A nationwide crackdown by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has led to multiple arrests and large drug seizures across several states, including the apprehension of a former councillor in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The suspect, Sheleru Olalekan, 45 year old, who previously represented the Orimedu community for two terms and now works as a legislative aide, was arrested on March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that operatives discovered 40 kilograms of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis, during a search of a room in the suspect’s home.
“In his statement, Sheleru admitted ownership of the exhibit and the property where it was recovered,” Babafemi said, noting that the suspect also confirmed his previous service as a councillor representing the Orimedu community.
Beyond Lagos, NDLEA operations also uncovered attempts to transport illegal substances through other parts of the country.
In the Federal Capital Territory, officers on March 3 intercepted a 32-year-old trader, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, while travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba, Abuja. A search of his belongings revealed 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg hidden inside baby diapers.
Investigators said the suspect admitted he was taking the drugs to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he operates a provision shop.
On the same day, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kabba–Obajana highway in Kogi State intercepted a parcel containing 1.550 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic form of cannabis, concealed inside a carton of a standing fan.
The drugs were linked to Mey Ali Muhamat, a 36-year-old Cameroonian national from Maroua in the Republic of Cameroon, who was travelling in a commercial vehicle from Lagos towards Cameroon through Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri.
Another major discovery occurred in Niger State when NDLEA operatives on March 4 stopped a commercial bus along the Mokwa, Jebba road coming from Ibadan in Oyo State. A search revealed 500 pieces of improvised explosive device components concealed in a sack.
Further investigation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Pelegi, Mashegu Local Government Area.
In Adamawa State, operatives in Yola recovered 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine from a hidden compartment in a truck carrying 2,000 cartons of locally produced drinks.
Similarly, in Kano State, officers arrested Muhammed Ali, 20, at Gadar Tamburawa on March 3 with 11,283 tramadol pills.
Other arrests were made in Ogun State where Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa were caught with 46 kilograms of skunk, while Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, were arrested on March 7 in Ogwashi-Uku in Delta State with 18.63 kilograms of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine syrup and 4,268 tablets of tramadol and swinol.
In addition, NDLEA operatives destroyed 1,910.25 kilograms of skunk cultivated on two farms in Egbisi forest located in Uhumwonde Local Government Area of Edo State. Two suspects, Eke London and Austin Isusi, were arrested during the operation, while another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, was apprehended in Ikhin town, Owan East Local Government Area with 176.50 kilograms of skunk.
Commenting on the operations, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Buba Marwa commended officers across the affected states for their efforts and urged them to sustain the agency’s twin strategy of enforcement and drug abuse prevention under the War Against Drug Abuse campaign.
