The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two elderly men, aged 83 and 78, in a nationwide crackdown targeting illicit drug trafficking networks. The suspects were among several individuals apprehended in coordinated operations across multiple states. In Abia State, 83-year-old Pa John Ofiel was arrested on April 28 during a raid in Aba. Acting on intelligence, NDLEA operatives recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent cannabis strain, already packaged for retail distribution. Ofiel, who identified himself as a shoemaker, reportedly confessed to participating in the illegal trade.
Similarly, in Ekiti State, 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel was detained on April 30 at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti. Authorities seized 350 grams of cannabis from him and described him as a local drug peddler operating within the community.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended state commands for intensifying efforts to curb drug supply. He urged officers to sustain the momentum while balancing enforcement operations with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns.
In Oyo State, operatives arrested a suspected drug kingpin, Taofik Adeyemi, 49, in Ibadan after months of evading capture. He was apprehended alongside his associate, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085kg of cannabis and a vehicle believed to be used for distribution.
The nationwide operations also led to major seizures, including over 140,000 pills and capsules of Tramadol intercepted along transit routes between Damaturu and Hadejia. In Lagos, a raid at Awolowo Market in Mushin yielded 740kg of cannabis, while in Kaduna, two suspects were caught transporting 290kg of compressed cannabis concealed in a vehicle along the Abuja-Jos highway.
Further arrests were made in Osun State, where a 65-year-old driver was intercepted with skunk and methamphetamine, leading to the capture of the consignment’s owner in Ilesha. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi reiterated the agency’s commitment to “cleansing the streets” of drug traffickers, including those who attempt to use age as cover, while continuing public awareness campaigns across several states.