Mitchell Ofoyeju
The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), started the year 2026 on a very promising note in its onslaught against drug trafficking, securing seven convictions, arresting 46 suspected traffickers and seizing 6,439 kilogrammes of illicit drugs.
Presenting the command’s January operational scorecard in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the achievements marked a positive start to the agency’s operations for the year.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that those arrested comprised 36 males and 10 females.
The Commander of Narcotics mentioned the interception of 66 bags of cannabis concealed inside bags of charcoal, weighing 792 kilogrammes as one of the most significant seizures during the period.
He said a suspect, Shaibu Yusuf, was arrested along the Auchi–Abuja Expressway while allegedly conveying the drugs to the northern part of the country.
Commending the Nigerian Army, particularly the Commander of 4 Brigade, Benin, Brigadier General A. O. Balogun, for his support in the anti-drug war, Commander Ofoyeju revealed that within the month, the army handed over two suspects—Chief James Abamu, 48, and Aboy Egah, 31—along with 681 kilogrammes of cannabis and 181 kilogrammes of cannabis seeds to the NDLEA.
He further stated that NDLEA operatives, in a joint operation with military personnel, also destroyed a cannabis farm located at Ebora Camp, Ilushi Forest, in Esan South-East Local Government Area of the state, as well as carried out several intelligence-led raids across identified drug hotspots, and reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to curb illicit drug trafficking.
Ofoyeju vowed that “We will remain resolute in our mission to combat drug-related crime and ensure a healthier, drug-free environment for the citizens of Edo State”.
A breakdown of the seizures showed that the agency recovered a total of 6,439.4 kilogrammes of drugs, made up largely of cannabis.
Of this figure, 6,438.31 kilogrammes were cannabis, including the 4,063.87 kilogrammes destroyed on a cannabis farm, and 2,374.46 kilogrammes seized during raid operations.
Other drugs seized included 0.7957 kilogramme of psychotropic substances, 0.0264 kilogramme of methamphetamine, 0.011 kilogramme of cocaine, 0.013 kilogramme of heroin, as well as 3.5 litres of codeine-based syrup.
The eradication exercise covered a cannabis farm measuring 1.625547 hectares at Ebora Camp, Ilushi Forest, with an estimated yield of about 4,063.87 kilogrammes, dealing a significant blow to local cannabis cultivation networks.
In further efforts to disrupt drug trafficking activities, the command impounded a light green Toyota Yaris with registration number USL 123HK during routine operations at the notorious Ihama Road, GRA, Benin.
On prosecution, the command said it secured seven convictions in January, while seven new cases were charged to court.
According to the command,105 cases are currently pending before the Federal High Court in Benin.
Commander Ofoyeju also disclosed that the command intensified its drug demand reduction efforts, providing counselling services to 16 clients, mostly males, while seven others were undergoing rehabilitation at the state command headquarters.
The NDLEA Commander said four drug abuse sensitisation programmes were conducted during the month as part of sustained efforts to reduce drug abuse in the state.