By Olaolu Fawole
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 93-year-old great grandfather for alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
The suspect, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was apprehended at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
A search of his home led to the recovery of 7.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
A statement issued by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja on Sunday said that the suspect allegedly ventured into the illicit trade about a year ago, after years of working as a truck pusher and artisan, adding that he had been using the substance since 1959.
In a related development, NDLEA operatives also arrested a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata, in Ogun State, in connection with an international drug trafficking syndicate.
His arrest followed the earlier apprehension of a 41-year-old Ivorian, Gohouri Michael, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms.Gohouri was intercepted on February 16, 2026, while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa.
Investigations revealed that he had ingested the cocaine consignment and was to be paid 5,000 euros upon successful delivery.
Further intelligence linked Ofomata as the alleged coordinator of the operation, leading to his arrest at his residence in Magboro, Ogun State.
Substances including 63 grams of promazepam and ampoules of promethazine injection were recovered from him.
The agency’s operations also led to multiple arrests and seizures across the country.
In Ogun State, three suspects were arrested with 34 kilograms of skunk at Sango Ota, while in Imo State, 56.2 kilograms of the same substance was recovered from a female suspect along the Onitsha-Owerri road.
In Niger State, a couple was arrested with 118 kilograms of skunk concealed in their home, while in Borno State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a consignment of Rohypnol tablets, codeine syrup, and pentazocine injection hidden in a trailer transporting spare parts.
Further seizures were recorded in Lagos, where operatives intercepted 15 kilograms of cannabis concealed in a commercial bus, and later recovered 26,800 bottles of codeine syrup from a truck in the Mushin area, leading to the arrest of additional suspects.
In the Federal Capital Territory, eight persons were arrested during a raid on a notorious drug joint, with over 11 kilograms of skunk recovered.
Similarly, in Edo State, operatives intercepted two trucks conveying a total of 7,245 kilograms of processed cannabis concealed among cartons of beer, with five suspects arrested in connection with the seizure.
Meanwhile, the agency has said that its War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign continued nationwide, targeting schools, motor parks, and community groups to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, retired Brigadier General Buba Marwa, commended officers across various commands for the successful operations, urging them to sustain the balance between drug supply reduction and demand reduction efforts.
