Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
In a startling twist to Nigeria’s ongoing war against illicit drugs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested two elderly men aged 83 and 78 in separate operations across Abia and Ekiti states.
The arrests, carried out as part of a nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking, highlight the expanding reach of illicit drug networks and the surprising profiles of those involved.
In Abia State, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a location at Samek, by Powerline in Aba, where they apprehended 83-year-old Pa John Ofiel.
Recovered from him were 700 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, neatly packaged in retail sachets an indication of active distribution. The suspect reportedly told investigators he was once a professional shoemaker before venturing into the drug trade.
In a similar operation in Ekiti State, 78-year-old Ogunjobi Samuel was arrested at his residence on Owode Street in Ilupeju-Ekiti. Officers seized 350 grams of the same psychoactive substance during the raid.
The NDLEA in a statement signed the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi says the arrests underscore a growing concern: the involvement of individuals across all age brackets in drug-related crimes.
The NDLEA also reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the nationwide clampdown, stressing that no demographic is exempt as efforts intensify to dismantle drug networks, reduce substance abuse, and enhance public safety.