LAGOS, Nigeria (CHATNEWSTV) — Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) ushered in the new year with the arrest of a wanted drug Queenpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, popularly known as “Iya Ruka.”
The arrest, which occurred last week at her mansion on Adebayo Oyewole Street, Okota, Lagos, followed the interception of a truck carrying 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis. The truck, a white Isuzu, was driven by one of her staff members, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.
“Ajoke Elediye has been on our wanted list for years for operating a significant drug cartel out of the Mushin area of Lagos,” NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said. “Her arrest is a major breakthrough for us, and it sends a strong message to others in the illicit drug trade.”
Elediye, who is celebrated in social circles as the Iyalaje of the Blessing Sisters, an influential Lagos women’s club, has long maintained a public persona as a legitimate businesswoman importing fabrics and shoes from China. However, NDLEA investigations revealed her alleged involvement in a sprawling illicit drug trade concealed beneath her business activities.
“It was only a matter of time before we closed in on her. This operation shows that no one is untouchable,” Babafemi added.
Elediye’s arrest has sparked widespread reactions, given her dual identity as a socialite and a figure in the underworld. “She was well-respected in the community, but this arrest sheds light on the dark side of her activities,” said a neighbor who wished to remain anonymous.
The NDLEA stated that further investigations are underway, and Elediye is expected to face prosecution for her alleged crimes.
