NDLEA Busts Former Lagos Councillor, Discovers Drugs in Diapers and IED Parts Nationwide

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a former councillor in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Sheleru Sadiq Olalekan, after illicit drugs were discovered at his residence.

The arrest was part of a series of coordinated operations carried out by the anti-narcotics agency across several states, which also led to the interception of drugs hidden inside baby diapers and the recovery of hundreds of components used for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

According to a statement released on Sunday by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the 45-year-old suspect, who previously served two terms as councillor representing the Orimedu community, was apprehended on March 2, 2026, at his home in Ilado, Ibeju-Lekki.

During a search of the premises, NDLEA operatives reportedly found 40 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, concealed in one of the rooms. The agency said Olalekan, who currently works as a legislative aide, admitted that both the drugs and the house belonged to him.

In a separate operation in the Federal Capital Territory, NDLEA officers arrested a 32-year-old businessman, Emeka Hyginus Okwor, on March 3. He was intercepted while travelling from Obollo-Afor in Enugu State to Zuba in Abuja.

A search of his luggage uncovered 1,000 pills of tapentadol (250mg) cleverly concealed inside baby diapers. Okwor reportedly told investigators that the drugs were intended for delivery to Guduwa village in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, where he runs a provision store.

Also on the same day, NDLEA operatives along the Kabba–Obajana highway in Kogi State intercepted a Cameroonian national, Mey Ali Muhamat, aged 36.

Muhamat, who hails from Maroua in Cameroon, was caught with 1.55 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic variant of cannabis. The drugs were hidden inside a carton of a standing fan while he was travelling in a commercial bus from Lagos to Cameroon via Lokoja, Kano and Maiduguri.

In another operation in Niger State, NDLEA officers intercepted a commercial bus along the Mokwa–Jebba road carrying 500 components believed to be used in the construction of improvised explosive devices.

The items were hidden inside a white sack and were allegedly meant for delivery to a recipient in Pelegi community. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the suspected recipient, Osama Abdullahi, 21, in Mashegu Local Government Area.

Meanwhile, in Adamawa State, NDLEA operatives stopped a truck transporting 2,000 cartons of local beverages. A thorough search revealed 122,000 pills of tramadol and 700 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a secret compartment within the vehicle.

Further operations across the country also resulted in multiple arrests and seizures.

In Kano State, a 20-year-old suspect, Muhammed Ali, was arrested with 11,283 tramadol pills.

In Ogun State, two suspects — Nazifi Mudansir and Kabiru Musa — were apprehended in Ogere with 46 kilograms of skunk.

Similarly, in Delta State, Joy Chukwuma, 25, and Eugene Felix, 22, were arrested in Ogwashi-Uku with 18.63 kilograms of skunk, 10.8 litres of codeine syrup, and 4,268 pills of tramadol and swinol.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 1,910.25 kilograms of skunk discovered on two farms located in Egbisi forest in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area. Two suspects, Eke London and Austin Isusi, were arrested during the operation.

Another suspect, Alaba Adeboye, 47, was later arrested in Ikhin town in Owan East Local Government Area with 176.5 kilograms of skunk.

Beyond enforcement activities, the NDLEA also intensified its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign, reaching schools and communities across several states including Oyo State, Zamfara State, Sokoto State, Ebonyi State and Anambra State.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, commended officers across commands including Lagos, FCT, Kano, Niger, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Delta and Adamawa for the successful operations.

He urged personnel nationwide to remain committed to the agency’s strategy of combining strict enforcement with public education in tackling drug abuse and trafficking.