Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former councillor in Lagos and intercepted various illicit drugs and explosive components in coordinated operations across several states.
The suspect, Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, 45, a two-term councillor at the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Council in Lagos, was arrested on Monday, March 2, 2026, at his residence in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki, following credible intelligence linking him to drug trafficking.
During a search of his residence, NDLEA operatives recovered 40 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, from one of the rooms. Olalekan, who currently works as a legislative aide, reportedly admitted ownership of the drugs and the property where they were found. He also confirmed that he previously represented the Orimedu community in the council.
In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory, 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 Abuja. A search of his luggage uncovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol (250mg) concealed inside baby diapers. Okwor admitted the consignment belonged to him and said it was meant for delivery to Guduwa village in Gurara LGA of Niger State, where he runs a provision store.
On the same day, NDLEA operatives on patrol along the Kabba–Obajana highway in Kogi State intercepted 1.55kg of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, hidden inside a standing fan carton. The consignment belonged to 36-year-old Cameroonian national, Mey Ali Muhamat, who was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon through Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri.
Also in Niger State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Mokwa–Jebba road on Wednesday, March 4, intercepted a commercial bus from Ibadan in Oyo State 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, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Pelegi, Mashegu LGA.
In Yola, Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives also recovered 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine hidden in the false bottom of a truck marked ENU 645XX, which was conveying 2,000 cartons of local drinks.
Further arrests were recorded across the country. In Kano State, a 20-year-old suspect, Muhammed Ali, was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa with 11,283 pills of tramadol. In Ogun State, two suspects — Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa — were apprehended during a raid in Ogere with 46kg of skunk.
In Delta State, NDLEA operatives arrested Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, in Ogwashi-Uku on Saturday, March 7, with 18.63kg of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine-based syrup, and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.
In Edo State, suspects Eke London, 48, and Austin Isusi, 49, were arrested at Egbisi forest in Uhumwonde LGA, where 1,910.25kg of skunk was destroyed on two farms. Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was arrested at Ikhin town in Owan East LGA with 176.50kg of skunk.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign in schools, workplaces, places of worship and communities. Awareness lectures were delivered in several institutions including Government Senior College, Apata in Ibadan; Government Girls Secondary School, Katcha in Niger State; Sango Junior Secondary School, Agege in Lagos; and other schools in Zamfara, Sokoto, Ebonyi and Anambra states.
Commending officers involved in the operations, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, urged personnel across commands to sustain the agency’s balanced strategy of enforcement and drug abuse prevention.
The statement was issued on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.