ABUJA — In a series of targeted interdiction operations conducted across several states, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have apprehended three individuals living with disabilities (PWDs) for their alleged involvement in the distribution and trafficking of illicit substances. The arrests, which took place in Anambra and Kwara states, have highlighted a disturbing trend where vulnerable populations are either recruited or independently engage in the narcotics trade to evade conventional security profiling.
The Director of Media and Advocacy for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the developments in an official press statement released on Sunday, May 10, 2026. According to the agency, the operations were the result of weeks of meticulous intelligence gathering and a renewed commitment to purging the country of synthetic opioids and cannabis derivatives.
One of the most striking arrests involved a 60-year-old man, identified as Romanus Nwabara. Despite his advanced age and physical challenges, Nwabara was allegedly found to be an active participant in the retail distribution of narcotics in the commercial hub of Onitsha, Anambra State.
Following what the agency described as "credible intelligence," NDLEA operatives traced Nwabara to the Akpaka Forest area of Onitsha on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Upon his apprehension, he was reportedly found in possession of 250 grams of "skunk"—a highly potent strain of cannabis—which had already been carefully packaged into smaller retail sachets for immediate sale to end-users. Akpaka Forest has long been under the radar of security agencies as a potential hideout for criminal elements, and the arrest of a senior citizen in such a location has raised concerns about the depths of the illicit drug network in the region.
The crackdown in Anambra State continued the following day with another significant breakthrough. On Thursday, May 7, 2026, officers of the agency conducted a raid in the Ogbunike area, near the Ogbunike Cave landmark. During this operation, another person with a disability, 25-year-old Amos Kenneth, was taken into custody.
The inventory of substances recovered from Kenneth suggests he was operating as a multi-substance dealer. Operatives seized a sophisticated cocktail of pharmaceutical opioids and cannabis, including 160.3 grams of Tramadol (in both 225mg and 100mg concentrations), 80 pills of Diazepam, 38.23 grams of Exol-5, and a further 176.93 grams of skunk. The combination of these substances is particularly lethal, as the mixture of potent cannabis with high-milligram pharmaceutical sedatives and stimulants is a leading cause of drug-induced psychosis and respiratory failure among Nigerian youth.
The agency’s efforts were not limited to the Southeast. On Friday, May 8, 2026, the Kwara State Command of the NDLEA recorded its own success during a routine highway patrol. Operatives stationed along the Bode Saadu axis—a major transit point on the North-South corridor—intercepted a commercial vehicle for a random search.
During the inspection, the attention of the officers was drawn to a passenger identified as Usman Salisu, who is also a person with a disability. A thorough search of his belongings led to the discovery of 6.3 kilograms of skunk. In an attempt to blend in and avoid suspicion, Salisu had reportedly concealed the large quantity of drugs inside a brown school bag. The significant weight of the seizure in Kwara suggests that Salisu was likely a courier or a mid-level supplier transporting the bulk shipment across state lines.
Reacting to the arrests, Femi Babafemi emphasized that while the agency remains empathetic toward the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, the law does not provide immunity for criminal activities. He noted that the NDLEA is increasingly seeing cases where drug cartels attempt to use PWDs as "shields," operating under the assumption that law enforcement officers might be less likely to subject them to rigorous searches or suspicion at checkpoints.
"The NDLEA remains vigilant. Our officers are trained to look beyond physical appearances and focus on behavioral patterns and intelligence," Babafemi stated. He added that the agency's Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), has consistently urged operatives to maintain a high level of professionalism while ensuring that no person, regardless of their social or physical status, is allowed to compromise the health and security of the nation through the drug trade.
The agency further revealed that all three suspects are currently in custody and are undergoing interrogation to determine the sources of their supplies and the identities of their larger networks. They are expected to be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
These arrests come at a time when the NDLEA has intensified its "War Against Drug Abuse" (WADA) campaign, targeting both high-level traffickers and localized retail "joints." The inclusion of PWDs in recent arrest logs serves as a grim reminder of the pervasive nature of the drug epidemic in Nigeria, which spares no demographic.
Social commentators and disability rights advocates have also weighed in on the development, urging the government to provide more robust social safety nets for PWDs to prevent them from falling victim to the lures of organized crime. However, the NDLEA maintains that the fight against narcotics is a matter of national survival, and the agency will continue its offensive against all elements involved in the illicit trade.
As of Sunday afternoon, the agency confirmed that more raids are being planned across the country to dismantle the remaining distribution hubs uncovered during the questioning of Nwabara, Kenneth, and Salisu.
