NDLEA nabs wanted drug baron intercepts N7.8bn opioids in Rivers

Three years after being declared wanted for alleged drug trafficking, 36-year-old Sunday Ibigide has finally been caught by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Asaba, Delta State.

He was arrested while allegedly attempting to transport 250 blocks of skunk weighing 138 kilograms in his distribution vehicle.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, Ibigide had been on the run since March 19, 2022, when he was linked to the seizure of 24.137kg of the same psychoactive substance and 10 grams of molly.

“However, following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives in Delta state were able to arrest him along with one of his aides Clement Osuya, 27, while they were trying to move the 250 parcels of skunk for distribution on Sunday 10th August 2025,” the agency said.

The agency also said it carried out multiple raids across the country. In Enugu Ezike, Enugu State, NDLEA officers backed by the military and local vigilantes stormed three cannabis farms on August 14 and 15, destroying 37,500kg of skunk cultivated on 15 hectares. Six suspects — Ugwuanyi Chinaso, 23; James Negedu, 26; Sopuruchukwu Obido, 22; Ebuka Onu, 30; Ukwueze Sunday, 42; and Oguche Friday — were arrested, with 74.5kg recovered for prosecution.

Elsewhere in Enugu, officers on patrol along Nsukka Road on August 16 seized 20,700 pills of tramadol and cocodamol from a 53-year-old suspect, Emmanuel Ayogu, while two others, Nsubechukwu Achidde, 24, and Osiaja Simple Frank, 41, were reportedly caught with 27.6kg of skunk the same day at New Market.

In Lagos, NDLEA said its operatives arrested 52-year-old Muyibat Mumuni and her son, Faruk Mumuni, 25, at Ladega Street, Mushin, on August 13 for allegedly storing and distributing 298 blocks of Ghana Loud cannabis weighing 149kg. Another man, Emmanuel Samuel, was arrested in Ajah on August 15, with 8.5kg of Canadian Loud recovered from his apartment.

Not less than 128,000 capsules of tramadol were recovered from a suspect Sani Mohammed,32, who was arrested by NDLEA officers at Jauro Jatau, Gombe, Gombe state on Monday 11th August, while a total of 337, 800 capsules of the same pharmaceutical opioid were seized by operatives on patrol along Okene-Lokoja highway, Kogi state from the driver of a commercial bus, Sulaiman Oyedokun, 47, coming from Onitsha, Anambra state and heading to Kotangora, Niger state.

“While a total of 11, 250kg skunk was destroyed on 4.5 hectares of farmland on Tuesday 12th August when NDLEA operatives assisted by Sardauna Emirate Council and the Nigeria Forest Hunters Security Service raided the Tanmiya forest in Sardauna LGA, Taraba state, 29, 840 capsules of tramadol were seized from a suspect Saleh Babangida, 20, at a check point in Wukari area of the state on Saturday 16th August.

“In Kaduna, two suspects: Mohammed Amdife, 46, and Sulaiman Mohammed, 22, were arrested in connection with the seizure of 22, 640 pills of tramadol and rohypnol at Gwargwaje check point, Zaria and Tudun Wada area of the state. Two other suspects: Caroline David, 51, and Abdulhadi Umar, 30, were nabbed over the seizure of 111.1kg skunk intercepted along Zaria – Kano road.

“At the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers state, a total of 875,000 bottles of codeine based syrup worth over N6.1billion in street value and 3, 500,000 pills of trodol benzhexol valued at N1.7billion were recovered from five containers under NDLEA intelligence tracking and watch-list during joint examination with Customs Service and other security agencies on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th August at the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) of the Onne port.

“In Edo, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 13th August recovered 24 bags of skunk weighing 432kg in a bush along Warake-Auchi road in Etsako West LGA, while 130kg of same substance was seized at a warehouse in Sobe, Owan West LGA the following day.

“A suspect Tahiru Madu Manga, 25, was nabbed by NDLEA officers along Zaria-Kano road, with 16kg skunk and another suspect Ibrahim Audu, 47, arrested with 76kg of the same psychoactive substance at Gadar Tamburawa along  Zaria-Kano road, Kano state on Wednesday 13th August.

“No fewer than 4, 320 ampoules of ketamine injection were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Lagos highway on Monday 11th August with a suspect Akeem Adegun arrested,” the statement added.