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. As NDLEA nabs notorious drug dealer in Ibadan; recovers large consignment of illicit substances in Lagos, Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Edo, Osun raids

An 83-year-old grandfather, Pa John Ofiel and a 78-year-old grandpa, Ogunjobi Samuel were among suspects arrested in ongoing nationwide crackdown on illicit drug traffickers and dealers by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Pa Ofiel was nabbed by NDLEA officers on Tuesday 28th April 2026 during a raid operation at Samek by Powerline, Aba, Abia state following credible intelligence that he was dealing in illicit substances. As at the time of his arrest, 700 grams of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets were recovered from him. The octogenarian claimed he was a professional shoemaker before delving into the illicit drug trade.

In a similar development, NDLEA operatives in Ekiti state on Thursday 30th April arrested a 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel at his H22 Owode Street, Ilupeju-Ekiti for drug peddling while 350 grams of the same psychoactive substance were seized from him at the time of his arrest.
‎Two ladies: Rebecca King, 24, and Olaniyan Opeyemi, 31, were arrested by NDLEA operatives in Oyo state in connection with the seizure of 1.925kg Colorado, a synthetic cannabis. While Rebecca was nabbed conveying the consignment along Lagos/Ibadan expressway on Wednesday 29th April, Opeyemi was arrested in a follow up operation at Iwo road, Ibadan, when she attempted taking delivery of the cargo.

In another interdiction operation in Ibadan, a notorious drug dealer, 49-year-old Taofik Adeyemi was arrested on Saturday 2nd May along with his salesman Mustapha Oyerinde, 28, at his residence in Erunmu area of the state capital, after months of evading arrest. Two of his associates: Abiodun Abiola and Aderinde Ibrahim, had been arrested on 8th December 2025 and are currently being prosecuted at a Federal High Court Ibadan. At the time of Taofik’s arrest, 3.085 kilograms of skunk and a Toyota Camry car marked EPE 299 JZ were recovered from him.

In Osun state, a 65-year-old driver Oladayo Awoyemi was on Thursday 30th April arrested at Ile-Ife toll gate along Ibadan/Ilesha expressway while conveying a cartoon containing 7kg skunk and 15grams of methamphetamine in his vehicle with registration number LES 114 AG. A follow up operation in Ilesha town led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Ifedayo Babalola, 40.
A 27-year-old suspect Yahaya Shehu was arrested on Wednesday 29th April by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Damaturu-Maiduguri road, Borno state, following credible intelligence, leading to the seizure of 76,440 pills of Tramadol 225mg. In another operation in Borno, a truck driver, Magaji Isa, 30, was arrested following the interception of 14,000 capsules of Tramadol while a follow up operation in Biu led to the arrest of the owner Abdulhamid Mahmud, 28.
While a total of 393 blocks of compressed blocks of skunk weighing 290 kilograms were recovered from two suspects: Ojo Major Ebose, 36, and Chika Obiechefula, 32, on Saturday 2nd May when their Honda Ridgeline vehicle marked KSF 65 EQ was intercepted by NDLEA officers on patrol along Abuja/Jos highway, Kaduna, no fewer than 49,800 capsules of Tramadol were seized from another set of two suspects: Ahmed Garba (a.k.a Fangale), 50, and Sale Mohammed, 41, along Bauchi road, Hadejia, Jigawa state on Friday 1st May.
In Lagos state, NDLEA officers on Saturday 2nd May raided Awolowo market, Mushin, where they recovered 740kg skunk, while an intelligence led operation at Idogbo community, Benin city, Edo state on Thursday 30th April, led to the arrest of a suspect, Godstime Godspower, 25.

Assorted illicit drugs seized from him include: 57grams of Loud; 3grams of Colorado; 8grams of Tramadol; 3grams of Swinol and 5grams of methamphetamine.
With the same zeal, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA enlightenment lecture for students and staff of Day Secondary School, Edozhigi, Gbako LGA, Niger state; Khulafa’ul Rashidun Islamiyya, Rano, Kano; Community Secondary School, Akweze, Anambra; commercial motorcyclists and their passengers at Poka junction, Epe, Lagos and members of NAPPMED in Benin, Irrua and Auchi, Edo state, among others.

