The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of a notorious drug kingpin, Sunday Ibigide, after evading capture for three years.
The 36-year-old suspect, who had been on the run since March 19, 2022, was tracked down in Delta State on August 10, 2025. According to NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Ibigide was wanted in connection with the seizure of 24.137kg of cannabis and 10 grams of molly three years ago. He was finally apprehended while attempting to distribute 250 blocks of cannabis skunk weighing 138kg in a distribution bus. His accomplice, 27-year-old Clement Osuya, was also arrested.
In a separate raid in Enugu State, NDLEA operatives, supported by the military and local vigilantes, stormed three cannabis farms in Enugu Ezike, destroying crops weighing over 37,500kg spread across 15 hectares. Six suspects were arrested in connection with the illicit plantations, while 74.5kg of cannabis was secured for prosecution.
Patrol officers in the same state also intercepted drug consignments on August 16. One suspect, Emmanuel Ayogu (53), was caught with 20,700 pills of tramadol and cocodamol. Two others, Nsubechukwu Achidde (24) and Osiaja Frank (41), were arrested with 27.6kg of skunk at New Market.
In Lagos, operatives uncovered a family drug trafficking ring, arresting 52-year-old Muyibat Mumuni and her son, Faruk Mumuni (25), with 298 blocks of Ghana Loud cannabis weighing 149kg at Mushin on August 13. Another trafficker, Emmanuel Samuel, was nabbed in Ajah, Lekki, with 8.5kg of Canadian Loud.
Read also: Tinubu congratulates by-election winners, praises INEC for credible polls
Meanwhile, one of the agency’s largest operations this year took place at Onne Port, Rivers State, where NDLEA, working with Customs and other security agencies, intercepted five containers during a joint examination between August 13 and 14. The operation yielded 875,000 bottles of codeine syrup valued at more than ₦6.1 billion, along with 3.5 million pills of tramadol and benzhexol worth ₦1.7 billion.
Other seizures across the country included:
– Edo State: 432kg of cannabis recovered along Warake–Auchi Road, and another 130kg in Sobe, Owan West LGA.
– Kano State: Two traffickers, Tahiru Manga (25) and Ibrahim Audu (47), arrested with 92kg of cannabis along the Zaria–Kano Road.
The NDLEA has reiterated its resolve to dismantle criminal drug networks across Nigeria and ensure that fugitives like Ibigide are eventually brought to justice.
