Following a manhunt for three years, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Sunday Ibigide, a 36-year-old infamous drug kingpin.
on Asaba, Delta State, Ibigide was arrested on Sunday, August 10, 2025, as he was trying to transport 250 blocks of 138 kg skunk on his distribution bus.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi recalled that Ibigide arrived on the agency’s radar for the first time on March 19, 2022, when agents connected him to the confiscation of 10 grams of molly and 24.137 kg of skunk.
According to Babafemi, “he went underground after that, but agents in Delta, acting on reliable information, arrested him and his assistant, 27-year-old Clement Osuya, while they were transporting 250 skunk parcels for distribution.”
On August 14–15, NDLEA agents, aided by the military and vigilantes, conducted a concerted assault on three cannabis fields in Enugu Ezike, destroying 37,500 kg of skunk grown on 15 hectares.
In addition to the arrest of six suspects—Ugwuanyi Chinaso (age 23), James Negedu (age 26), Sopuruchukwu Obido (age 22), Ebuka Onu (30), Ukwueze Sunday (age 42), and Oguche Friday—and the recovery of 74.5 kg of skunk for prosecution.
At Nsukka Road in Enugu, another suspect, 53-year-old Emmanuel Ayogu, was found in possession of 20,700 tramadol and cocodamol pills that same week. With 27.6 kg of skunk, two more people were taken into custody at New Market.
Muyibat Mumuni, 52, and her 25-year-old son Faruk were detained in Mushin, Lagos, on August 13 for allegedly distributing and keeping 298 blocks of Ghana Loud (149 kg).
Two days later, in Ajah, Lekki, Emmanuel Samuel was apprehended in possession of 8.5 kg of the powerful cannabis strain Canadian Loud.
Authorities found 128,000 tramadol capsules in Gombe from Sani Mohammed, age 32, and 337,800 capsules from Sulaiman Oyedokun, 47, a commercial driver on the Okene-Lokoja route in Kogi.
On 4.5 hectares of Tanmiya woodland in Taraba, NDLEA teams destroyed 11,250 kg of skunk and detained 20-year-old Saleh Babangida in connection with 29,840 tramadol capsules.
Four suspects were apprehended by the Kaduna police, who also retrieved 11,1.1 kg of skunk and 22,640 tramadol/rohypnol pills in separate operations.
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At Onne Port, 3.5 million pills and 6.1 billion dollars worth of codeine were seized.
3.5 million trodol benzhexol pills (worth ₦1.7 billion) and 875,000 bottles of codeine syrup (worth ₦6.1 billion) were found during the largest raid at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State.
Between August 13 and 14, five containers that were jointly inspected with Customs and other security services at the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) were seized in accordance with the NDLEA’s intelligence watch list.
State-by-State Seizures
130 kilograms of skunk were found in Sobe, while 24 bags weighing 432 kg were found on Warake-Auchi Road in Edo State.
Two suspects, Ibrahim Audu (47), and Tahiru Manga (25), were taken into custody in Kano State with 92 kg of skunk.
Lagos-Badagry Highway: Suspect Akeem Adegun is being held after 4,320 ketamine injection ampoules were found.
PHPC, Gombe, Kogi, Lagos, Edo, Kano, Delta, Taraba, and Seme Command officers were praised for their efforts by Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman of the NDLEA, who also commended the operational team.
The agency’s balanced approach to drug control, which combines enforcement with War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization, should be maintained, he encouraged them.
In addition to traditional leaders like the Shehu of Borno, the Emir of Borgu, and the Emir of Lafia, he mentioned that recent advocacy visits included meetings with former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
By combating this threat on all fronts, we are investing in our nation’s future, Marwa stated.
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