Arrests Made In Drug Trafficking Scandal Drags In Ex-Boko Haram Member

• The NDLEA has made a breakthrough in its fight against drugs in Nigeria, with the latest report accounting for a number of arrests made.

• An ex-Boko Haram member along with a traditional ruler were arrested together with 37 other individuals.

• The arrests were made in connection to the seizure of 2.2 tons of illicit drugs.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant breakthrough in its ongoing war against drug trafficking in Nigeria.

In a statement released by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi on March 12th, it was revealed that 37 individuals had been arrested in connection with the seizure of 2.2 tons of illicit drugs.

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The arrests were made in raids carried out across 12 states, as well as at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Among those arrested were a former member of the Boko Haram terror group, Alayi Madu, and the traditional ruler of Kajola, a border community between Ondo and Edo state, Baale Akinola Adebayo.

Madu, who had been a fighter with Boko Haram for 15 years before surrendering to the Nigerian military in 2021, was intercepted on March 9th along the Abuja-Kaduna express road with 10 kilograms of skunk. He claimed to have bought the drugs in Ibadan, Oyo state, and was taking them to Maiduguri, Borno state.

Meanwhile, the NDLEA had also carried out a raid on Kajola forest in Kajola community, where they destroyed three cannabis farms measuring 39.801546 hectares. The owner of the farms, Baale Akinola Adebayo, 35, was arrested on the farm at 2:30 am, along with two other suspects believed to be his workers.

Speaking about the operation, Babafemi said that the NDLEA was determined to eradicate the scourge of drug trafficking from Nigeria, particularly ahead of the next round of elections. He added that the agency would continue to work tirelessly to identify and bring to justice all those involved in drug trafficking, regardless of their status or background.

Madu, who spoke to reporters after his arrest, said that he had repented of his involvement with Boko Haram and had undergone rehabilitation and de-radicalization processes before being discharged. He had been working as a commercial motorcycle rider in Ibadan before turning to drug trafficking.

The arrests and seizure of drugs are a significant victory for the NDLEA, which has been waging a long and difficult battle against drug trafficking in Nigeria.

The agency has faced numerous challenges, including lack of resources and corruption, but remains committed to its mission of ridding the country of the scourge of drug trafficking.