The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intensified its operations across Nigeria last week, arresting multiple suspects and seizing substantial quantities of illegal drugs and explosives in coordinated nationwide raids.
In Lagos state, former two-term Councilor of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, 45, was apprehended at his Ilado residence on Monday, 2nd March 2026 following credible intelligence linking him to illicit drug sale and trafficking.
A search of his home yielded 40 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. Sheleru, who currently serves as a legislative aide, admitted ownership of both the drugs and the property where they were discovered.
In the Federal Capital Territory, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, 32, a businessman, was intercepted by NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, 3rd March, while traveling from Obollo-Afor, Enugu state to Zuba, FCT. Authorities discovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg concealed inside baby diapers.
The suspect admitted that the consignment was destined for his provision store in Guduwa village, Gurara LGA, Niger state.
Also on 3rd March, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kabba/Obajana highway, Kogi state, intercepted Mey Ali Muhamat, 36, a Cameroonian national from Maroua, transporting 1.55kg of Colorado, a synthetic cannabis strain, concealed in a standing fan carton. He was traveling in a comercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon, via Lokoja, Kano, and Maiduguri.
In Niger state, a commercial bus traveling from Ibadan, Oyo state to Pelegi, Mashegu LGA, was intercepted on Wednesday, 4th March, carrying 500 improvised explosive device (IED) components concealed in a white sack. Follow-up operations led to the arrest of the recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, at Pelegi.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Adamawa state seized 122,000 tramadol pills and 700 grams of methamphetamine from a truck with a false bottom marked ENU 645XX, carrying 2,000 cartons of local drinks. Other significant arrests included:
In Delta state, Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, were apprehended at Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63kg skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup, and 4,268 tramadol and swinol pills (7th March).
In Edo state, Eke London, 48, and Austin Isusi, 49, had 1,910.25kg of skunk destroyed on two farms in Egbisi forest, Uhumwonde LGA. Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was arrested at Ikhin town, Owan East LGA, with 176.5kg of skunk.
Alongside enforcement, NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities nationwide. Recent sessions included:
NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended operatives across Lagos, FCT, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Delta, and Adamawa for their diligence and dexterity in the arrests and seizures. He encouraged all officers to maintain a balanced approach in combating drug trafficking and abuse nationwide.