A 93-year-old man and a 69-year-old medical doctor are among high-profile suspects arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in a sweeping nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking networks across several states, the agency has said.
The arrests formed part of coordinated intelligence-led operations carried out in Lagos, FCT, Abia, Ogun, Imo, Niger, Edo and Borno states, leading to the recovery of large consignments of cannabis, opioids and other illicit substances.
In Abia State, operatives arrested a 93-year-old man, identified as Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Government Area.
A search of his home reportedly led to the recovery of 7.7 kilograms of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis.
The suspect, who claimed he had worked variously as a truck pusher, painter and tiler, allegedly told investigators he had been involved in the illicit drug trade for over a year and had used cannabis since 1959.
In a separate operation, a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr Chudi Daniel Ofomata, was arrested in Ogun State following investigations into an international drug trafficking network.
Authorities said the doctor was linked to a 41-year-old Ivorian suspect, Gohouri Michael, arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms.
The suspect had reportedly arrived from Milan, Italy, before moving through Lagos and Enugu prior to his arrest in Kano during outbound clearance on an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
According to the agency, further investigation revealed that Dr Ofomata allegedly coordinated aspects of the operation from Nigeria, directing the movement of the consignment.
He was later arrested at his residence in Magboro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State and subsequently transferred to Kano for further investigation.
Items recovered from him included 63 grams of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection.
Elsewhere, the agency said three suspects were arrested in Ogun State during a raid at Sango Under Bridge, Sango-Ota, where 34 kilograms of skunk were recovered.
In Imo State, 56.2 kilograms of the same substance were seized from a 26-year-old female suspect along the Onitsha–Owerri Road.
In Niger State, operatives arrested a couple — Abdullahi Umar, 32, and his wife Adama Umar, 25 — in Lapai Local Government Area, where 118 kilograms of skunk were reportedly recovered from their home.
In Borno State, officers intercepted a truck along the Damaturu–Maiduguri road conveying spare parts concealed with controlled substances, including over 42,000 tablets of Rohypnol, codeine syrup and pentazocine injections. The suspected owner of the consignment was later arrested.
In Lagos, operatives intercepted a luxury bus on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway allegedly conveying 15 kilograms of “Scottish Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis, while another operation in Mushin led to the seizure of 26,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup.
In Edo State, two trucks were intercepted along the Warrake axis of Auchi carrying a combined 7,245 kilograms of skunk concealed among cartons of beer. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.
In the Federal Capital Territory, eight suspects were arrested during a raid on a known drug hotspot in Abuja, with more than 11 kilograms of cannabis recovered.
The agency said its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy campaign continued across schools, motor parks and community centres nationwide as part of efforts to reduce both drug supply and demand.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers involved in the operations, describing the seizures as part of sustained efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks across the country.
He also reiterated the agency’s commitment to balancing enforcement with public enlightenment campaigns aimed at reducing drug abuse.
93-year-old, doctor among suspects in nationwide drug raids
