Nigeria’s anti-narcotics campaign has recorded a major breakthrough as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking network, arresting suspects across several states—including a 93-year-old man and a 69-year-old medical doctor.
The intelligence-led operations, conducted over the past week, spanned Abia, Kano, Ogun, Lagos, Imo, Niger, Edo, Borno, and the Federal Capital Territory, revealing the wide reach of illicit drug activities in the country.
In one of the most striking cases, operatives arrested 93-year-old Friday Chigbu at his residence in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State, where 7.7 kilogrammes of skunk were recovered. According to the agency, he admitted to decades of cannabis use and recently ventured into distribution.
At the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, NDLEA operatives intercepted an Ivorian national attempting to traffic cocaine to Italy. The suspect had ingested 82 wraps of the drug, weighing 1.49 kilogrammes, and was allegedly promised €5,000 for delivery.
Further investigations led to the arrest of a medical doctor, Dr. Chudi Ofomata, in Ogun State, who was accused of coordinating the trafficking operation. Controlled substances, including promazepam and promethazine injections, were recovered from his residence.
Across the country, multiple raids yielded significant seizures. In Niger State, a couple was arrested after 118 kilogrammes of skunk was found in their home. In Ogun State, three suspects were apprehended with 34 kilogrammes of cannabis, while in Imo State, a woman was intercepted with over 56 kilogrammes along the Onitsha–Owerri road.
In Borno State, NDLEA officers seized thousands of tablets of Rohypnol, along with codeine syrup and pentazocine injections concealed in a trailer. In Lagos, operatives recovered 15 kilogrammes of high-grade cannabis known as “Scottish Loud,” while a separate raid uncovered 26,800 bottles of codeine syrup.
In Abuja, eight suspects were arrested at a known drug hub, with over 11 kilogrammes of skunk recovered.
The largest seizure occurred in Edo State, where operatives intercepted two trucks carrying 7,245 kilogrammes of skunk hidden among cartons of beer. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the consignment, which was reportedly heading to Abuja.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the agency has also intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, targeting schools, motor parks, and communities to reduce drug demand.
Chairman of NDLEA, Buba Marwa, commended officers for the successful operations, stressing the need to sustain both enforcement and preventive education in the fight against drug abuse.
By Michael Olugbode
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