NDLEA Arrests 93-Year-Old Man, Doctor for Alleged Drug Trafficking
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 93-year-old man, Pa Friday Ahukanna Chigbu, and a 69-year-old medical doctor, Dr Chudi Daniel Ofomata, among several suspects in nationwide operations against drug trafficking involving skunk, cocaine and other illicit substances.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the arrests followed intensified intelligence-led raids targeting drug cartels and their collaborators across the country.
He said Pa Chigbu was arrested on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State, where operatives recovered 7.7 kilograms of skunk.
According to him, the nonagenarian claimed he had worked as a truck pusher before learning painting and tiling, adding that he later ventured into the illicit drug trade about a year ago.
He also alleged that he had been smoking skunk since 1959 before turning it into a business.
Babafemi said in a separate operation, operatives arrested Dr Ofomata, who was linked to a cocaine trafficking network. He said the suspect was identified during investigations into an Ivorian courier, Gohouri Michael, who was intercepted at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, with 82 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.49kg.
He said the courier was arrested on February 16, 2026, during outward clearance on an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Milan, Italy via Addis Ababa, after allegedly ingesting the cocaine in a hotel room in Kano.
Babafemi added that investigations revealed Dr Ofomata as the alleged handler coordinating the movement of the consignment. He said the doctor was tracked to his residence at Teachers’ Land Estate, Magboro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, where he was arrested on March 27, 2026, and later moved to Kano for further investigation on April 7.
He said items recovered from the doctor included 63 grams of promazepam and seven ampoules of promethazine injection.
Babafemi said both arrests formed part of ongoing nationwide efforts by the NDLEA to dismantle drug trafficking networks and their collaborators.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
