Nigeria’s Drug Agency Arrests Notorious Drug Kingpin 12 Years After Killing of Three Officers

Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a long-wanted 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.

Jimoh was apprehended on Friday, 16 January 2026, in Owode town, Ogun State, following what the agency described as a targeted operation based on credible intelligence. Tactical NDLEA teams tracked him to his hideout, where he was found in possession of 69 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.

The arrest marks a major breakthrough for the NDLEA, underscoring its determination to ensure that fugitives remain accountable, regardless of how long they evade justice.

Jimoh’s criminal record is associated with violent resistance to law enforcement. On 15 June 2014, he allegedly orchestrated a mob attack against NDLEA officers who attempted to arrest him at his base in Ado-Odo, Ogun State. The assault resulted in the deaths of three officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure. Jimoh escaped at the time, but authorities say the agency remained committed to securing justice for the slain officers.

A property in Ado-Odo used as a warehouse for his illicit drug operations has since been forfeited to the Federal Government.

NDLEA officials described the arrest as the closure of a painful chapter that began in 2014, reaffirming the agency’s resolve to pursue those responsible for attacks on law enforcement personnel.

In separate operations across the country, the NDLEA also arrested another suspected drug trafficker, Isihor Edika, who was found with 320 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds, along with several other suspects linked to the possession and distribution of illicit drugs.

The agency reiterated its commitment to combating drug trafficking and substance abuse nationwide.