The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its nationwide offensive against high-level drug cartels, leading to the startling arrest of a 93-year-old great-grandfather and a 69-year-old medical doctor for their alleged involvement in international drug trafficking. The announcement was made by the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday, April 12, 2026, as part of a broader report detailing coordinated interdiction operations across several states. The arrests have sent shockwaves through the public, highlighting the disturbing trend of senior citizens and professionals being recruited into the shadowy world of illicit substance trade to act as coordinators and local distributors.
The nonagenarian suspect, identified as Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, was apprehended on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, located within the Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State. During a thorough search of his home, NDLEA operatives recovered approximately 7.7 kilograms of “skunk,” a highly potent strain of cannabis. Upon his arrest, Pa Chigbu reportedly confessed to having used the substance since 1959, though he claimed to have only transitioned into the commercial trade of the drug about a year ago. The elderly suspect, who previously worked as a truck pusher and later a painter, stated that the illicit business was a means of survival, despite the grave legal and health implications associated with the trade.
In a separate but equally high-profile operation, the NDLEA uncovered a sophisticated international cocaine trafficking link following the arrest of an Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. The foreigner was found with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49 kilograms concealed within his person while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan, Italy. Further investigation and follow-up operations in Ogun State led to the arrest of a 69-year-old medical professional, Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata, who has been identified by the agency as a key coordinator for the drug movement. A search of the doctor’s premises yielded additional controlled substances, including promazepam and promethazine injections, which are often used in the illicit drug market.
Public health and security analysts have expressed deep concern over the involvement of a medical doctor in such activities, noting that it represents a significant breach of professional ethics and public trust. Experts argue that when individuals with specialized knowledge and societal respectability participate in trafficking, they provide a “veneer of legitimacy” to criminal networks, making detection more difficult. They suggest that the economic pressures facing many Nigerians, including the elderly, may be driving vulnerable groups into the hands of drug syndicates. Analysts maintain that the NDLEA must continue to leverage intelligence-led policing to dismantle these networks, particularly the “white-collar” facilitators who provide the logistical and professional support necessary for international smuggling.
The broader implications of these arrests point toward an expanding demographic of drug offenders in Nigeria, moving beyond the stereotypical image of youthful couriers. By targeting nonagenarians and medical doctors, the NDLEA is signaling that no individual is beyond the reach of the law, regardless of age or professional standing. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), has reaffirmed that the agency will remain relentless in its “offensive action” to protect the country from the scourge of illicit drugs. As these suspects prepare for their day in court, the focus remains on the need for increased communal vigilance and the fortification of Nigeria’s borders and airports against the persistent threat of narcotics.
