By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
A NONAGENARIAN, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was among the criminals nabbed in a sweeping nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking has led to the arrest of the 93-year-old great grandfather.
Arrested alongside him was a 69-year-old medical doctor as operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intensified intelligence led operations across multiple states.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the nonagenarian, Pa Chigbu, was arrested at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.
NDLEA operatives recovered 7.7 kilogrammes of skunk from his home.
During interrogation, he said he had previously worked as a truck pusher before learning painting and tiling.
He admitted venturing into the illicit drug trade over a year ago, noting that he had been using skunk since 1959.
The crackdown also exposed an international drug trafficking network, leading to the arrest of an Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, 41, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
He was apprehended on Monday, 16 February 2026, during outward clearance for an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan via Addis Ababa.
Investigations revealed he had arrived in Lagos from Milan on 17 January and travelled across Lagos and Enugu before proceeding to Kano, where he ingested 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilogrammes in a hotel room.
He reportedly told investigators he was promised €5,000 upon successful delivery in Milan.
Further intelligence led operatives to an alleged coordinator, Dr Chudi Daniel Ofomata, who was traced to his residence at Teachers’ Land Estate in Magboro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
He was arrested on 27 March and subsequently moved to Kano on 7 April. Substances recovered from him included 63 grammes of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection.
In Ogun State, three suspects, Azeez Sanni, Olayinka Oke and Adekunle Adeyemi – were arrested with 34 kilogrammes of skunk during a raid at Sango Under Bridge, Sango Ota, on 7 April.
In Imo State, operatives recovered 56.2 kilogrammes of the same substance from a 26-year-old suspect, Ayoka Akinwale, along the Onitsha–Owerri Road on 11 April.
A separate operation in Niger State led to the arrest of a couple, Abdullahi Umar, 32, and Adama Umar, 25, after 118 kilogrammes of skunk was discovered in their kitchen in Takuti village, Lapai Local Government Area on 9 April.
In Borno State, officers on patrol at Njimtilo along the Damaturu–Maiduguri Road intercepted a trailer transporting vehicle spare parts from Nnewi.
A thorough check uncovered 42,290 tablets of Rohypnol, 82,700 millilitres of codeine syrup and 10,000 millilitres of pentazocine injection.
The consignment’s owner, Eleje Ibeabuchi, 43, was later arrested.
In Lagos, operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a Chisco Transport bus marked AGU 442 XB along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on 7 April.
Hidden compartments in the vehicle contained 15 kilogrammes of a substance identified as Scottish Loud, leading to the arrest of Kingsley Nsofor and Opara Ifeanyi.
Another operation in Mushin on 11 April resulted in the seizure of 26,800 bottles of codeine-based syrup from a truck heading to Onitsha. Two suspects, Adesunloye Dada and Chibuzor Chime, were taken into custody.
In the Federal Capital Territory, a raid on the Tora Bora drug joint on 11 April led to the arrest of eight suspects, including Abubakar Muhammad, Ali Isiaka, Obed Moses, Ibrahim Musa, Attahiru Audu, Kabiru Buhari, Oloruntoba Samuel and Ellah Gyandi.
A total of 11.516 kilogrammes of skunk was recovered.
In Edo State, operatives intercepted two trucks along Warrake Road in Auchi on 11 April.
The vehicles, marked LUY 172 XC and LUY 281 XC, were found to contain 7,245 kilogrammes of processed skunk concealed among cartons of beer.
Also, five suspects, Ibrahim Abu, 29, Abu Abdullazeez, 28, Jibril Jaminu, 35, Andrew Moses, 22, and Ganiyu Abu, 21, were arrested. Authorities said the consignments were loaded in Sabongida Ora and were bound for Abuja.
JKNewsMedia.com reports NDLEA stated that its War Against Drug Abuse sensitisation campaign continued nationwide, with outreach programmes targeting students, drivers and community groups across Lagos, Kogi, Katsina, Kano, Cross River and Osun states.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers across commands for the coordinated operations.
He noted that the agency remained committed to balancing drug supply reduction with sustained efforts to curb demand nationwide.
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