NDLEA arrests ex-Lagos Councilor Olalekan, intercepts drugs hidden in baby diapers

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a former two-term councillor in Lagos State and intercepted several drug consignments across the country, including illicit substances concealed in baby diapers and a shipment of improvised explosive device (IED) components.

The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the operations in a statement issued on Sunday.

Babafemi said operatives arrested Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, a former councillor at Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, following credible intelligence linking him to illicit drug trafficking.

According to him, the 45-year-old suspect was apprehended on Monday, March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.

Babafemi said a search of the premises led to the recovery of 40 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, from one of the rooms in the house.

He added that the suspect admitted ownership of both the drugs and the property where the narcotics were discovered.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he previously served two terms as councillor representing Orimedu community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area and is currently working as a legislative aide,” Babafemi said.

In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA officers intercepted a businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, with illicit drugs concealed in baby diapers.

Babafemi said the 32-year-old suspect was arrested on Tuesday, March 3, while travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba in Abuja.

He explained that a search of Okwor’s luggage uncovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg hidden inside baby diapers.

“The suspect admitted ownership of the drugs and disclosed that he was transporting them to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he operates a provision store,” Babafemi added.

In Kogi State, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kabba–Obajana highway intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis.

He said the 1.55 kilograms of the substance were concealed in a standing fan carton belonging to Mey Ali Muhamat, a 36-year-old Cameroonian national from Maroua.

Babafemi explained that the suspect was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon through Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri when he was apprehended.

Meanwhile, in Niger State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Mokwa–Jebba road intercepted a commercial bus from Ibadan carrying 500 pieces of improvised explosive device (IED) components hidden inside a white sack.

Babafemi said a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, at Pelegi in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.

In Adamawa State, Babafemi disclosed that NDLEA operatives in Yola recovered 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine from a truck conveying 2,000 cartons of local drinks.

He said the drugs were hidden in a false bottom compartment of the truck marked ENU 645XX.

The agency also recorded other arrests across the country.

Babafemi said in Kano State, a suspect identified as Muhammed Ali, 20, was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa on March 3 with 11,283 pills of tramadol.

In Ogun State, NDLEA officers raided Ogere where two suspects, Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa, were arrested with 46 kilograms of skunk.

He added that in Delta State, operatives arrested Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, at Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63 kilograms of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup, and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.

Babafemi further revealed that in Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested Eke London, 48, and Austin Isusi, 49, at Egbisi forest in Uhumwonde Local Government Area, where 1,910.25 kilograms of skunk were destroyed on two farms.

He added that another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was apprehended at Ikhin town in Owan East Local Government Area with 176.50 kilograms of skunk.

Babafemi said the agency also sustained its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign across the country.

He noted that awareness lectures were conducted in several schools, including Government Senior College, Apata in Ibadan; Government Girls Secondary School, Katcha in Niger State; Government Girls Day Secondary School, Tsafe in Zamfara State; and Sango Junior Secondary School, Agege in Lagos.

Others included Government Day Secondary School, Illelah in Sokoto State; Archbishop Akinola International Secondary School, Afikpo in Ebonyi State; and Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School, Abagana in Anambra State.

Babafemi said the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel of the Lagos, FCT, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Delta, and Adamawa commands for their efforts.

He added that Marwa urged them and other personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach combining enforcement and preventive advocacy in tackling drug abuse and trafficking.