NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor for Cross-Border Drug Trafficking
…Seizes 3,476kg of cannabis, over 645,000 opioid pills in nationwide raids
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, over his alleged role in multiple cross-border drug trafficking operations.
Olasele, who had reportedly fled to Ghana to evade arrest, was apprehended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church in Okun Ajah, Lekki, Lagos. NDLEA operatives reportedly laid siege to the premises throughout the day, arresting him immediately after the evening service.
According to the agency, the pastor had been on the run since June following the seizure of two consignments of “Ghana Loud” — a potent strain of cannabis — linked to him. The first, weighing 200kg, was intercepted at Okun Ajah beach on June 4, while another 700kg was recovered from his delivery van on July 6.
In his statement to investigators, Olasele allegedly confessed to transporting the illicit consignments from Ghana into Nigeria via waterways.
The arrest was part of a series of operations across the country that saw NDLEA recover a total of 3,476kg of cannabis strains — including Colorado, Loud, and Skunk — as well as 645,906 pills of opioids and other controlled substances.
In Lagos, operatives on August 7 raided an apartment at Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, arresting Benjamin Udo Ukoh and seizing 15.63kg of Canadian Loud. In Nasarawa, 3,093kg of skunk was recovered from three suspects — Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny, Okem Raphael, and Chekwube Odo — in New Karu on August 9.
In Kano State, NDLEA officers seized 359kg of skunk from Nura Yahaya, arrested on August 8 in Geza, Kumbotso LGA, while 9kg of Colorado was recovered from Umar Adamu Umar on August 6. That same week, 20,000 tramadol pills and 200 diazepam ampoules were seized from Usman Musa at Gadar Tamburawa.
Gombe State operatives recovered 550,266 opioid pills, mainly tramadol, during an August 8 raid in Tudun Wadan Pantami, arresting Usama Isah. The next day, Ibrahim Adamu, 23, was arrested along Potiskum road, Bajoga, with 50,000 tramadol capsules.
In Edo State, a commercial bus travelling from Onitsha to Isanlu was intercepted at Ewu Junction on August 6, leading to the seizure of 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets, and 400 pentazocine ampoules. The driver, Taiye Jethro, was arrested.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended officers in Lagos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Kano, and Edo for their successful operations. He urged them and their counterparts nationwide to sustain the agency’s balanced approach in the ongoing War Against Drug Abuse (WADA).
