Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a long-wanted drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-Kanmo,” 12 years after his alleged involvement in the killing of three NDLEA officers.
Jimoh was arrested on Friday, January 16, 2026, in Owode town, Ogun State, following intelligence-led operations carried out by tactical teams of the agency.
A search of his hideout led to the recovery of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
In a statement released on Sunday, NDLEA spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said the suspect had been on the agency’s wanted list since June 15, 2014, when he allegedly mobilised armed thugs to attack NDLEA officers who attempted to arrest him at his enclave.
According to Babafemi, the 2014 attack resulted in the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure, while Jimoh escaped and went into hiding.
“Following his involvement in the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers, Kanmo-Kanmo, who is notorious for drug trafficking, evading arrest and mobilising armed thugs against security agents, was tracked to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State based on credible intelligence,” the statement said.
Babafemi added that the arrest represents a major breakthrough in the agency’s resolve to ensure that fugitives do not escape justice, regardless of how long they evade the law.
The NDLEA also recalled that on August 12, 2023, operatives raided Jimoh’s residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State, where 139 sacks of skunk weighing 1,922 kilograms were recovered.
The suspect again evaded arrest at the time, while the property, used as a drug warehouse, was later forfeited to the Federal Government following court proceedings.
Commending the arrest, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), praised officers across Ogun, Lagos, Apapa, Edo, Delta, Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory, Enugu and Kwara states for their coordinated efforts.
Marwa described Jimoh’s arrest as a triumph of justice and a testament to the agency’s long memory, warning drug barons and fugitives that time does not erase crime.
“You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you,” he said, adding that the arrest closes a painful chapter that began with the killing of three NDLEA officers in June 2014.
The NDLEA said it would continue to intensify nationwide operations aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks, apprehending long-wanted suspects and bringing those responsible for attacks on law enforcement officers to justice.