The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant breakthrough in its ongoing fight against drug trafficking by arresting Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, the founder and spiritual leader of The Turn of Mercy Church, situated in Lagos.
The pastor stands accused of masterminding and facilitating several large shipments of highly potent cannabis, popularly known as “Ghana Loud,” into Nigeria’s borders.
This arrest was officially confirmed by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, in a detailed statement issued on Sunday. Babafemi revealed that the operation to capture Prophet Adefolusho was the result of persistent intelligence gathering and surveillance spanning several months, reflecting the agency’s determination to dismantle complex drug trafficking networks.
The suspect was finally apprehended on August 3, 2025, at his church located in Okun Ajah, along Ogombo Road in the Lekki area of Lagos.
NDLEA operatives had maintained a discreet presence outside the church throughout the Sunday service, patiently waiting for the pastor to step outside. Babafemi explained, “Our officers moved in promptly and arrested him immediately after he left the church premises.” This decisive action ended a months-long manhunt during which the pastor had successfully evaded arrest multiple times.
Records show that prior to his capture, Prophet Adefolusho had twice managed to avoid detention and had even fled Nigeria for Ghana in June 2025. This move came after the NDLEA began actively tracing his movements following the interception of two substantial drug shipments linked to him.
The first seizure involved approximately 200 kilograms of the illegal cannabis, which was intercepted on June 4 at Okun Ajah beach, a known point of entry. A subsequent haul weighing an even larger 700 kilograms was discovered and recovered from a delivery van associated with the pastor on July 6.
In a candid confession during interrogation, Prophet Adefolusho admitted to transporting these illicit consignments via waterways from Ghana into Nigeria. He further revealed that he had fled to Ghana to avoid capture, having narrowly escaped arrest on two previous occasions. This admission highlights the transnational nature of the drug trafficking ring and underscores the challenges faced by enforcement agencies operating across porous borders.
The arrest of Prophet Adefolusho is part of a wider, intensified nationwide campaign by the NDLEA aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks and curbing the rising tide of drug abuse. Within the past week alone, NDLEA operatives seized a staggering total of 3.4 tonnes of assorted illicit drugs across several states including Lagos, Nasarawa, Kano, Gombe, and Edo.
In Lagos, for instance, on August 7, a targeted raid was conducted on an apartment within Kishi House, located at 11 Layi Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi. During the operation, authorities arrested Benjamin Udo Ukoh and confiscated 32 pouches of cannabis, commonly referred to as “Canadian Loud,” weighing a total of 15.63 kilograms.
Similarly, in Nasarawa State on August 9, NDLEA operatives intercepted 3,093 kilograms of skunk cannabis during a crackdown at New Karu. The suspects apprehended in connection with this haul include Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny, aged 51; Okem Raphael, aged 33; and Chekwube Odo, aged 25.
Kano State witnessed multiple seizures and arrests over the past week. On August 8, 29-year-old Nura Yahaya was arrested in Geza, Kumbotso, after being found in possession of 639 blocks of skunk cannabis weighing 359 kilograms.
Two days earlier, on August 6, another suspect, Umar Adamu Umar, aged 27, was apprehended along the Zaria-Kano road with 9 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis. Moreover, on the same day, NDLEA agents seized 20,000 tramadol pills and 200 ampoules of diazepam from Usman Musa, aged 30, at Gadar Tamburawa.
In Gombe State, a successful raid at Tudun Wadan Pantami on August 8 led to the recovery of over half a million opioid pills, mainly tramadol. Suspect Usama Isah was arrested in connection with this seizure. Additionally, on August 9, Ibrahim Adamu, aged 23, was caught on Potiskum road, Bajoga, carrying 50,000 tramadol capsules.
Edo State also recorded significant seizures on August 6 when NDLEA operatives intercepted a white Toyota Hiace bus bearing registration number YAB 5522 K at Ewu junction. Authorities recovered 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets, and 400 ampoules of pentazocine during the operation, resulting in the arrest of Taiye Jethro.
In tandem with enforcement efforts, NDLEA commands nationwide have escalated their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization and public awareness campaigns throughout the past week. These campaigns aim to educate and inform the public, especially vulnerable groups, about the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of community involvement in combating the menace.
Notable sensitization activities included lectures and outreach at educational institutions such as Mind City College in Saki, Oyo State, and Gwagwarwa Primary School in Nasarawa Local Government Area, Kano State. The Nigerian Army’s 241 Recce Model Battalion in Nguru, Yobe State, also received awareness sessions focused on drug abuse prevention.
Community-based organizations have not been left out, as advocacy programs were extended to the Engine Grinders Association in Gboko, Benue State. In Ekiti State, the NDLEA Command paid a visit to the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Ado Ekiti, while the Anambra State Command engaged with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly to foster collaboration on drug control initiatives.
The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), has publicly lauded the exceptional operational achievements of the Lagos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Kano, and Edo commands. He commended their commitment, professionalism, and dexterity in executing these complex operations. Brig. Gen.
Marwa urged all NDLEA personnel across Nigeria to sustain a balanced and integrated approach that combines firm law enforcement with persistent public education and advocacy, emphasizing that such synergy is crucial to effectively dismantling drug trafficking networks and reducing drug abuse nationwide.