Headlines
After 12 Years on the Run, NDLEA Arrests Lekan Jimoh Over Killing of Officers
12 years after his alleged involvement in the killing of three NDLEA officers, Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a long-wanted drug kingpin, Lekan Jimoh, also known as “Kanmo-Kanmo,” on Friday, January 16, 2026, in Owode town, Ogun State, following intelligence-led operations by tactical teams of the agency.
In a statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi said the suspect has been on the NDLEA wanted list since June 15, 2014, when he allegedly mobilised armed thugs to attack NDLEA officers who attempted to arrest him at his enclave.
He said, “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 on Friday, 16th January 202,6 tracked to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State by tactical teams of the agency following credible intelligence. During the clinical operation, the suspect was found in possession of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.
“The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the agency’s commitment to ensuring that no fugitive, regardless of how long they evade justice, remains beyond the reach of the law.
“Lekan Jimoh’s criminal history is marked by extreme violence and lawlessness. As a result, he had on 15th June 2014 orchestrated a barbaric mob action against a team of NDLEA officers who had attempted to arrest him at his enclave. The attack resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others, who were killed by armed thugs mobilised by Jimoh. While the suspect managed to escape the scene that day, the agency remained resolute in its pursuit of justice for the fallen heroes.”
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), while commending the officers said
described the arrest of Kanmo-kanmo as a triumph of justice and a testament to the Agency’s long memory, adding that the arrest sends a clear and unambiguous message to all drug barons and fugitives.
“You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you.
“The arrest of Lekan Jimoh is particularly significant because it closes a painful chapter that began on June 15, 2014. For twelve years, this individual lived with the blood of our gallant officers, Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others, on his hands. He mistakenly thought that time had erased his crimes,” he added.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has continued to intensify nationwide operations against drug trafficking networks, with a focus on apprehending long-wanted suspects and disrupting supply chains.
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