12 Years After, NDLEA Arrests Drug Kingpin Wanted For Murder Of 3 Personnel

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a long-wanted drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-kanmo”, ending a 12-year manhunt following his involvement in the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers.

He was on Friday, January 16, 2026, tracked to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State, by tactical teams of the NDLEA following credible intelligence.

During the operation, Kanmo-Kanmo, who is notorious for drug trafficking, evading arrest and mobiliaing armed thugs against security agents, was found in possession of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the agency’s commitment to ensuring that no fugitive, regardless of how long they evade justice, remains beyond the reach of the law.

​According to him, “Lekan Jimoh’s criminal history is marked by extreme violence and lawlessness. As a result, he had on June 15, 2014 orchestrated a barbaric mob action against a team of NDLEA officers who had attempted to arrest him at his enclave. The attack resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others, who were killed by armed thugs mobilized by Jimoh.

“While the suspect managed to escape the scene that day, the agency remained resolute in its pursuit of justice for the fallen heroes.
​In another encounter with Jimoh on August 12, 2023, when NDLEA operatives stormed his residence in Ado-Odo town, Ogun state, he managed to escape while operatives succeeded in recovering 139 sacks of skunk with a total weight of 1,922 kilograms. Following assets forfeiture proceedings instituted in court by the agency, the house in Ado-Odo, which served as a warehouse for his illicit drug trade, has since been finally forfeited to the Federal Government.”

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives in Edo State on Tuesday, January 13, raided the Arokpa forest, Uzebba town, Owan West LGA, leading to the arrest of another drug lord, Isihor Edika, 53, and seizure of 320kg skunk and seeds. In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, operatives on Friday, January 16, tracked and arrested a 44-year-old lady Yinka Agboola following intelligence on her online sale of illicit substances.

At the time of her arrest, 2.2kg skunk and litres of cannabis oil which she produces in her kitchen and sells through online advertisement were recovered from her home at the Kaura district, Abuja.

Another suspect, Tordue Pius Richard, 30, was on Tuesday, January 13, arrested with 148.3 grams of cocaine and skunk at his 12 Biskira street, Abacha Estate, Abuja home.