Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) say they have arrested Lekan Jimoh, a wanted “drug kingpin” popularly known as ‘Kanmo-Kanmo’, 12 years after the murder of three NDLEA officers.
Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the NDLEA, in a statement on Sunday, said Jimoh was apprehended on Friday, after operatives tracked him to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun state, following credible intelligence.
The agency said 69 kilogrammes of skunk and a strain of cannabis were recovered from the suspect at the point of arrest.
NDLEA said Jimoh had been on the run since June 15, 2014, when he allegedly mobilised armed thugs who attacked operatives attempting to arrest him, leading to the death of Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two other officers.
The agency said the suspect escaped during the 2014 incident but had remained a fugitive despite sustained efforts to bring him to justice.
NDLEA said operatives also raided Jimoh’s residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun state, on August 12, 2023, but he escaped while 139 sacks of skunk, weighing 1,922 kilogrammes were recovered.
The agency said the Ado-Odo house, which served as a warehouse for illicit drugs, was later forfeited to the federal government following court proceedings.
“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,” the NDLEA said.
In Edo state, NDLEA said operatives arrested Isihor Edika, 53, during a raid on Arokpa forest in Uzebba town, Owan West LGA, where 320 kilogrammes of skunk and seeds were seized.
In Abuja, NDLEA said Yinka Agboola, 44, was arrested in the Kaura district for allegedly selling illicit drugs online, with 2.2 kilogrammes of skunk and cannabis oil recovered from her home.
The agency said another suspect, Tordue Pius Richard, 30, was arrested in Abuja with cocaine and skunk at his residence in Abacha Estate.
NDLEA said 118.1 kilogrammes of skunk were seized from Dauda Kareem and Saheed Obisesan in Mushin, Lagos, while 116 kilogrammes of the substance were recovered from a warehouse at the New Market area of Enugu state.
In Delta state, NDLEA said Zaharadeen Yahaya, 25, and Sanusi Maman, 23, were arrested along the Onitsha-Asaba expressway with large quantities of tramadol, codeine syrup, diazepam, swinol and Molly.
The agency said Adetunji Ahmed Abayomi, 33, and Rasheed Ajao, 28, were arrested in Ibadan, Oyo state, with different quantities of skuchies, Colorado, Scottish Loud and skunk.
NDLEA said 52,430 pills of tramadol and bromazepam were also recovered from a store in Agbeni area of Ibadan, while the suspect, Orji Edwin, is currently at large.
In Kwara state, the agency said operatives seized 42 bags of skunk weighing 387.4 kilogrammes from a residential building in Ilorin.
NDLEA said a joint examination with Customs and other security agencies at Apapa port in Lagos led to the discovery of 157,519 bottles of codeine syrup concealed in a container.
In Jigawa state, the agency said ex-convict Gaddafi Ammani, 26, and Ahmed Sani, 32, were arrested with skunk and exol-5 pills after the suspect allegedly attempted to evade arrest.
NDLEA said its operatives also carried out War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation activities across schools, worship centres and communities nationwide in the past week.
Buba Marwa, chairman and chief executive officer of NDLEA, commended officers across commands for the arrests and seizures.
Marwa described Jimoh’s arrest as “a triumph of justice and a testament to the agency’s long memory”.
“You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you,” he said.
“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.
“This arrest is for the families of those three officers who have waited 12 years for justice.”
