Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 101-year-old great-grandmother for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs in Ogun State.
The suspect, Esther Ogunmabo, was arrested at Ilisan on Saturday, August 15, 2026, during a series of intelligence-led operations carried out across the country between August 15 and 22.
DailyVista247 gathered that the arrest formed part of a nationwide crackdown that also led to the interception of cocaine concealed in fufu, the destruction of over 10 tonnes of cannabis and the recovery of methamphetamine, tramadol and other controlled substances.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, the 101-year-old was found with 90 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in small retail sachets.
“Operatives in Ogun State arrested 101-year-old Esther Ogunmabo at Ilisan on Saturday, August 15, allegedly for selling cannabis. The agency said Ogunmabo was found with 90 grammes of skunk,” Babafemi said.
Speaking on why she went into the illicit trade, the centenarian reportedly told investigators she turned to selling cannabis after a fire incident destroyed her provisions shop.
“The centenarian told investigators that she turned to selling cannabis after a fire destroyed her provisions shop,” Babafemi disclosed.
DailyVista247 learnt that following this development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), directed that Ogunmabo be granted bail and placed on counselling because of her advanced age.
The decision was taken on humanitarian grounds, considering she is 101 years old.
Babafemi disclosed that in a separate operation in Akwa Ibom State on Friday, August 21, NDLEA operatives intercepted a wooden boat heading towards fishing settlements in Cameroon. During the operation, three suspects were arrested and 20 grammes of cocaine concealed inside a large wrap of fufu was recovered from one of them.
He said the seizures were part of the agency’s intensified operations targeting retail drug peddlers and trans-border syndicates.
According to the agency, the operations led to the recovery of large consignments of illicit drugs across Lagos, FCT, Ogun, Edo and other states, with several suspects arrested.
DailyVista247 gathered that over 10 tonnes of cannabis were destroyed in Ijare forest, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo state, while other substances including colorado, tramadol and skunk were recovered in different locations in FCT, Lagos, Abia, and Kano State
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Ogun, Akwa Ibom and other commands for the operations, urging them to maintain a balanced approach combining enforcement, prevention and counselling.
