The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has apprehended a notorious drug trafficker, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as Kanmo-Kanmo, more than a decade after he allegedly coordinated an attack that led to the deaths of three NDLEA operatives during a failed arrest attempt.
The suspect was taken into custody on Friday, January 16, 2026, in the Owode area of Ogun State after a carefully planned, intelligence-driven operation by NDLEA tactical units. A search conducted at his hideout resulted in the seizure of 69 kilogrammes of skunk, a highly potent variant of cannabis.
In a statement released on Sunday, the agency’s spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed that Jimoh had remained on the NDLEA’s wanted list since June 15, 2014.
He was accused of rallying armed individuals to confront officers who attempted to arrest him at his base, an encounter that ended with the killing of three personnel, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure. Following the incident, Jimoh reportedly went into hiding and evaded capture for over 12 years.
Babafemi stated: “Following his involvement in the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers, Kanmo-Kanmo, notorious for drug trafficking and mobilising armed thugs against security agents, was on Friday, January 16, tracked to his hideout in Owode, Ogun State, after credible intelligence. During the operation, 69kg of skunk was recovered from him.
“The arrest is a major breakthrough in our resolve to ensure that no fugitive, no matter how long they evade justice, remains beyond the reach of the law.”
He further revealed that Jimoh’s wider drug network had been exposed earlier in August 2023, when NDLEA operatives raided his residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State. During that operation, officers uncovered 139 sacks of skunk weighing a total of 1,922 kilogrammes. Although Jimoh escaped at the time, the building, which was being used as a storage facility for drugs, was later confiscated by the Federal Government.
Beyond Jimoh’s arrest, the NDLEA also reported significant enforcement actions in multiple states. In Edo State, officers stormed Arokpa forest in Uzebba, Owan West Local Government Area, arresting a 53-year-old man, Isihor Edika, and confiscating 320 kilogrammes of skunk along with cannabis seeds. In the Federal Capital Territory, a 44-year-old woman, Yinka Agboola, was arrested in the Kaura District over allegations of selling illegal drugs online.
Recovered from her residence were 2.2 kilogrammes of skunk and quantities of cannabis oil allegedly produced in her kitchen. Another suspect, 30-year-old Tordue Pius Richard, was also taken into custody in Abuja with cocaine and skunk in his possession.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives intercepted 118.1 kilogrammes of skunk from Dauda Kareem and Saheed Obisesan in the Fadeyi area of Mushin, while an additional 116 kilogrammes was recovered from a warehouse at the New Market area of Enugu, Enugu State.
Along the Onitsha–Asaba Expressway in Delta State, officers arrested two suspects, Zaharadeen Yahaya, 25, and Sanusi Maman, 23, who were found with 410,800 tramadol tablets, 84.2 litres of codeine syrup, 82,250 tablets of diazepam and other regulated drugs.
In Oyo State, NDLEA personnel arrested Adetunji Ahmed Abayomi, 33, and Rasheed Ajao, 28, in Ibadan with substantial quantities of skuchies and synthetic cannabis, while a separate operation at Agbeni led to the recovery of more than 52,000 tramadol and bromazepam tablets. In Kwara State, officers seized 42 bags of skunk weighing 387.4 kilogrammes from a residence in the Gamo area of Ilorin.
Meanwhile, in Jigawa State, a former convict, Gaddafi Ammani, 26, alongside his associate, Ahmed Sani, 32, was arrested at Nassarawa GRA, Ringim, with quantities of skunk and exol-5 pills. Babafemi added that Ammani attempted to flee during the operation and injured one of the officers involved.
What you should know
The arrest of Lekan Jimoh marks a major milestone in the NDLEA’s long-running efforts to bring high-profile drug traffickers to justice, especially those linked to violent attacks on security personnel.
His capture after more than a decade underscores the agency’s reliance on intelligence-led operations and sustained surveillance. The widespread seizures and arrests across multiple states also highlight the scale of drug trafficking networks operating within Nigeria and the NDLEA’s intensified nationwide crackdown.
Authorities say these actions are aimed at dismantling supply chains, reducing the circulation of illicit drugs, and reinforcing the message that fugitives cannot permanently evade the law.
