March 08, (THEWILL) — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former two-term councillor at the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Council in Lagos State, Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, following the recovery of illicit drugs from his residence, while also intercepting components for 500 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Niger State.
In a statement signed on Sunday, the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, explained that Olalekan, 45, who currently serves as a legislative aide, was arrested on Monday, March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, after credible intelligence linked him to illicit drug sales and trafficking.
A search conducted at the property led to the recovery of 40 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, concealed in one of the rooms in the house. During interrogation, Olalekan reportedly admitted ownership of both the drugs and the property where they were recovered. He also confirmed that he previously served two terms as a councillor representing the Orimedu community in the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Council.
In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Tuesday, March 3, NDLEA officers intercepted a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, who was travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba in the FCT.
A search of his luggage revealed 1,000 pills of Tapentadol 250mg concealed inside baby diapers. The suspect reportedly admitted ownership of the consignment and disclosed that he was transporting the drugs to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he operates a provision store.
Also on March 3, 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, concealed inside a standing fan carton.
The consignment was traced to a 36-year-old Cameroonian, Mey Ali Muhamat, a native of Maroua in the Republic of Cameroon, who was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon through Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri.
In Niger State, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Mokwa–Jebba road on Wednesday, March 4, intercepted a commercial bus travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, with 500 pieces of improvised explosive device (IED) components concealed inside a white sack.
The items were reportedly meant to be delivered to a recipient in Pelegi. A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the suspected recipient, 21-year-old Osama Abdullahi, in Pelegi, Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.
In Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives in Yola recovered no fewer than 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine from a false compartment in a truck marked ENU 645XX, conveying about 2,000 cartons of locally produced drinks.
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 operatives raided the Ogere community, where two suspects, Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa, were arrested in possession of 46 kilograms of skunk.
In Delta State, two suspects — Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22 — were apprehended on Saturday, March 7, at Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63 kilograms of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.
Meanwhile, in Edo State, NDLEA operatives arrested a 48-year-old suspect, Eke London, alongside his accomplice, Austin Isusi, 49, at the Egbisi forest in Uhumwonde Local Government Area, where 1,910.25 kilograms of skunk cultivated on two farms were destroyed.
In another operation at Ikhin town in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, a suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was apprehended with 176.50 kilograms of skunk.
Beyond enforcement operations, NDLEA commands and formations across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities during the past week.
Some of the outreach programmes 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; Sango Junior Secondary School, Agege, Lagos State; Government Day Secondary School, Illela, Sokoto State; Archbishop Akinola International Secondary School, Afikpo, Ebonyi State; and Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School, Abagana, Anambra State, among others.
Commending the officers and men of the Lagos, FCT, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Delta and Adamawa Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), urged them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control through enforcement and public enlightenment efforts.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
