NDLEA Arrests 93-Year-Old Great-Grandfather and 69-Year-Old Doctor in Major Drug Bust
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against drug trafficking, arresting a 93-year-old great-grandfather and a 69-year-old medical doctor in a nationwide crackdown on international drug cartels and their local collaborators. The nonagenarian, identified as Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was apprehended at his residence in Osisioma, Abia State, on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, following the discovery of 7.7 kilograms of skunk, a highly potent strain of cannabis.
According to the NDLEA, Chigbu claimed to have worked as a truck pusher and painter before entering the illicit drug trade over a year ago. He also admitted to smoking skunk since 1959, eventually turning it into a business venture. Director of Media and Advocacy for the agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this information in a statement released over the weekend in Abuja, highlighting the agency's relentless efforts to combat drug-related crimes.
Intelligence-Led Operations Yield More Arrests
In a separate intelligence-led operation, the NDLEA intercepted an Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, aged 41, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. Michael was found in possession of 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms. He revealed to investigators that he was bound for Milan, Italy, and expected to receive approximately 5,000 euros (equivalent to £4,150) upon successful delivery of the contraband.
Further investigations linked Michael to a senior medical professional, Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata, aged 69. Dr. Ofomata was subsequently tracked to his residence in Ogun State and arrested on 27 March. He was flown to Kano for questioning, where operatives recovered quantities of promazepam and promethazine injections from his home, adding to the evidence against him.
Widespread Seizures Across Multiple States
The agency's week-long offensive resulted in several other significant seizures across Nigeria. In Niger State, a married couple, Abdullahi Umar, 32, and Adama Umar, 25, were arrested after 118 kilograms of skunk was discovered hidden in their kitchen. In Edo State, two lorries carrying cartons of beer were intercepted along the Warrake road, with operatives finding a staggering 7,245 kilograms of processed skunk concealed beneath the beer crates, leading to the detention of five suspects.
In Borno State, NDLEA officers intercepted a trailer carrying vehicle spare parts, uncovering 42,290 Rohypnol tablets and over 90,000 milliliters of codeine syrup and other injections. Raids on the notorious "Tora Bora" drug joint in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, resulted in eight arrests, while a luxury bus was intercepted on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway with 15 kilograms of Scottish Loud cannabis hidden in its compartments.
Balanced Offensive and Social Advocacy
In total, the NDLEA has recovered thousands of kilograms of illicit substances and tens of thousands of pharmaceutical opioids in what officials describe as a "balanced offensive" against both drug supply and demand. The Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the officers for their resilience and dedication.
He emphasized the agency's commitment to ensuring a fair balance between drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, praising various commands for their successful interdiction operations. Alongside the arrests, the agency continued its "War Against Drug Abuse" (WADA) social advocacy campaign, holding sensitization lectures for students, drivers, and community groups in Lagos, Kano, and Kogi states to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
This comprehensive crackdown underscores the NDLEA's unwavering resolve to dismantle drug networks and protect communities from the scourge of narcotics, with the arrests of elderly individuals highlighting the pervasive nature of the drug trade in Nigeria.
