Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former two-term councillor in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State, Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, over alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking.
The 45-year-old former local government lawmaker, who currently serves as a legislative aide, was arrested on Monday, March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki, following credible intelligence linking him to drug sales.
According to the agency, a search of his home led to the recovery of 40 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, from one of the rooms. During interrogation, Olalekan reportedly admitted ownership of both the drugs and the property where they were found. He also confirmed that he previously served two terms as councillor representing the Orimedu community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area.
In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA officers on Tuesday, March 3, intercepted a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, while travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba in Abuja. A search of his luggage uncovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol (250mg) concealed inside baby diapers.
The suspect reportedly confessed 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 1.55kg, hidden inside a standing fan carton. The drugs were traced to a 36-year-old Cameroonian national, Mey Ali Muhamat, who was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon through Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri.
In another operation in Niger State, officers on patrol along the Mokwa-Jebba road on March 4 intercepted a commercial bus from Ibadan carrying 500 pieces of improvised explosive device (IED) components concealed in a white sack. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, 21-year-old Osama Abdullahi, in Pelegi, Mashegu Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, in Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives in Yola discovered 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the false bottom of a truck transporting 2,000 cartons of local drinks.
Further arrests were recorded across the country. In Kano State, a suspect identified as Muhammed Ali, 20, was apprehended with 11,283 pills of tramadol at Gadar Tamburawa. In Ogun State, two suspects Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa were arrested in Ogere with 46 kilograms of skunk.
Similarly, in Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, in Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63kg of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup, and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.
In Edo State, two suspects Eke London, 48, and Austin Isusi, 49 were arrested in Egbisi forest in Uhumwonde Local Government Area, where NDLEA operatives also destroyed 1,910.25kg of skunk cultivated on two farms. Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was arrested in Ikhin town, Owan East LGA, with 176.50kg of skunk.
The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaign across schools, religious centres, workplaces and communities nationwide.
While commending officers from various commands for the successful operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, urged personnel to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control and enforcement across the country.
