Grandma And Ex-Convict, Both In Their 80s, Busted As NDLEA Seizes ₦3.2bn Worth Of Drugs

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two octogenarians—80-year-old Ayuba Ashiru and 82-year-old Uloma Uchechi Sunday—alongside her 32-year-old daughter, Chisom Uchechi, in a sweeping nationwide operation targeting drug traffickers.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

These arrests were made amid major seizures of illegal opioids worth over ₦3.2 billion at seaports in Lagos and Rivers states.

In a statement issued on Sunday, May 18, 2025, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that Ayuba, a repeat offender previously jailed for drug crimes between 2014 and 2024, was apprehended again. He was arrested on Wednesday, May 14, at Barazana Street in Dogarawa, Sabon Gari LGA of Kaduna State. Officers seized 2.3 kilograms of skunk, pre-packaged for street distribution. Ayuba reportedly admitted to being involved in drug trafficking for over 46 years.

In a separate operation in Abia State on Saturday, May 17, NDLEA agents raided the home of Uloma Sunday in Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village. Recovered from the scene were quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol, skunk, and ₦130,600 in cash. Uloma confessed that she took over the drug trade with her daughter after her son—who originally ran the operation—died.

At the Onne Port in Rivers State, NDLEA, in collaboration with Customs and other agencies, intercepted a container carrying three million pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol (Royal 225mg), concealed based on intelligence tips. The illicit cargo is valued at ₦2.1 billion and was uncovered on Wednesday, May 14.

Another significant bust was made at Lagos’ Apapa Seaport on Tuesday, May 13. A container falsely declared to hold auto parts was discovered to be filled with 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup, valued at over ₦1.1 billion.

In Ilorin, Kwara State, operatives arrested Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail on Friday, May 16, in the Gegele area with 199,200 tramadol pills. A follow-up raid at Favour Lodge led to the arrest of Ibrahim Oladimeji Abdulateef, an HND 1 student of Kwara State Polytechnic, found with 650 grams of “Loud” (a potent cannabis strain) packed in 149 cups for distribution to students.

In Lagos, NDLEA’s Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted a shipment bound for Australia containing 250 grams of cocaine cleverly concealed in female headgear at a courier company on Friday, May 16.

On the Mokwa–Jebba highway in Niger State, a Toyota Carina with 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143kg was intercepted on Thursday, May 15. One suspect, Idris Kamal, 35, was taken into custody. That same day, 26-year-old Emmanuel Hassan was caught at Chachi Junction on Kaduna Road with 14.3kg of Loud, and a subsequent operation led to the arrest of Bello Aliyu (aka Liti), 39, identified as the consignment’s owner.

In Karu, Nasarawa State, NDLEA officers arrested 60-year-old Welman Kengbo on Friday, May 16, with 594.8kg of skunk. Separately, Oyenuga Toheeb was arrested along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos on Thursday, May 15, with 67.5kg of the same drug.

Also, 22-year-old Shafiu Ismail was nabbed in Taraba State’s Sabonlayin area with 5,350 pills of tramadol and diazepam. In Jigawa State, 35-year-old Tijjani Mohammed was arrested in Malamawa, Garki LGA, with 198kg of skunk.

Finally, on the Abuja–Kaduna Expressway on Friday, May 16, NDLEA officers intercepted Ismail Isah, 29, who was found transporting an AK-47 rifle and two loaded magazines hidden in a sack of maize. Authorities confirmed he would be handed over to the appropriate security agencies for further investigation.

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