The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a former two-term councillor at the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Council in Lagos State, Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, over alleged involvement in illicit drug sale and trafficking.
The agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the 45-year-old former council official, who currently serves as a legislative aide, was arrested on Monday, March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki.
According to Babafemi, a search of the suspect’s residence led to the recovery of 40 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, concealed in one of the rooms.
“In his statement, Sheleru admitted ownership of the exhibit and the property where it was recovered. He also confirmed that he previously served two terms as a councillor representing the Orimedu community in the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Council,” Babafemi said.
In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, March 3, intercepted a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, in a vehicle travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba in the FCT.
A search of his luggage uncovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol 250mg hidden inside baby diapers. The suspect reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs and disclosed that he was transporting them to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he operates a provision store.
On the same day, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kabba/Obajana highway in Kogi State intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 1.55 kilograms. The drugs were concealed inside a standing fan carton belonging to a 36-year-old Cameroonian national, Mey Ali Muhamat, from Maroua, Cameroon.
Babafemi said the suspect was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon via Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri when he was arrested.
In Niger State, operatives on patrol along the Mokwa–Jebba road on Wednesday, March 4, intercepted a commercial bus coming from Ibadan, Oyo State, with 500 pieces of improvised explosive device components concealed in a white sack meant for delivery to a recipient at Pelegi.
A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, at Pelegi in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.
In Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives in Yola recovered 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the false bottom of a truck with registration number ENU 645XX, which was conveying 2,000 cartons of local drinks. The seizure was made on Wednesday, March 4.
Similarly, in Kano State, a 20-year-old suspect, Muhammed Ali, was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa on Tuesday, March 3, with 11,283 pills of tramadol.
In Ogun State, NDLEA officers carried out a raid operation in Ogere, leading to the arrest of two suspects, Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa, who were found in possession of 46 kilograms of skunk.
In Delta State, two suspects identified as Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, were apprehended on Saturday, March 7, in Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63 kilograms of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup, and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.
In Edo State, a 48-year-old suspect, Eke London, and his accomplice, Austin Isusi, 49, were arrested at Egbisi forest in Uhumwonde Local Government Area, where NDLEA operatives destroyed 1,910.25 kilograms of skunk on two farms.
Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was also arrested in Ikhin town, Owan East Local Government Area, with 176.50 kilograms of skunk.
The agency added that its commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the past week.
These included enlightenment lectures for students and staff of Government Senior College, Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State; Government Girls Secondary School, Katcha, Niger State; Government Girls Day Secondary School, Tsafe, Zamfara State; and Sango Junior Secondary School, Agege, Lagos State.
Other institutions visited include Government Day Secondary School, Illela in Sokoto State; Archbishop Akinola International Secondary School, Afikpo in Ebonyi State; and Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School, Abagana in Anambra State.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and personnel of the Lagos, FCT, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Delta and Adamawa commands for the arrests and seizures.
He urged them and other personnel across the country to sustain the agency’s balanced approach in its drug control efforts.
