The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has announced the successful conviction of 974 drug offenders across the country during the first quarter of 2026, marking a significant milestone in its intensified campaign against illicit drug trafficking and abuse. The agency disclosed on Friday that the convictions, which were recorded between January and March, included 11 notorious drug kingpins who were handed a combined total of 254 years in prison.
In a statement signed by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency provided a monthly breakdown of the legal successes, noting that 265 convictions were secured in January, followed by 316 in February and 393 in March. Of the total number of individuals convicted, 899 were male while 75 were female, reflecting the agency's broad reach in prosecuting offenders regardless of gender. The convictions were the result of rigorous operations that targeted not only traffickers but also their collaborators and the confiscation of assets linked to the illegal trade.
Among the high profile cases highlighted by the agency was that of an Italy based businessman, Adegbite Solomon, also known as Obama, who was sentenced to a cumulative 130 years in prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos. Solomon was arraigned on a 15 count charge involving drug trafficking, and the court additionally ordered the forfeiture of his pharmacy outlets and various bank accounts. Another major conviction involved Ridwan Animashaun, who bagged 25 years in prison from a Federal High Court in Ibadan, while Rauf Asogba and Seun Olaniyi each received 17 year sentences for trafficking over 1,700 kilograms of cannabis.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the record number of convictions as a testament to the relentless spirit of the agency's officers and the diminishing patience of the Nigerian state toward drug merchants. He warned that the era of untouchable drug lords has come to an end, as the 254 year collective residency of the 11 kingpins in correctional centres serves as a firm reminder that the law will always catch up with those driven by greed to destroy lives.
The agency also successfully prosecuted Jonathan Nuhu and Idris Yusuf, who were sentenced to 15 years each in Kano and Damaturu respectively, while several other offenders across the country received seven year jail terms. Marwa commended the judiciary for its swift handling of the cases and praised his operatives for their commitment to choking the supply lines of drug cartels. He reiterated that the NDLEA would continue to target traffickers across all levels of society, emphasizing that the long arm of the law remains a formidable force against organized crime in Nigeria.
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