Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested one of Nigeria’s most notorious drug traffickers, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known by the alias “Kanmo-Kanmo,” bringing to an end a 12-year pursuit that began after the brutal killing of three of the agency’s officers during a violent confrontation in 2014. The arrest, carried out in Ogun State, represents a major victory for Nigeria’s anti-narcotics enforcement efforts and underscores authorities’ determination to ensure that fugitives cannot evade justice indefinitely.
Jimoh had been on the agency’s most-wanted list since June 15, 2014, when he allegedly mobilised armed thugs to ambush NDLEA operatives who had gone to apprehend him at his enclave. The assault resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two colleagues, in what was then one of the most heinous attacks on anti-narcotics personnel in the country’s recent history. Jimoh managed to escape amid the chaos, sparking a relentless and long-running manhunt that lasted more than a decade.
The breakthrough came on Friday, January 16, 2026, when NDLEA tactical units, acting on credible intelligence, tracked Jimoh to a hideout in Owode town, Ogun State. The operation, described by agency officials as “intelligence-led and carefully coordinated,” culminated in his apprehension after years of sustained effort by anti-narcotics operatives.
At the site of Jimoh’s arrest, NDLEA officers recovered 69 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis often associated with large-scale drug distribution networks. The cache of illicit drugs found in his possession not only bolstered charges against him but also provided investigators with fresh evidence of his deep involvement in trafficked narcotics operations.
In their official statement, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi described the arrest as a “significant breakthrough” in the agency’s ongoing fight against drug trafficking and organised crime, emphasising that no fugitive, regardless of how long they evade capture, will be allowed to remain beyond the reach of the law. He highlighted Jimoh’s decades-long record of violence, criminal association, and defiance of law enforcement as factors that made his capture both challenging and essential to broader anti-drug efforts.
The agency’s chairman and chief executive, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), echoed this sentiment, framing the arrest as a “triumph of justice and a testament to the agency’s long memory.” He noted that the capture of Jimoh closes a painful chapter that began in 2014 with the death of the three officers whose sacrifice has resonated deeply within the NDLEA and the wider law enforcement community. Marwa’s comments reiterated the message that persistence in the rule of law can yield results even after prolonged periods of concealment by fugitives.
The history of Jimoh’s criminal enterprise dates well beyond the 2014 killings. In a subsequent encounter in August 2023, NDLEA operatives raided his residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State, uncovering a large cache of 1,922 kilograms of skunk stored in 139 sacks intended for distribution. Though Jimoh again managed to evade arrest during that operation, the property was seized and later forfeited to the Federal Government following legal proceedings.
Law enforcement analysts say Jimoh’s arrest will have ripple effects across drug trafficking networks in the region. By removing a high-profile figure long associated with violent resistance to arrest and extensive narcotics distribution, the NDLEA’s action is expected to disrupt local supply chains and dissuade other traffickers from employing similar tactics.
While Jimoh awaits formal charges and prosecution, authorities are also reviewing other leads that may link him to broader criminal networks or additional offences beyond the murders and drug trafficking. The NDLEA has pledged to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure comprehensive legal action and further arrests where evidence points to additional accomplices or facilitators.
The capture comes amid an intensified nationwide campaign by the NDLEA to crack down on drug trafficking and related crimes, with simultaneous operations yielding multiple arrests and seizures of illegal substances in states including Edo, Lagos, Oyo, Kwara, Jigawa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These efforts reflect an expanding enforcement strategy that blends targeted raids, intelligence gathering, and community engagement to combat the pervasive influence of narcotics markets.
Despite these successes, Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenges posed by drug trafficking networks that operate across state borders and link into broader regional and international markets. Experts emphasise the need for persistent vigilance, improved intelligence sharing, and robust judicial action to dismantle such organisations and reduce drug-related crime sustainably.
The arrest of Lekan Jimoh — a fugitive for 12 years and a central figure in one of the most violent attacks on NDLEA officers — marks a high point in Nigeria’s enforcement narrative, illustrating both the difficulties of combating entrenched criminal networks and the potential for justice when persistence and coordinated action prevail.
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