NDLEA Arrests Wanted Drug Kingpin Linked to Murder of Three Officers, Recovers Illicit Substances 

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a long-wanted drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-kanmo,” over his alleged involvement in the killing of three NDLEA officers.

Jimoh was apprehended on Friday, January 16, 2026, following a credible intelligence-led operation. His arrest ends a nearly twelve-year manhunt after the officers were gruesomely murdered on June 15, 2014.

The Director of Media and Advocacy at NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement made available to ThelensNG on Sunday.

“Kanmo-Kanmo, who is notorious for drug trafficking, evading arrest and mobilizing armed thugs against security agents was on Friday 16th January 2026 tracked to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State by tactical teams of the Agency following credible intelligence. During the clinical operation, the suspect was found in possession of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

“The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the Agency’s commitment to ensuring that no fugitive, regardless of how long they evade justice, remains beyond the reach of the law. Lekan Jimoh’s criminal history is marked by extreme violence and lawlessness. As a result, he had on 15th June 2014 orchestrated a barbaric mob action against a team of NDLEA officers who had attempted to arrest him at his enclave,” the statement said.

Babafemi revealed that the attack resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others, who were killed by armed thugs mobilised by Jimoh.

“While the suspect managed to escape the scene that day, the Agency remained resolute in its pursuit of justice for the fallen heroes,” he noted.

In another encounter with Jimoh on August 12, 2023, NDLEA operatives stormed his residence in Ado-Odo town, Ogun State. However, he escaped while operatives succeeded in recovering 139 sacks of skunk with a total weight of 1,922 kilograms.

“Following assets forfeiture proceedings instituted in court by the Agency, the house in Ado-Odo, which served as a warehouse for his illicit drug trade, has since been finally forfeited to the Federal Government,” the spokesperson added.

Elsewhere (Edo State), NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, January 13, raided the Arokpa forest, Uzebba town, Owan West Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of another drug lord, Isihor Edika, 53, and seizure of 320kg skunk and seeds.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, operatives on Friday, January 16, tracked and arrested a 44-year-old lady Yinka Agboola following intelligence on her online sale of illicit substances. At the time of her arrest, 2.2kg skunk and litres of cannabis oil which she produces in her kitchen and sells through online advertisement were recovered from her home at the Kaura district, Abuja.

Another suspect, Tordue Pius Richard, 30, was on Tuesday, January 13, arrested with 148.3 grams of cocaine and skunk at his 12 Biskira Street, Abacha Estate, Abuja home.

While 118.1kg skunk was seized from the duo of Dauda Kareem and Saheed Obisesan at Fadeyi area of Mushin Lagos on Friday, January 16, not less than 116kg of same substance was recovered from a warehouse at new market area of Enugu State same day.

Two suspects — Zaharadeen Yahaya, 25, and Sanusi Maman, 23, were on Thursday, January 15, nabbed by NDLEA operatives along Onitsha-Asaba Expressway, Delta State while conveying 410,800 pills of tramadol; 84.2 litres of codeine syrup; 82,250 tablets of diazepam; 900 tabs of swinol; and 65 pills of Molly.

In Oyo State, Adetunji Ahmed Abayomi, 33, was apprehended on Thursday, January 15, at Moniya, Ibadan, with 321 litres of skuchies, and 2.5kg Colorado (a synthetic strain of cannabis), while Rasheed Ajao, 28, was caught same day at Odo-Ona, Ibadan, in possession of 5.4kg Scottish Loud; 1.696kg skunk; and 2.5kg Colorado, bringing the total weight to 9.696 kilograms.

Similarly, a raid at Agbeni area of the state capital on Saturday, January 17, resulted in the recovery of 52,430 pills of tramadol and bromazepam from the store of Orji Edwin, who is currently at large.

The statement added: “In Kwara State, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday 13th January raided a residential building at Gamo area of Ilorin where they seized 42 bags of skunk that weighed 387.40kg, while a total of 157,519 bottles of codeine syrup were discovered in a container at the Apapa port in Lagos during a joint examination of the shipment by NDLEA, Customs, and other security agencies on Friday 16th January.

“An ex-convict, Gaddafi Ammani, 26, was arrested with various quantities of skunk and exol-5 pills along his accomplice Ahmed Sani, 32, at Nassarawa GRA, Ringim LGA Jigawa State on Saturday 17th January. Before Gaddafi’s arrest, he attempted to escape by climbing the roofs of many houses in his bid to escape. He was armed with a machete which he used to threaten NDLEA operatives and even inflicted injury on one of the officers.”

In the same vein, Commands and formations of the Agency nationwide continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities in schools, worship centres, work places, communities, and other places in the past week.

The activities included WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Umar Bin Khathab Islamiyyah School, Kurna, Kano; Tumbey College, Kajola Maya, Ikorodu, Lagos; Anglican Secondary School, Makurdi, Benue; members of Katsina Emirate, Katsina; and residents of Maitumbi community, Minna, Niger State, among others.

Commenting on the arrests and seizures, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended the officers and men of the Ogun, Lagos, Apapa, Edo, Delta, Oyo, FCT, Enugu, and Kwara Commands for their commitment and professionalism.

Marwa also urged them and their colleagues nationwide to maintain the current tempo of their balanced approach to the Agency’s drug control efforts.

He described the arrest of Jimoh as a triumph of justice and a testament to the Agency’s long memory, adding that the arrest sends a clear and unambiguous message to all drug barons and fugitives.

“You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you,” the NDLEA boss assured.

He further stated: “The arrest of Lekan Jimoh is particularly significant because it closes a painful chapter that began on June 15, 2014. For twelve years, this individual lived with the blood of our gallant officers — Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others — on his hands.

“He mistakenly thought that time had erased his crimes. Today, we have proven that the NDLEA does not forget its own. We do not forget the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives in the service of our fatherland. This arrest is for the families of those three officers who have waited 12 years for justice.”