The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a former two-term local government councillor in Lagos and intercepted a haul of 500 improvised explosive device (IED) components in Niger State during a massive nationwide crackdown.
The arrests, announced on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, highlight a week of high-stakes operations spanning from the suburbs of Lagos to the highways of Kogi and Adamawa.
On Monday, March 2, operatives acting on “credible intelligence” raided the residence of Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, 45, in the Ilado area of Ibeju-Lekki. Olalekan, a former councillor who currently serves as a legislative aide, was found with 40 kilograms of “skunk” a potent strain of cannabis, stashed in one of his rooms.
“The suspect admitted ownership of the exhibit and the property where it was recovered,” the NDLEA stated. “He had previously served two terms as a Councilor representing the Orimedu community.”
The agency’s findings took a bizarre turn on Tuesday, March 3, when officers in the Federal Capital Territory intercepted Emeka Hyginus Okwor, 32. A search of his luggage revealed 1,000 pills of Tapentadol (250mg) hidden inside baby diapers. Okwor reportedly confessed that the drugs were destined for his provision store in Guduwa village, Niger State.
The security situation escalated further on Wednesday, March 4, in Niger State. A commercial bus arriving from Ibadan was found carrying 500 IED components hidden in a white sack. A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, 21-year-old Osama Abdullahi, in the Mashegu local government area.
In Kogi State, a 36-year-old Cameroonian named Mey Ali Muhamat was intercepted with 1.55kg of “Colorado” concealed inside a standing fan carton while travelling toward the Republic of Cameroon.
The crackdown extended to Adamawa State, where NDLEA operatives in Yola recovered 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine from the false bottom of a truck. Similarly, in Kano, 20-year-old Muhammed Ali was apprehended with over 11,000 tramadol pills.
The agency also reported significant raids in the South-West and South-South. In Ogun State, suspects Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa were caught with 46 kilograms of skunk. In Delta State, Joy Chukwuma and Eugene Felix were nabbed with a variety of substances, including codeine-based syrup and swinol. Meanwhile, in Edo State, over 1,900 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on forest farms following the arrest of Eke London and Austin Isusi.
Beyond the arrests, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign. Enlightenment lectures were delivered to students and staff at various institutions, including Government Senior College in Ibadan, Sango Junior Secondary School in Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School in Anambra.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, praised the dexterity of the officers involved in the week’s successful missions.
“I enjoin all commands to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to our drug control efforts,” Marwa stated, emphasising the dual importance of aggressive interdiction and community advocacy.
