A 101-year-old Nigerian woman has been arrested in Ogun State for allegedly selling cannabis as part of a wider crackdown on drug trafficking across the country.
The woman, identified as Esther Ogunmabo, was taken into custody by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ilisan, Ogun State, after she was allegedly found with 90 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, packaged in small sachets for sale.
According to a statement released by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, "The suspect was caught with 90 grams of skunk packaged in small quantities for sale within her community".
During questioning, Ogunmabo reportedly confessed to operatives that she turned to the illegal trade after a disastrous fire ruined her livelihood.
She explained to investigators that "a fire destroyed my provisions shop, leaving me with no choice but to start this business".
The agency also revealed that her daughter, who resides in Lagos, was the key supplier behind the operation.
Babafemi noted that "one of her daughters arranged for the substance to be supplied to her every four days from Lagos".
The daughter was subsequently tracked down and arrested.
Following the arrest, NDLEA Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa directed that Ogunmabo be treated leniently given her age. Marwa instructed that "the suspect be granted bail and placed on counselling owing to her advanced age".
The arrest was part of a series of nationwide operations targeting drug distribution networks.
In Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas as it was allegedly transporting drugs to fishing settlements in neighbouring Cameroon.
Babafemi stated that "officers intercepted the vessel on the high seas and recovered a total of 42.6kg of narcotics from three suspects aboard."
Commending the officers involved, Marwa urged personnel across the country to sustain the momentum.
"Our officers must maintain the pressure against both local distribution networks and international trafficking routes to keep our communities safe," he stated.