NDLEA says centenarian allegedly sold cannabis in small quantities; daughter linked to supply also arrested
A 101-year-old woman, identified as Esther Ogunmabo, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly selling cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State.
The centenarian was reportedly arrested on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with 90 grammes of skunk, a potent form of cannabis, which had allegedly been packaged in small quantities for distribution.
According to the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, Ogunmabo admitted during questioning that she had been selling the illicit substance to members of the community.
Babafemi said the elderly woman told investigators that she ventured into the illicit trade after a fire destroyed her provisions store, leaving her without her previous source of livelihood.
The NDLEA spokesman further alleged that Ogunmabo identified one of her daughters, who resides in Lagos, as the person supplying her with the cannabis.
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“She said one of her daughters, who resides in Lagos, arranges the supply of the substance to her every four days, which she in turn sold in bits,” Babafemi said.
Following the revelation, the daughter allegedly linked to the supply of the cannabis was also arrested by the agency.
The arrest was disclosed as part of the NDLEA’s latest nationwide operations targeting the cultivation, trafficking, distribution and sale of illicit drugs.
Marwa Orders Bail, Counselling for Centenarian
Following the arrest, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), directed that the 101-year-old suspect be granted bail and referred for counselling, taking into consideration her advanced age.
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The development has drawn attention not only to the NDLEA’s ongoing crackdown on illicit drugs but also to the unusual circumstances surrounding the arrest of a woman who is more than a century old.
The agency said its recent operations also resulted in other drug interceptions and arrests at various locations across the country, including Nigeria’s land and maritime borders.
The NDLEA has continued to intensify its campaign against the cultivation, trafficking, distribution and sale of illicit drugs, warning individuals and criminal networks involved in the trade that its enforcement operations will continue across the country.
For Ogunmabo, however, the case has taken an unusual turn, with the NDLEA opting for bail and counselling rather than continued detention, given her age.
The agency’s account of the incident also places renewed attention on the role of family and community networks in the distribution of illicit drugs, particularly where vulnerable individuals may become involved in the trade.
