Nationwide Crackdown: NDLEA Arrests 93-Year-Old Doctor, Couple, Recovers Illicit Drugs
By Admin
A 93-year-old great-grandfather and a 69-year-old medical doctor are among suspects arrested as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intensified nationwide operations targeting drug cartels and their collaborators through intelligence-led interdictions.
In one operation, a nonagenarian, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was arrested at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. A search of his home led to the recovery of 7.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis. The suspect claimed he previously worked as a truck pusher before learning painting and tiling, and allegedly ventured into the illicit drug trade about a year ago. He also admitted to smoking skunk since 1959.
Efforts to dismantle a drug syndicate with international links led to the arrest of an Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, 41, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49kg. His arrest subsequently led to the apprehension of a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata, in a follow-up operation in Ogun State.
Gohouri, also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael, was arrested on February 16, 2026, during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa. Investigations revealed he had arrived in Lagos from Milan on January 17 and had shuttled between Lagos and Enugu before traveling to Kano, where he ingested the cocaine consignment. He was reportedly promised €5,000 upon successful delivery.
Further intelligence uncovered that Dr. Ofomata was the alleged mastermind coordinating the operation. He was tracked to his residence in Teachers’ Land Estate, Magboro, Ogun State, where he was arrested on March 27, 2026, and later flown to Kano. Items recovered from him include 63 grams of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection.
In Ogun State, three suspects—Azeez Sanni, Olayinka Oke, and Adekunle Adeyemi—were arrested with 34 kilograms of skunk during a raid at Sango Under Bridge, Sango Ota, on April 7. Similarly, 56.2 kilograms of the same substance were recovered from a 26-year-old female suspect, Ayoka Akinwale, along the Onitsha–Owerri road in Imo State on April 11.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives arrested a couple, Abdullahi Umar, 32, and his wife, Adama Umar, 25, on April 9, after 118 kilograms of skunk were discovered in their home in Takuti village, Lapai LGA.
In Borno State, NDLEA officers on patrol intercepted a trailer loaded with vehicle spare parts along the Damaturu–Maiduguri road. A search led to the recovery of 42,290 tablets of Rohypnol, 82,700ml of codeine syrup, and 10,000ml of pentazocine injection. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Eleje Ibeabuchi, 43.
In Lagos, operatives intercepted a Chisco Transport luxury bus along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on April 7. A search of the vehicle uncovered 15 kilograms of “Scottish Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in a compartment. Two suspects, Kingsley Nsofor and Opara Ifeanyi, were arrested.
In a separate operation in Mushin, Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted a truck conveying assorted goods to Onitsha, leading to the seizure of 26,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup and the arrest of two suspects, Adesunloye Dada and Chibuzor Chime.
In the Federal Capital Territory, a raid on the notorious Tora Bora drug hub in Abuja on April 11 led to the arrest of eight suspects and the seizure of 11.516 kilograms of skunk.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted two trucks along Warrake Road, Auchi, carrying processed skunk concealed among cartons of beer. The trucks contained 3,900kg and 3,345kg respectively, bringing the total seizure to 7,245kg. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the haul.
Meanwhile, the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued nationwide, with sensitization programmes conducted in schools and communities across Lagos, Kogi, Katsina, Kano, Cross River, and Osun states.
Commending officers across various commands for their efforts, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised the balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction strategies.
