The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday disclosed that it confiscated illicit drugs valued at N1.8 billion within the first quarter of the year.
The state commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, made this known while presenting the agency’s first-quarter operational report in Benin City. He revealed that a total of 18,380 kilogrammes of drugs were recovered from 104 suspected traffickers.
Ofoyeju explained that those arrested during intelligence-driven raids included 71 males and 33 females. He added that the seized drugs comprised 5,825kg recovered, while 12,556kg of cannabis were destroyed across 10 farms covering about 5.02260 hectares.
Providing a breakdown, he said the drugs included 18,293kg of cannabis, 6.01kg of psychotropic substances, 0.1888kg of methamphetamine, 0.023kg of cocaine, 0.0151kg of heroin, and 81.4 litres of codeine cough syrup.
He said, “The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has apprehended 104 suspected drug traffickers with 18,380 kilograms of narcotics estimated to cost N1.8 billion.”
The commander further disclosed that the agency secured 36 convictions at the Federal High Court in Benin City, involving 32 males and four females.
He noted that the command also stepped up anti-drug campaigns, organising 26 awareness programmes to educate the public on the dangers of drug abuse and trafficking. Additionally, 28 individuals battling drug dependence were rehabilitated, while 66 others received counselling and were reunited with their families.
Ofoyeju stated that, in line with the recognition culture introduced by NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, the command honoured 10 officers, four journalists, and one legal aid lawyer for their exceptional contributions to the fight against drug abuse.
According to him, the awards were designed to motivate personnel and strengthen partnerships critical to the agency’s success.
Among the awardees were DCN Timothy Nku, named Best Area Commander; DCN Hope Aigbogun, Best WADA Facilitator; and ACN Ella Ordiah, who received the Best Prosecutor award. CSN Habibu Dauda was recognised as Most Productive Officer, while ASNI Omakor Isioma Uyoyomaro was named Most Resourceful Officer, and ASNI Omotosho Abass received the Best Investigating Officer award.
Other honourees included ASNII Abdulazeez Oboh Azeko as Most Dedicated Officer; ASNII James Magani as Most Diligent Officer; CNA Emuakpor Obada as Most Disciplined Officer; and NASSI Paul Umoh as Best-Dressed Officer.
The command also acknowledged its top media partners for 2025, including Adeyinka Adedipe of The Punch Newspapers, Bello Usman of Daily Trust Newspapers, Nafeesa Bello of the Edo Broadcasting Service, and Usman Aliyu of the News Agency of Nigeria. A legal practitioner, Barrister Mrs Agbako Afamefune of Breakthrough Legal Consults, was equally honoured for her role in supporting defendants who could not afford legal representation.
The event also featured the unveiling of the maiden edition of the NDLEA Edo State Command’s magazine, aimed at documenting its activities, showcasing achievements, and raising awareness about the dangers of illicit drug use.
“Today, we celebrate dedication, resourcefulness, and fruitful collaboration. The award recipients represent the best of our collective resolve to secure a drug-free society. The release of our magazine also marks a new chapter in our public engagement,” Ofoyeju stressed.
