Octogenarian ex-convict re-arrested as NDLEA uncovers nationwide trafficking

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

An 80-year-old ex-convict, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, has been re-arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly returning to illicit drug trafficking barely three years after serving a jail term for the same offence.

NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said Nkanta, described as notorious in the illicit drug trade, was first arrested on 14 December 2022, prosecuted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Babafemi stated that the octogenarian, “not ready to let go of the old habit,” allegedly returned to drug trafficking after his release, prompting renewed surveillance by the agency.

“Following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on Saturday, 10 January 2025, tracked the ex-convict to his residence at Mmanta–Abak village in Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, where he was arrested with 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis,” Babafemi said.

In another operation in Akwa Ibom, Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA officers on patrol along the Oron–Ibaka Road in Oron LGA intercepted a 37-year-old businessman, Ani Onyebuchi Romans, who was travelling with full-body mannequins meant for his clothing business in Cameroun.

“A search of the mannequins revealed that they were stuffed with tramadol pills weighing 5.3 kilograms,” he said, adding that the suspect claimed he purchased the drugs in Onitsha, Anambra State, and concealed them in two mannequins for onward trafficking to Cameroun after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Babafemi further said extensive raids in Oyo State led to the arrest of several suspected dealers and the recovery of dangerous drugs.

Among them was 45-year-old Remi Bamidele, also known as “Aluko the Mafia,” who was arrested at Sasa, Ibadan, with 10.696 kilograms of Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud and skunk. Two vehicles — a Toyota Venza and Toyota Yaris — were also recovered from him.

He added that Adeola Toheeb, 27, was arrested at Adegbayi area of Ibadan with various quantities of cannabis strains, while Habeeb Ali, 29, was nabbed at Ring Road with 1.264 kilograms of Colorado, Scottish Loud and skunk.

“A cash exhibit of ₦1,307,100 was recovered from him at the point of arrest,” Babafemi stated.

In Edo State, Babafemi said a dispatch rider, Osagbovo Edigin, 30, alongside Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were arrested at Ihama/Airport Road GRA, Benin City, in connection with the seizure of 118 grams of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado.

He also reported that Jimoh Agbonmhegbe, 49, was arrested in Irrua with 17.552 kilograms of Colorado, Loud and skunk, while Evelyn Okoyomon, 38, was nabbed at Ubiaja with 930 grams of skunk.

According to Babafemi, NDLEA operatives in Niger State recovered 4,000 pills of tramadol (225mg) from a 22-year-old suspect, Nazifi Umar, at Dakwa town, Tafa LGA, while Yusuf Usman, 41, was arrested in Taraba State with 100 blocks of skunk weighing 47 kilograms.

In Adamawa State, Babafemi said no fewer than 30,950 capsules of tramadol were recovered from the home of Ugwoke Chibueze, 40, in Yola South LGA, following his arrest at the Lamido Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola.

Beyond enforcement, Babafemi noted that NDLEA commands across the country sustained their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns, targeting schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities in the past week.

Meanwhile, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers and men of the Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, Edo, Oyo and Niger Commands for their arrests and seizures, noting that their operational successes reflected the agency’s balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts nationwide.