NDLEA Arrests Former Lagos Councillor With 40kg of Skunk
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former councillor from the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, Sheleru Olalekan, over his alleged involvement in illicit drug trafficking.
The 45-year-old politician, who previously served two terms representing the Orimedu community and is currently employed as a legislative aide, was apprehended on March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki.
According to a statement released on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, a search of the suspect’s home led to the recovery of 40 kilograms of “skunk”, a potent strain of cannabis, hidden inside one of the rooms.
“In his statement, Sheleru admitted ownership of the exhibit and the property where it was recovered. He said he had previously served two terms as a Councilor representing Orimedu community in Ibeju-Lekki local government council,” Babafemi said.
In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), NDLEA officers intercepted a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, on March 3. Okwor was traveling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba, Abuja, when a search of his luggage uncovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol (250mg) cleverly concealed inside baby diapers.
The suspect reportedly confessed to the operatives that he was transporting the illicit consignment to a provision store he operates in Guduwa village, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
“On same day, 3rd of March, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Kabba/Obajana highway, Kogi state, intercepted a consignment of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis weighing 1.550kg concealed inside a standing fan carton belonging to 36-year-old Cameroonian, Mey Ali Muhamat who hails from Maroua, Republic of Cameroon. The suspect was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon enroute Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri,” the statement added.
Explosives and Massive Seizures Nationwide
The NDLEA’s recent sweep also yielded results beyond narcotics. In Niger State on March 4, operatives intercepted a commercial bus along the Mokwa–Jebba road coming from Ibadan, Oyo State, and discovered 500 pieces of improvised explosive device (IED) components concealed in a sack. A swift follow-up operation led to the arrest of the intended recipient, 21-year-old Osama Abdullahi, in Pelegi, Mashegu Local Government Area.
Across other states, the agency recorded massive seizures. In Adamawa State, operatives in Yola recovered 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. In Kano State, a 20-year-old suspect, Muhammed Ali, was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa with 11,283 pills of tramadol.
Meanwhile, in Ogun State, a raid in Ogere led to the arrest of Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa with 46 kilograms of skunk. Similarly, in Delta State, Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, were apprehended in Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63kg of skunk, 10.8 liters of codeine-based syrup, and thousands of tramadol and swinol pills.
Over in Edo State, operatives destroyed over 1,910kg of skunk across two farms in the Egbisi forest, arresting suspects Eke London and Austin Isusi. Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, was caught with 176.50kg of skunk in Ikhin town.
Commending the operatives for the massive haul, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), praised the officers across the various commands.
He urged them to sustain the agency’s offensive against drug cartels while continuing their nationwide “War Against Drug Abuse” enlightenment campaigns in schools and communities.
