Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 75-year-old grandfather, Uchelue Ikechukwu, alongside several other suspects, in a series of nationwide raids that led to the destruction of massive cannabis farms, interception of opioid consignments, and recovery of millions of naira in drug money.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the operations in Abuja on Sunday while giving a weekly update on the agency’s activities.
According to him, Ikechukwu was apprehended at Umudioka in Dunukofia LGA of Anambra State with 26.7kg of skunk on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Five other suspects – Eneh Makuo, Emmanuel Chiemeli, Uwakwe Matthew, Chukwujekwu Ehirim, Ifeanyichukwu Olisa, and Odoh Chukwuma – were also arrested in the state with varying quantities of opioids and cannabis.
In Taraba State, operatives backed by the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Forest Security Service, Mambila Youth Vanguard, and local vigilantes stormed a 71.5-hectare cannabis farm in Mayodoga forest, Sardauna LGA, where 178,750kg of skunk was destroyed. The farm owner, 30-year-old Alfa Andrew, was arrested with a Dane gun.
Interceptions and Cash Recovery
At the Abuja-Kaduna tollgate, NDLEA intercepted 104,900 tramadol capsules hidden in a fuel tanker believed to be heading for insurgents in Borno State. The driver, Hassan Buba, was arrested.
In Maiduguri, Borno State, operatives arrested a major opioid supplier, 33-year-old Uchenna Umeh, with 30,640 tramadol tablets, 7,940 rohypnol pills, and ₦7.9 million in cash.
In Kaduna, Kabir Sulaiman, 45, was caught with 34.15kg of skunk at Gwargwaje-Zaria checkpoint.
Other State Operations
Nasarawa: Two suspects, Abubakar Dauda and Babangida Tungura, were nabbed with over 109,000 pills of tramadol, rohypnol, and bottles of codeine concealed in a freezer.
Adamawa/Gombe: Mohammed Ali, 23, and Hamisu Abdullahi were arrested in follow-up operations linked to tramadol and skunk concealed in animal feed and sacks of pepper.
Kano: NDLEA seized more than 250,000 tablets of exol-5 and arrested six suspects along major highways.
Edo: 64,250 tramadol pills were intercepted in a bus from Anambra.
Ondo: Two suspects were arrested at Queen Elizabeth Camp, with 117.5kg of processed cannabis.
Lagos: 164kg of skunk was recovered from a base in Mushin.
Ekiti: The agency carried out its largest seizure of “Loud” and “Colorado” strains of cannabis in the state, arresting a drug kingpin, Ajayi Ayodeji Idowu a.k.a. Atiku, with 5.3kg of the drugs and methamphetamine.
Meanwhile, NDLEA Commands nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns in schools, worship centres, palaces, and workplaces.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across Anambra, Taraba, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Gombe, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, and Edo States for their resilience, stressing that both enforcement and advocacy remain critical in safeguarding Nigeria from the dangers of illicit drugs.
