Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a long-wanted drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-Kanmo,” 12 years after his alleged role in the killing of three NDLEA officers.
Jimoh was apprehended on Friday, January 16, 2026, in Owode, Ogun State, following an intelligence-led operation by tactical teams of the agency. A search of his hideout led to the recovery of 69 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.
In a statement on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said Jimoh had been on the agency’s wanted list since June 15, 2014, when he allegedly mobilised armed thugs to attack NDLEA officers who were attempting to arrest him. Three officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure, were killed during the attack, while Jimoh escaped.
Babafemi described the arrest as a major breakthrough, stressing that the agency remained committed to ensuring that fugitives do not escape justice, no matter how long it takes.
He recalled that in August 2023, NDLEA operatives raided Jimoh’s residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State, recovering 139 sacks of skunk weighing over 1.9 tonnes. Jimoh evaded arrest at the time, but the property, used as a drug warehouse, was later forfeited to the Federal Government by court order.
The agency also recorded multiple arrests and seizures across the country in separate operations. In Edo State, a suspect was arrested in a forest camp with 320 kilograms of skunk. In Abuja, a woman allegedly involved in the online sale of illicit drugs was arrested, with skunk and cannabis oil recovered from her home. Other seizures were made in Lagos, Enugu, Delta, Oyo, Kwara and Jigawa states, involving large quantities of cannabis, tramadol, codeine syrup, cocaine and other illicit substances.
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Commending NDLEA officers nationwide, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), described Jimoh’s arrest as a triumph of justice and a strong message to drug traffickers and fugitives.
He said the arrest closes a painful chapter that began in 2014 and reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug networks and bring those responsible for attacks on law enforcement to justice.
