Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, a former two-term councillor and current legislative aide in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, over alleged possession of illicit drugs. Sadiq, 45, who previously represented the Orimedu community, was arrested on Monday, March 2, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki, following credible intelligence linking him to illicit drug activities. During a thorough search of his premises, anti-narcotic officers recovered 40 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, from one of the rooms. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that Sheleru admitted ownership of both the recovered drugs and the property where they were found, further acknowledging his political background.

In a series of other significant operations across various states, the NDLEA made several arrests and seizures. In the Federal Capital Territory, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, a 32-year-old businessman, was intercepted with 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg, cleverly concealed inside baby diapers in his luggage. Okwor, who was traveling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba in Abuja, confessed he was transporting the drugs to his provision store in Guduwa village, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.

Further interdictions included the arrest of Mey Ali Muhamat, a 36-year-old Cameroonian, along the Kabba/Obajana highway in Kogi State. Muhamat was found with 1.55kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, hidden within a standing fan carton. He was en route from Lagos to Cameroon via Lokoja, Kano, and Maiduguri on a commercial bus.

In Niger State, NDLEA operatives patrolling the Mokwa–Jebba road on Wednesday, March 4, intercepted a commercial bus originating from Ibadan, Oyo State. This operation led to the discovery of 500 pieces of improvised explosive device (IED) components, concealed inside a white sack intended for delivery at Pelegi. A swift follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of the intended recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Pelegi, Mashegu Local Government Area.

Other substantial seizures included 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine recovered from the false bottom of a truck (marked ENU 645XX) conveying 2,000 cartons of local drinks in Yola, Adamawa State, also on Wednesday, March 4. In Kano, Muhammed Ali, 20, was apprehended at Gadar Tamburawa with 11,283 pills of tramadol. Additionally, a raid operation in Ogere, Ogun State, led to the arrest of Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa, who were in possession of 46 kilograms of skunk.

Operations in Delta State saw the arrest of Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, at Ogwashi-Uku, where they were found with 18.63kg of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup, and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol. In Edo State, Eke London, 48, and Austin Isusi, 49, were arrested at Egbisi forest in Uhumwonde Local Government Area, where NDLEA operatives successfully destroyed 1,910.25kg of skunk across two farms. Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was apprehended at Ikhin town in Owan East Local Government Area with 176.50kg of skunk.

Mohamed Buba Marwa, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, commended the agency's officers in Lagos, FCT, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Delta, and Adamawa for their diligence in these arrests and seizures. He urged them to continue their balanced approach to drug control efforts nationwide.