While commending the officers and men of Abia, Ekiti, Edo, Borno, Kaduna, Jigawa, Oyo, Osun and Lagos Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) noted their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitization activities while he charged them and their compatriots across the country to continue to build on the current tempo.

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All seem set for Senator Manu Haruna to return in 2027 as he got massive endorsement for a second term in the National Assembly as Kurmi Women in politics, throw their weight behind the amiable lawmaker.

The immediate past Taraba State Deputy Governor left no one in doubt in the last two and half years with his qualitative representation in the Senate.

His constituency projects are unequalled as he touches virtually all the sectors in his district, from education, healthcare, electricity supply to massive empowerment of his constituents.

The endorsement was announced by Hon. Justina Hassan during a visit to Senator Manu’s residence in Jalingo on Saturday

The constituents expressed their appreciation for Senator Manu’s efforts in fostering development within the district and conveyed their vote of confidence in his ability to continue representing them effectively in the Senate.

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Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said he has consulted with other political parties and will announce his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within a week.

The media had reported that the governor was weighing his exit from the PDP following lingering internal crisis that led to the nullification of the party’s Ibadan convention.

A delegation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, had visited the Bauchi Government House at the instance of the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, to persuade the governor to join the ADC.

After the meeting, Mohammed was said to have described the ADC as a preferred platform if he eventually decides to leave the PDP.

The governor later met with President Bola Tinubu and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also led a delegation to Bauchi, in a bid to woo the governor.

However, talks between both sides later collapsed over disagreements on the sharing formula for control of the party structure, among other arrangements.

Speaking to journalists in Bauchi, Chairman of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP in the state, Samila Adamu Burga, accused the APC of being unwilling to accommodate the governor’s political structure.

In an interview with BBC Hausa days after the Supreme Court nullified the PDP’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, Mohammed said his camp had accepted the judgement in good faith.

He, however, disclosed that he would soon announce his defection to a platform he considers stable enough to participate in the forthcoming general elections.

“As democrats and committed PDP members who respect the rule of law, we accept the judgement as the will of Allah. It is neither a total defeat for us nor a complete victory for the other side. The efforts we made to defend the rights of our supporters and uphold democracy are clear. While our Ibadan convention was nullified, their leadership was also set aside.

“In line with the party’s constitution, the Board of Trustees will take charge of affairs pending the emergence of an interim leadership, since the court has invalidated the current structure,” he said.

The governor accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of fuelling the crisis in the PDP, alleging that his actions weakened the party from within.

“We find ourselves in a difficult situation. Nyesom Wike and many of his associates are with the APC. His presence in the PDP was aimed at frustrating the party, and to some extent, that has happened. At the same time, we ensured he did not take full control.

“Given the limited time, we have begun consultations with other political parties where our people can secure tickets and contest. We do not have the time to form an interim leadership and obtain INEC approval within a few days.

“The focus now is to identify a stable platform for our candidates to participate in the coming elections.”

He also alleged a plot to produce a sole presidential candidate in the country.

“It was a deliberate attempt for them to emerge as sole candidates and go into the election unchallenged. Even though our loyalty remains with the PDP, we have no option but to look elsewhere.

“With only a few days left, we are working to conclude discussions on where to move. The PDP leadership, including Tanimu Turaki, will remain to pursue the matter, while we give our supporters the opportunity to contest on other platforms. Within a week, we will make our position known in Bauchi,” he said.

Mohammed appealed to his supporters to remain calm, assuring aspirants that they would have the opportunity to contest in the forthcoming elections.

On his political ambition, the governor said he would not run for the presidency, noting that the party had zoned the position to the South, adding that he would instead contest the Bauchi South senatorial seat.

“I am not contesting for the presidency. At the party level, we agreed to zone it to the South out of fairness.

“However, based on calls from my people, I will contest the Bauchi South senatorial seat to continue representing them and support our candidates,” he said.

On possible alliances, he said consultations were ongoing with other opposition figures.

“We are in talks with Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi. There are calls for the opposition to unite under one platform, but that is not easy. Political realities differ across states and regions, as do the needs of the people,” he added.