The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested and detained 96-year-old Nigerian Army ex-soldier, Pa Joseph Owherhi, for dealing in illicit drugs in Suleja axis of Niger State.
Owherhi was arrested with 3kilograms of skunk in his house at Rafin Sanyi area of Suleja based on credible intelligence obtained by the anti-drug agency.
The Nonagenarian was said to have confessed that proceeds from the drug deals were often used for his upkeep, eight wives and 50 children since he retired from the military in 1982.
Also detained by the anti-drug agency were five trans-border drug traffickers that were nabbed while attempting to cross the land border on motorcycle in Kolere village and Layin ‘Yan Gwanjo, Mubi market, Mubi North Local Government in Adamawa State to Cameroon.
The suspects under detention at the NDLEA office in the state include Ibrahim Aliyu; Umar Mohammed; Aliyu Adamu; Usman Adamu and Chimezie Okorie.
They were apprehended by the NDLEA officers after recovering assorted illegal drugs from them including 23kg of Tramadol and 32kg of Diazepam injection.
The anti-drug preventive agency also raided Itedo community in Lekki axis and Petti in Lagos Island Local Government, Lagos State picking no fewer than 13 entrepreneurs engaging in drug businesses across the state.
They were identified as Eze Beckee; Lateef Habib; Olayemi Temitope; Abdullaziz Sheriff; Yakwan Michael; Nora Omoruyi; Hamson Igbokwe; Ugwu Augustine; Akin Lawanson; Ibrahim Isa; Emeka Nwafor; Obi Price and Daniel Chukwuebuka.
Confirming the arrests, Director, Media and Advocacy for NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday, added that a total of 238 kilograms of cannabis and 2 grams of cocaine were recovered from them.
Babafemi, through a statement made available to The Guild, disclosed that a 35-year-old fashion designer, Abiodun Abubakar, was arrested at Bodija market, Ibadan North Local Government, Oyo State with 24.2 Kilogram of cannabis sativa.
He said: “In Kogi state, one Chizoba Francis was also arrested at the weekend in Lokoja with 54kg cannabis hidden in sacks and covered with used footwears. The consignment was bought at Emure, Ondo state with Kaduna as destination.
“In Ondo state, operatives equally recovered 308 kilograms of compressed cannabis loaded into a Lexus car during a sting operation in Eleyewo area of Akure North LGA at the weekend.
“While commending the officers and men of Niger, Adamawa, Lagos, Ondo, Kogi and Oyo Commands of the Agency for their relentless efforts, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa charged them and their counterparts across the country not to rest on their oars in the ongoing offensive action against all drug cartels in Nigeria”.
