NDLEA arrests octogenarians, seizes over N3.2bn worth of illicit drugs in nationwide crackdown
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two octogenarians, 80-year-old Ayuba Ashiru and 82-year-old Mrs Uloma Uchechi Sunday, as well as her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, in a series of sweeping anti-drug operations across the country.
The raids also resulted in the interception of illicit opioids worth more than N3.2 billion at seaports in Lagos and Rivers States.
The agency disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Saturday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
According to Babafemi, Ayuba Ashiru, who had previously served a 10-year prison sentence between 2014 and 2024 for drug trafficking, was apprehended again on Wednesday, 14 May, at Barazana Street in the Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
Officers recovered 2.3 kilograms of cannabis sativa (also known as skunk), which had been packaged in nylon and paper for retail distribution.
“The ex-convict admitted he has been involved in the illicit drug trade for the past 46 years,” Babafemi reported.
In a related operation in Abia State, NDLEA officers raided the residence of 82-year-old Mrs Uloma Uchechi Sunday in Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village. There, they recovered various quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, and skunk, along with a cash sum of N130,600.
Mrs Sunday reportedly confessed that she and her daughter, Chisom Uchechi, had taken over the drug trade after the death of her son, who had originally started the business two years ago.
Significant drug seizures were also recorded at Nigerian ports. At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex (PHPC), Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA officers intercepted three million tablets of tapentadol and carisoprodol Royal 225mg, with an estimated street value of N2.1 billion.
“The seizure occurred on Wednesday, 14 May, during a joint inspection of a container by NDLEA personnel, Customs officials and other security agencies,” Babafemi stated.
At the Apapa seaport in Lagos, a container that had been declared as carrying car parts was found to be hiding 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup, valued at over N1.1 billion. The discovery was made on Tuesday, 13 May, during another joint examination involving multiple security agencies.
In Kwara State, operatives seized 199,200 tablets of tramadol from two suspects, Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail, in the Gegele area of Ilorin on Friday, 16 May.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef, an HND 1 student of Laboratory Science Technology at Kwara State Polytechnic. He was found in possession of 650 grams of “Loud”, already distributed into 149 small cups for sale to fellow students.
At a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA officers attached to the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted 250 grams of cocaine hidden in women’s headwear destined for Australia.
Further operations across Niger, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Taraba and along the Abuja–Kaduna highway yielded more results.
In Niger State, a Toyota Carina with plate number AGL 945 BK was stopped on 15 May. Officers discovered 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143 kilograms. The driver, 35-year-old Idris Kamal, was taken into custody.
That same day, Emmanuel Hassan, aged 26, was arrested at Chachi Junction along Kaduna Road with 14.3 kilograms of Loud. A rapid follow-up operation led to the capture of 39-year-old Bello Aliyu, also known as Liti, who was identified as the actual owner of the drugs.
In Nasarawa State, 60-year-old Welman Kengbo was caught with 594.8 kilograms of skunk in the Karu area.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, Toheeb Oyenuga was found with 67.5 kilograms of skunk.
In Taraba State, NDLEA officers apprehended 22-year-old Shafiu Ismail in Sabonlayin, Jalingo Local Government Area, and confiscated 5,350 tablets of tramadol and diazepam.
Also on the same day, 198 kilograms of skunk were seized from 35-year-old Tijjani Mohammed in Malamawa, Garki Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
On Friday, 16 May, NDLEA officers patrolling the Abuja–Kaduna expressway arrested 29-year-old Ismail Isah. He was found with an AK-47 rifle and two magazines hidden inside a sack of maize. “He will be handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation,” Babafemi confirmed.
In response to the string of arrests and seizures, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), commended the agency’s personnel for their commitment and coordination.
He praised the efforts of the DOGI unit, as well as the Abia, Kaduna, Kwara, PHPC, Apapa, Lagos, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Taraba and Niger State Commands for their achievements over the past week.
Marwa also acknowledged the collective contributions of NDLEA formations nationwide, commending their work in maintaining a strategic balance between curbing drug supply and tackling drug demand.
