​Suspected Drug Baron On Wanted List For 12 Years Nabbed By NDLEA

By Ayodele Oni

After 12 years of manhunt, Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA),have apprehended a long-wanted drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-kanmo”.

Jimoh has been on the wanted list of the agency for his alleged involvement in the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers.

According to a press release on Sunday, NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Kanmo-Kanmo, who is notorious for drug trafficking, evading arrest and mobilising armed thugs against security agents, was on Friday, 16th January 202,6 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, 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 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.

​”In another encounter with Jimoh on 12th August 2023, when NDLEA operatives stormed his residence in Ado-Odo town, Ogun state, he managed to escape 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.”

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Edo state raided the Arokpa forest, Uzebba town, Owan West LGA, 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 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, 2.2kgof  skunk and litres of cannabis oil, which she produces in her kitchen and sells through online advertisements, were recovered from her home at the Kaura district, Abuja.

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

While 118.1kg of skunk was seized from the duo of Dauda Kareem and Saheed Obisesan at Fadeyi area of Mushin, Lagos, not less than 116kg of the same substance was recovered from a warehouse at the New Market area of Enugu.