• Kanmo-Kanmo arrest ends 12-year manhunt over murder of three NDLEA officers

• NDLEA drug crackdown uncovers 69kg skunk during Ogun operation

• Nationwide NDLEA raids yield massive seizures across Lagos, Abuja, Edo, Oyo, others

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, widely known as Kanmo-Kanmo, bringing to an end a 12-year manhunt linked to the killing of three NDLEA officers.

NDLEA operatives apprehended Jimoh on Friday after tracking him to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State, following sustained intelligence and surveillance operations by tactical teams of the agency.

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The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, who said the suspect was found in possession of 69 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.

According to the agency, Jimoh had built a reputation for drug trafficking, violently resisting arrest, and mobilising armed thugs against law enforcement officers. His criminal record dates back to June 15, 2014, when he allegedly orchestrated a deadly mob attack on NDLEA operatives attempting to arrest him.

That attack resulted in the killing of three officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure, while Jimoh escaped from the scene. The agency, however, maintained its pursuit of justice over the years.

In another operation on August 12, 2023, NDLEA officers raided his residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State, recovering 139 sacks of skunk weighing 1,922 kilograms, though the suspect again evaded arrest. The property, used as a warehouse for illicit drugs, was later forfeited to the Federal Government following court proceedings.

Meanwhile, NDLEA recorded multiple arrests and seizures nationwide in the past week. In Edo State, operatives raided Arokpa forest in Uzebba, arresting Isihor Edika, 53, and recovering 320kg of skunk and cannabis seeds.

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In the Federal Capital Territory, a 44-year-old woman, Yinka Agboola, was arrested for selling drugs online, with 2.2kg of skunk and cannabis oil recovered from her residence in Kaura district. Another suspect, Tordue Pius Richard, was also arrested in Abuja with cocaine and skunk.

Large quantities of skunk were seized in Lagos and Enugu States, while NDLEA operatives intercepted massive consignments of tramadol, codeine syrup, diazepam, molly and other controlled substances in Delta, Oyo, Kwara, Jigawa and Apapa Port, Lagos.

Commending the various NDLEA commands involved in the operations, the agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the arrest of Kanmo-Kanmo as a triumph of justice.

He said the development sends a strong message that no fugitive or drug baron can permanently escape the long reach and memory of the NDLEA.