug hub in Abuja, arresting eight suspects and seizing 11.516 kilograms of skunk.
One of the most significant seizures was recorded in Edo State, where two trucks intercepted along Warrake Road, Auchi, were found to contain 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 heading to Abuja.
Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign across the country, conducting sensitisation programmes in schools, motor parks, and community centres in states including Lagos, Kogi, Katsina, Kano, Cross River, and Osun.
Commending the officers and men involved in the operations, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised commands across the affected states and the FCT for their diligence and professionalism.
He emphasised the agency’s commitment to maintaining a balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction through continuous public enlightenment.
