By Gabriel Ani
ABUJA — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-kanmo,” ending a 12-year manhunt following the brutal murder of three agency officers in 2014.
In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr. Femi Babafemi, the agency disclosed that Jimoh was tracked to his hideout in Owode, Ogun State, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.
According to the agency, Jimoh had been on the wanted list since June 15, 2014, when he orchestrated a mob attack against a team of operatives. The attack resulted in the “cold-blooded murder” of three officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure.
The NDLEA noted that Jimoh was apprehended with 69kg of skunk during a clinical operation. This follows a previous encounter in August 2023, where he escaped a raid on his Ado-Odo residence, leaving behind 1,922kg of cannabis. That property has since been forfeited to the Federal Government.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the arrest as a triumph of justice.
“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 on his hands.
“He mistakenly thought that time had erased his crimes. Today, we have proven that the NDLEA does not forget its own. This arrest is for the families of those three officers who have waited 12 years for justice,” Marwa said.
The agency also reported a string of successful raids across several states, leading to the recovery of massive quantities of illicit substances and the arrest of multiple suspects.
FCT, Abuja: Operatives arrested 44-year-old Yinka Agboola in the Kaura district for the online sale of illicit drugs. Recovered from her home were 2.2kg of skunk and litres of cannabis oil produced in her kitchen. Another suspect, Tordue Pius Richard, 30, was caught with cocaine and skunk at Abacha Estate.
Jigawa State: An ex-convict, Gaddafi Ammani, 26, was arrested alongside Ahmed Sani in Ringim LGA. Ammani, who was armed with a machete, reportedly injured an officer while attempting to escape via rooftops.
Lagos & Ogun: A joint examination at Apapa Port led to the discovery of 157,519 bottles of codeine syrup in a container. In Mushin, Lagos, two suspects were nabbed with 118.1kg of skunk.
Edo & Delta: In Edo, a drug lord, Isihor Edika, 53, was arrested in Arokpa forest with 320kg of skunk. In Delta, two suspects were intercepted along the Onitsha-Asaba expressway with over 500,000 pills of various opioids, including tramadol and diazepam.
Oyo & Kwara: Raids in Ibadan led to the seizure of “Scottish Loud,” “Colorado,” and “Skuchies,” while in Kwara, 387.4kg of skunk was recovered from a residential building in Ilorin.
The statement further highlighted the agency’s ongoing sensitization efforts. Over the past week, WADA enlightenment lectures were held at schools and community centers in Kano, Lagos, Benue, Katsina, and Niger states.
Marwa commended the various state commands for their breakthroughs and urged them to maintain the momentum.
“You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you,” Marwa warned other fugitives.
