Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A suspected drug baron who turned a shrine into a cannabis warehouse is now on the run, after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) recovered 489 kilogrammes of skunk and nine kilogrammes of cannabis seeds concealed inside a sacred location in Igwe Community, Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Edo State Commander of the NDLEA, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the development in a statement released on Thursday, 28 May 2026. According to the commander, the raid was carried out on 22 May 2026, following credible intelligence that members of a drug syndicate were using the shrine to store large consignments of illicit substances.
“The operation led to the recovery of 59 bags of skunk cannabis weighing 489 kilograms, as well as nine kilograms of cannabis seeds,” Ofoyeju said.
The exhibits, he added, were abandoned by the prime suspect, a notorious drug baron identified simply as Asrenre, who remains at large.
“I can tell you that a suspected drug baron has reportedly abandoned 498kg of dried weeds that tested positive for skunk cannabis inside a shrine in Edo State,” Ofoyeju stated.
The commander explained that some youths in the community initially resisted the operation, insisting that the location was the sacred home of their deities. “Some youths of the community claimed that the location was the sacred home of their deities, but our officers insisted on conducting the search, only to discover the bags of cannabis,” he said.
Despite the resistance, the NDLEA team pressed ahead. Ofoyeju noted that the NDLEA Act empowers the agency to search any location where narcotics are suspected to be concealed, and that the officers acted within their legal mandate.
In two separate but related operations within the same community, NDLEA operatives arrested two suspects.
First, a 50‑year‑old man, Sunday Oghaimen, was apprehended in possession of 945 grammes of cannabis and 19 grammes of Tramadol.
A second suspect, 33‑year‑old Esther Igbafe, was also arrested. According to the agency, Igbafe was found in unlawful possession of 874 grammes of cannabis, 19 grammes of Tramadol and three grammes of Swinol – a powerful synthetic opioid.
All suspects have been taken into custody, and the recovered exhibits have been properly documented and secured, Ofoyeju said.
A manhunt has been launched for the fleeing drug baron, Asrenre, and the agency has begun a full‑scale investigation to unravel the source of the drugs and dismantle the criminal network linked to the syndicate.
“We are working to track all links to the fleeing drug baron, Asrenre, and ensure he is brought to justice,” Ofoyeju added.
The commander reaffirmed the agency’s determination to rid Edo State of illicit drugs, regardless of where traffickers try to hide their wares.
“The NDLEA remains resolute in its commitment to rid Edo State of illicit drugs. Together, we can protect our communities from the scourge of drug trafficking and abuse,” he said.
The discovery marks one of the largest seizures of cannabis in Edo State this year, and it underscores the growing trend of drug syndicates using unconventional locations – including religious and cultural sites – to store illegal merchandise.
Ofoyeju vowed that the agency would continue to stay ahead of drug criminals through superior intelligence and strict compliance with its standard operating procedures.
“The NDLEA Act empowers us to search anywhere narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are believed to have been concealed. We will continue to stay ahead of drug criminals through superior intelligence and compliance with standard operating procedures,” he stated.
The operation drew mixed reactions from members of the Igwe Community. While some residents expressed shock that a shrine – a place traditionally associated with cleansing rituals and spiritual devotion – had been turned into a drug depot, others commended the NDLEA for its vigilance.
Human rights and community leaders have, however, urged the agency to balance its enforcement actions with cultural sensitivity, while also calling on religious and traditional institutions to help prevent the desecration of sacred sites by criminal networks.
The NDLEA has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking in Edo State in recent months. Earlier in May 2026, the agency arrested 10 suspects in connection with the seizure of 4,870.2 kilogrammes of cannabis in various parts of the state.
Meanwhile, a 2024 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that Nigeria accounted for over 14 per cent of cannabis seized in West Africa, with Edo and Ondo states identified as major production and transit hubs.
The seizure inside the Igwe Community shrine is expected to disrupt a significant supply chain that feeds into the illicit drug market in Edo and neighbouring states.
As of Friday, 29 May 2026, the manhunt for Asrenre continues, and the NDLEA has asked members of the public to assist with any information that could lead to his arrest.
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