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, for allegedly coordinating multiple drug shipments into Nigeria.
The cleric, who reportedly fled abroad to evade arrest, was picked up on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church along Okun Ajah, Ogombo Road, Lekki, Lagos. NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said operatives waited until the end of the Sunday service before making the arrest.
According to Babafemi, the suspect had been declared wanted since June after two major seizures of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, were traced to him.
The first consignment, weighing 200kg, was seized at Okun Ajah beach on June 4. Another 700kg was intercepted from his delivery van on July 6. He was said to have confessed to smuggling the drugs via waterways from Ghana into Nigeria and fleeing to Ghana after narrowly escaping arrest on two occasions.
Other Arrests and Seizures
In Lagos State, NDLEA operatives on August 7 raided an apartment at Kishi House, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, where they arrested one Benjamin Udo Ukoh and recovered 32 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 15.63kg.
In Nasarawa State, 3,093kg of skunk was seized on August 9 from three suspects — Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny (51), Okem Raphael (33), and Chekwube Odo (25) — at New Karu.
In Kano State, on August 8, operatives seized 639 blocks of skunk weighing 359kg from Nura Yahaya (29) in Geza, Kumbotso LGA. On August 6, Umar Adamu Umar (27) was caught with 9kg of Colorado cannabis along the Zaria–Kano road, while on August 8, Usman Musa (30) was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa with 20,000 tramadol pills and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection.
In Gombe State, an NDLEA raid on an uncompleted building at Tudun Wada, Pantami, on August 8, led to the recovery of 550,266 opioid pills, mainly tramadol. One suspect, Usama Isah, was arrested. A day later, Ibrahim Adamu (23) was caught along Potiskum Road, Bajoga, with 50,000 tramadol capsules.
In Edo State, on August 6, operatives intercepted a white Toyota Hiace bus (plate number YAB 5522 K) traveling from Onitsha to Isanlu at Ewu Junction. A search uncovered 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets, and 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection. One suspect, Taiye Jethro, was taken into custody.
Intensified WADA Campaign
Within the week under review, NDLEA commands across the country stepped up the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitisation programmes in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities.
Activities included lectures at Mind City College, Saki, Oyo State; Gwagwarwa Primary School, Nasarawa LGA, Kano State; engagement with Nigerian Army officers of 241 Recce Model Battalion, Nguru, Yobe State; visits to the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ado Ekiti, and the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly; and advocacy to the Engine Grinders Association, Gboko, Benue State.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the Lagos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Kano, and Edo Commands for their operations. He urged officers nationwide to sustain the tempo and maintain a balanced strategy in the agency’s fight against drug trafficking and abuse.
