NDLEA Arrests 93-Year-Old Suspect, Doctor, Others in Nationwide Drug Crackdown

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intensified nationwide operations against drug trafficking networks, arresting a 93-year-old man, a medical doctor, and several other suspects in a series of intelligence-led raids across the country.

The agency said a 93-year-old great-grandfather, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was arrested at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State. During a search of his home, operatives recovered 7.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

According to NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the suspect claimed he had been smoking cannabis since 1959 before turning it into a business in recent years.

In a related operation, NDLEA operatives uncovered an international drug trafficking link with the arrest of an Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. He was apprehended during the outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight bound for Milan via Addis Ababa.

A total of 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms were recovered from the suspect, who reportedly ingested the drugs. Investigations revealed that he had travelled from Milan to Lagos and was later moved to Enugu before proceeding to Kano, where he ingested the illicit consignment in a hotel room.

The suspect reportedly confessed he was to be paid €5,000 upon successful delivery of the drugs in Milan.

Further investigation led to the arrest of a 69-year-old medical doctor, Chudi Daniel Ofomata, identified as the alleged coordinator behind the operation. He was tracked to his residence in Magboro, Ogun State, and subsequently taken into custody.

In Ogun State, NDLEA operatives also arrested three suspects  Azeez Sanni, Olayinka Oke, and Adekunle Adeyemi  at Sango Ota, where 34 kilograms of skunk were recovered.

Similarly, in Imo State, a female suspect, Ayoka Akinwale, was apprehended with 56.2 kilograms of the same substance in Owerri.

In Niger State, a couple  Abdullahi Umar and his wife, Adama Umar were arrested after 118 kilograms of skunk were discovered in their kitchen.

Meanwhile, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, operatives intercepted a Chisco Transport luxury bus en route to Port Harcourt. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 15 kilograms of “Scottish Loud,” another variant of cannabis. Two suspects, Kingsley Nsofor and Opara Ifeanyi, were arrested in connection with the seizure.

The NDLEA said similar operations were carried out in other parts of Lagos, Abuja, and Auchi, Edo State, as the agency continues its crackdown on drug cartels and their collaborators nationwide.