Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a 93-year-old man and a 69-year-old medical doctor, alongside several other suspects, during coordinated anti-drug operations across the country.
The agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed in a statement that the arrests followed intelligence-driven raids carried out in multiple states.
Among those apprehended was a nonagenarian, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, who was arrested at his residence in Abia State, where operatives recovered 7.7 kilogrammes of skunk. He was said to have confessed to long-term drug use before venturing into trafficking.
In a separate operation, an Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with 1.49 kilogrammes of cocaine. Investigations from the arrest led to the apprehension of a 69-year-old doctor, Dr Chudi Daniel Ofomata, in Ogun State, with suspected illicit substances recovered from him.
The agency also reported multiple arrests and seizures across other parts of the country.
In Ogun State, three suspects were apprehended with 34 kilogrammes of skunk, while a female suspect was arrested in Imo State with 56.2 kilogrammes of the substance.
Operatives in Niger State intercepted a couple in possession of 118 kilogrammes of skunk at their residence, while in Borno State, officers seized large quantities of Rohypnol, codeine syrup, and injections, leading to further arrests.
In Lagos, NDLEA officers intercepted 15 kilogrammes of a strain of cannabis known as “Loud” concealed in a commercial bus, and also confiscated 26,800 bottles of codeine syrup in another operation, with several suspects taken into custody.
Similarly, a raid in the Federal Capital Territory resulted in the arrest of eight suspects and the seizure of over 11 kilogrammes of skunk.
In Edo State, two trucks loaded with a combined 7,245 kilogrammes of skunk were intercepted, leading to the arrest of five suspects.
The agency added that its War Against Drug Abuse advocacy campaign continued across communities and schools nationwide as part of efforts to curb substance abuse.
Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers involved in the operations for their efforts, urging them to sustain the momentum in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
