The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Retired)
In a resounding commendation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) unwavering efforts in combating drug trafficking, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Retired), has applauded officers and men of the agency for their recent successes in multiple operations across Nigeria.
Marwa’s appreciation came following a series of high-impact arrests and seizures carried out within a week by NDLEA operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, Special Operations Unit (SOU), Tincan, and across Delta, Edo, Oyo, Kano, Osun, Borno, Zamfara, and Kwara commands. According to the agency’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA boss hailed the officers for their balanced approach in tackling drug supply and demand reduction.
Major Arrests and Seizures:
The latest operations saw the arrest of a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Dajou Abuba, at MAKIA, Kano, on February 25, 2025. Abuba, who attempted to smuggle a large consignment of cocaine to Istanbul, Turkey, via Egypt Air flight MS 880, was intercepted at the airport’s screening point. A body scan confirmed he had ingested illicit drugs, leading to an excretion observation process during which he expelled 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829 kilograms. The suspect, originally in the township delivery business, confessed to venturing into drug trafficking.
Similarly, an auto spare parts dealer, Okeke Ebuka Igwe, was arrested on February 24 at MMIA, Lagos, while attempting to export 1.10kg of cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola. His arrest followed intelligence that led NDLEA operatives to intercept the illicit shipment at the export shed of the airport.
In another case, NDLEA operatives thwarted a major inter-state drug trafficking attempt on February 23, when they arrested Ezechi Iyke Cyprian with 5.40kg of cocaine in his Toyota Sienna bus while en route to Owerri, Imo State. The suspect was under surveillance for weeks before his apprehension.
Tincan Seaport Bust and Large-Scale Cannabis Seizures:
At the Tincan Seaport in Lagos, on February 28, NDLEA operatives discovered 128 parcels of Canadian Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, hidden in two mattresses inside the trunk of a Toyota Venza car imported from Canada. The joint operation with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies led to the arrest of Bamidele Joseph, the consignee, after the targeted container from Montreal was examined. The total seized cannabis weighed 63.75kg.
In a sweeping raid on February 27, NDLEA operatives, supported by the military, stormed a forest in Innam-Abbi/Orogun, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, destroying 50,000kg of cannabis cultivated on a 20-hectare farmland. Five suspects, including Augustine Subaru (45) and Ukoba Malachukwu (53), were arrested.
Another operation in Delta on February 28 led to the interception of a Mercedes Benz truck along Abraka-Orogun road, where operatives recovered 101 bags of skunk weighing 1,111kg.
Expanded Operations in Edo, Oyo, and Other States:
On March 1, NDLEA operatives, again backed by the military, raided Okpuje in Owan West LGA of Edo State, dismantling multiple cannabis warehouses and recovering 1,409.5kg of skunk. Two suspects, Oikelomen Osere Monday (38) and Glory Iroyo (42), were apprehended.
Meanwhile, along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, a 46-year-old suspect, Michael Omoloki, was arrested with 58.5kg of skunk. In Kwara State, operatives intercepted a Beninese national, Lawali Mohammed, on February 24 with 2,980 tablets of tramadol and several diazepam pills at Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin.
In Osun State, NDLEA officers patrolling the Ibadan-Gbongan expressway on February 27 discovered a hidden consignment of 1.05kg of skunk in detergent soap and biscuit cartons, leading to the arrest of Sunday Ogbu (45). Similarly, in Zamfara, operatives arrested Ayuba Mustapha (30) with 24,700 tramadol pills at Tsafe on February 23.
Borno and Kano Crackdowns:
In Borno State, Mustapha Shettima (50) was nabbed on February 26 along Bama road, Maiduguri, with 31kg of skunk, 1,000 tramadol pills, and N720,000 in cash. On the same day, in Kano, Adamu Idris (40) was arrested on Zaria road with 140 blocks of cannabis weighing 73.5kg.
Community Sensitization on Drug Abuse:
Beyond enforcement, NDLEA sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative, extending sensitization campaigns to schools, religious centers, and workplaces. Recent outreach activities included lectures at Ansarudeen Junior Secondary School, Ojuelegba, Lagos; Loretto Girls Special Science School, Adazinnukwu, Anambra; and Tudun Murtala Special Primary School, Nasarawa, Kano.
A Strong Message Against Drug Crimes:
The NDLEA’s relentless operations and widespread arrests reinforce its commitment to dismantling drug networks across Nigeria. Marwa’s commendation underscores the agency’s determination to curb the menace of drug trafficking while promoting awareness to reduce demand for illicit substances. With continued surveillance, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with international counterparts, the agency remains resolute in its mission to rid Nigeria of narcotics and protect communities from the dangers of drug abuse.
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