NDLEA apprehends fugitive “Kanmo-kanmo,” seizes massive drugs, and intensifies nationwide anti-drug operations to bring traffickers to justice.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has achieved a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking with the arrest of a long-wanted criminal, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-kanmo.”
This arrest ends a 12-year manhunt tied to his involvement in the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers and highlights the agency’s continued commitment to dismantling organized drug networks.
Jimoh was finally tracked down on Friday, January 16, 2026, in Owode town, Ogun State, following actionable intelligence provided to NDLEA tactical operatives.
During the raid, officers recovered 69 kilograms of skunk, a highly potent strain of cannabis.
The operation, carried out with meticulous planning, underscores NDLEA’s reputation for targeting high-profile drug traffickers, even those who have eluded justice for years.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi described the arrest as “a landmark achievement in the agency’s ongoing effort to ensure that no fugitive, regardless of how long they evade law enforcement, remains beyond the reach of justice.”
He emphasized that Jimoh’s criminal record is marked by extreme violence and organized lawlessness, highlighting the agency’s determination to bring dangerous criminals to account.
According to Babafemi, Jimoh orchestrated a vicious mob attack on NDLEA operatives on June 15, 2014, when officers attempted to apprehend him at his enclave.
The attack resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure, by armed thugs mobilized by Jimoh.
“While the suspect escaped that day, NDLEA remained resolute in its pursuit of justice for the fallen heroes,” Babafemi said.
Jimoh managed to evade capture in another encounter on August 12, 2023, when NDLEA operatives raided his residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State.
Although he escaped again, officers recovered 139 sacks of skunk weighing a total of 1,922 kilograms.
Following asset forfeiture proceedings, the property used as a warehouse for his illicit trade was permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
NDLEA has also intensified operations across other regions of Nigeria.
In Edo State, operatives raided the Arokpa Forest in Uzebba town, Owan West Local Government Area, on Tuesday, January 13, arresting 53-year-old drug lord Isihor Edika and seizing 320 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds.
Meanwhile, in Abuja, the agency apprehended 44-year-old Yinka Agboola, who allegedly produced and sold cannabis oil online from her kitchen in the Kaura District. Officers recovered 2.2 kilograms of skunk and multiple litres of cannabis oil from her home.
On the same day, NDLEA operatives arrested another suspect, Tordue Pius Richard, aged 30, at his residence on Biskira Street, Abacha Estate, Abuja.
Law enforcement agents recovered 148.3 grams of cocaine and skunk, demonstrating the agency’s multi-state focus on disrupting illicit drug sales.
The NDLEA continues to use intelligence-driven operations, surveillance, and collaboration with local communities to identify and apprehend traffickers.
By combining proactive enforcement strategies with legal measures such as asset forfeiture, the agency aims not only to capture fugitives like Jimoh but also to dismantle the infrastructure that allows illegal drug trade to thrive.
Femi Babafemi reiterated that the recent arrests send a strong message to criminals involved in drug trafficking.
“NDLEA will not rest until every individual involved in illegal drug operations is brought to justice, and communities across Nigeria are made safer from the destructive effects of narcotics,” he said.
The arrest of Jimoh, alongside other high-profile operations, marks a turning point in the NDLEA’s nationwide campaign.
By targeting both leaders of criminal networks and smaller-scale operators, the agency reinforces its zero-tolerance stance against narcotics and demonstrates its ability to act decisively against organized crime.
Experts say that these arrests will likely disrupt the operations of several drug syndicates, reduce the availability of illegal substances, and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
By prioritizing intelligence-led interventions, NDLEA continues to prove its effectiveness in curbing the drug menace that has plagued communities for years.
As NDLEA intensifies its nationwide campaign, the agency’s actions reaffirm its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria from the social and economic harms of drug abuse.
With sustained efforts and community collaboration, the agency aims to bring more notorious criminals to justice and ensure that Nigeria remains a difficult terrain for drug traffickers.
Ireport247news
