An 80-year-old former convict, Jeremiah Isaiah Nkanta, has been rearrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for returning to the illicit drug trade, barely three years after serving a two-year jail term for drug trafficking.
Nkanta, first arrested on 14th December 2022 and sentenced by a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was apprehended at his residence in Mmanta-Abak village, Abak Local Government Area, on Saturday 10th January 2025 with 5.7 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
The NDLEA, in a statement released by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the arrest and detailed other interdiction operations across the country.
According to the release, in Akwa Ibom State, operatives intercepted 37-year-old businessman Ani Onyebuchi Romans along Oron-Ibaka Road, Oron LGA, transporting full-body mannequins for his clothing business.
A search revealed that the mannequins were stuffed with 5.3 kilograms of tramadol, which the suspect reportedly bought in Onitsha, Anambra State, for trafficking to Cameroon.
In Oyo State, NDLEA raids led to multiple arrests and seizures of dangerous drugs. On Thursday 8th January, 45-year-old Remi Bamidele, alias ‘Aluko the Mafia,’ was arrested in Sasa, Ibadan, with 10.696 kilograms of cannabis varieties, including Colorado, Scottish Loud, Ghana Loud, Canadian Loud, and skunk.
Two vehicles, a Toyota Venza and a Toyota Yaris (HG 06 LYD), were recovered from him. Subsequent arrests included Adeola Toheeb, 27, at Adegbayi, and Habeeb Ali, 29, at Ring Road, Ibadan, who had 1.264 kilograms of cannabis and cash amounting to ₦1,307,100.
In Edo State, a dispatch rider, Osagbovo Edigin, 30, and two others, Ebimi Labo, 28, and Akhimie Success, 25, were arrested at Ihama/Airport Road, GRA Benin City, in connection with 118 grams of Canadian Loud and a wrap of Colorado.
Other arrests included Jimoh Agbonmhegbe, 49, at Irrua with 17.552 kilograms of cannabis, and Evelyn Okoyomon, 38, at Ubiaja with 930 grams of skunk.
NDLEA operations in Niger, Taraba, and Adamawa States also yielded significant seizures. In Niger, Nazifi Umar, 22, was found with 4,000 tramadol 225mg pills. In Taraba, Yusuf Usman, 41, was apprehended with 47 kilograms of skunk in Lankaviri, Yorro LGA.
Adamawa State operatives recovered 30,950 capsules of tramadol from Ugwoke Chibueze, 40, in Bachure, Yola South LGA, following his arrest at Lamido Aliyu Mustapha International Airport, Yola.
Alongside enforcement operations, NDLEA commands nationwide continued the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign in schools, worship centers, workplaces, and communities.
Recent engagements included Government Day Science and Technical College, Babura, Jigawa; Abiayubal Ansari Islamiyya School, Kano; and outreach to youths of Oshituma Umuogudu Akpu Ngbo, Ebonyi State.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the officers and men in Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba, Edo, Oyo, and Niger States for their dedication and operational successes, highlighting their efforts in both reducing drug supply and demand.
