A notorious drug trafficking kingpin who had been on the run for more than a decade has been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of three operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The suspect, whose name was withheld for operational reasons, was tracked and apprehended following months of intelligence-led operations across multiple states, bringing to an end a 12-year manhunt linked to one of the deadliest attacks on anti-narcotics officers in Nigeria’s recent history.
According to the NDLEA, the suspect allegedly masterminded the ambush of its officers during a raid on a major drug warehouse in 2013, where the operatives were shot and killed while attempting to dismantle a large narcotics distribution network.
The killings sparked national outrage and forced the agency to intensify its crackdown on violent drug syndicates operating across the country.
NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the arrest marked a major breakthrough in the agency’s fight against organised drug crime and attacks on law enforcement personnel.
“This arrest sends a strong message that no criminal, no matter how powerful or how long they evade justice, is beyond the reach of the law,” Babafemi said.
“The suspect will be made to face the full weight of the law for his role in the killing of our officers and other drug-related crimes.”
Security sources disclosed that the suspect had been living under multiple aliases and moving between states and neighbouring countries to evade arrest, while allegedly continuing to coordinate narcotics trafficking through trusted associates.
Items recovered during the operation include mobile devices, travel documents bearing different identities and records believed to be linked to large-scale drug distribution, officials said.
The NDLEA confirmed that the suspect has been transferred to its headquarters in Abuja for further investigation and prosecution, adding that efforts were ongoing to track and arrest other members of the syndicate.
The agency reiterated its commitment to bringing justice to families of fallen officers and dismantling drug networks that fuel violence, addiction and insecurity across the country.
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