The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 101-year-old great-grandmother, Esther Ogunmabo, for allegedly trafficking drugs wrapped in fufu, a staple cassava food. The arrest took place on August 15, 2026, in Ilisan, Ogun State, during what the centenarian described as a routine trip to the market. According to the NDLEA, officers intercepted 90 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in her bag of edible cassava fufu.
Arrest Details and Confession
The NDLEA shared the news via a social media post on August 23, 2026, revealing that the arrest occurred after a tip-off. During interrogation, Ogunmabo reportedly told operatives that she resorted to selling the drugs after her provisions shop was razed by fire. She further disclosed that one of her daughters, who resides in Lagos, supplies her with the drugs every four days. Ogunmabo would then break the drugs into smaller retail portions and sell them to locals.
The NDLEA statement read: "In a rare and startling development, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 15th August 2026, arrested a 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, in Ilisan, Ogun State, with retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 90 grams, which she claims she sells to locals. The centenarian told operatives that she resorted to the illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was razed by fire, adding that one of her daughters, who resides in Lagos, arranges the supply of the substance to her every four days, which she in turn sells in bits."
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has directed that the suspect be granted bail and placed on counselling due to her advanced age. Meanwhile, her daughter has been arrested in connection with the supply chain.
Largest Seizures and Nationwide Operations
In the same press release, the NDLEA announced the seizure of synthetic cannabis worth ₦4.4 billion at the Apapa seaport in Lagos. The drugs were concealed in various items, including dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap, and inverter batteries. This operation was part of a broader crackdown on trafficking networks across Nigeria.
Other seizures announced include 24,410 pills of tramadol capsules in Abuja, 210 kilograms of skunk in the Ita Ogbolu area of Ondo State, and the destruction of 10,000 kilograms of skunk cultivated across four hectares of forest in Ondo State. The agency also recovered 1.325 kilograms of methamphetamine in Kwara State, 1.795 kilograms of Scottish Loud, 1.66 kilograms of tramadol, 600 grams of codeine syrup, 125 grams of diazepam, and 50 grams of flunitrazepam in Ibadan, totalling 4.68 kilograms. In Kano State, 73.3 kilograms of drugs were seized, while in Abia State, 14.4 kilograms of Loud, 2.3 kilograms of Colorado, 386 grams of tramadol, and 134 grams of rohypnol were recovered.
Impact and Previous High-Profile Arrests
The arrest of the 101-year-old has shocked Nigerians on social media, with many expressing disbelief at the age of the suspect. She has become the oldest recorded arrest in the agency's history, highlighting the extensive reach of drug trafficking networks. The NDLEA's 2026 operations have been notably aggressive, with several high-profile arrests and seizures.
Earlier in the year, the NDLEA arrested Afolabi Kazeem Michael, a businessman and socialite, for attempting to export 184.5 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of ₦39 billion. Additionally, the agency busted a large crystal meth factory worth ₦480 billion in Ogun State, where Nigerian masterminds and their Mexican counterparts were arrested. The NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, reiterated that the agency would continue targeting trafficking networks nationwide, ensuring that such illegal activities are met with decisive action.
