A crackdown operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has led to the arrest of a 93-year-old man and a medical doctor in separate but related drug trafficking in multiple states.
In Abia State, NDLEA operatives arrested 93-year-old Friday Ahukanna Chigbu at his residence in Umuagbaigba, Amavo Nkwogu village, Osisioma LGA, on April 7, 2026.
According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, a search of the suspect’s home uncovered “7.7 kilograms of skunk”, a strain of cannabis.
Shockingly, the nonagenarian reportedly confessed to only recently venturing into the illicit trade after decades of personal use.
“He claimed he had been smoking skunk since 1959 before turning it into business,” the statement reads.
In a parallel operation, NDLEA uncovered an international drug trafficking network involving a 41-year-old Ivorian national, Gohouri Michael, who was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with 1.49 kilograms of cocaine.
“Michael Gohouri (also known as Anunwa Onyinye Michael) was arrested on Monday 16th February 2026 during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 to Milan, Malpensa via Addis Ababa,” the statement reads.
“Gohouri had arrived Lagos from Milan, Italy on 17th January, 2026 and was shuttling from Lagos to Enugu for three weeks. He later travelled to Kano where he stayed for a week before ingesting the cocaine consignment in his hotel room. He’s expected to be paid 5,000 Euros when he delivers the drugs in Milan.
“Further investigation by NDLEA revealed that Gohouri had a shadowy figure behind the scene, giving him instructions on how to move the cocaine consignment through the airport.
“The hidden figure behind Gohouri was eventually discovered to be Dr. Chudi Daniel Ofomata who was later tracked and traced to his residence at Teachers’ Land estate, Magboro, Obafemi Owode LGA, Ogun state where he was arrested on 27th March 2026 and flown to Kano on Tuesday 7th April.”
The alleged mastermind, Chudi Daniel Ofomata, a 69-year-old medical doctor, was subsequently arrested in Ogun State following intelligence-led tracking.
NDLEA said the operations were part of a wider nationwide clampdown, which also saw multiple arrests and massive seizures across several states.
In Ogun State, three suspects were nabbed with 34 kilograms of skunk, while along the Onitsha-Owerri road, a 26-year-old woman was caught with 56.2 kilograms of the substance.
In Niger State, a couple was arrested after 118 kilograms of skunk were discovered stored in their kitchen, while in Edo State, operatives intercepted two trucks loaded with a staggering 7,245 kilograms of the substance concealed in beer cartons.
