he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it secured 974 convictions for drug-related offences across Nigeria between January and March 2026.
The NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the agency’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi.
Marwa said that among those convicted were 11 major drug kingpins who received a combined jail term of 254 years.
He said of the total number of convicted offenders, 899 were males while 75 were females.
A breakdown of the convictions showed that 265 were recorded in January, 316 in February and 393 in March.
According to him, one of the high-profile cases involved a 42-year-old businessman, Adegbite Solomon, also known as “Obama”, who was sentenced to a cumulative 130 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Lagos on March 18.
Marwa said the court also ordered the revocation of the convict’s pharmacy licence and the forfeiture of his assets, including two pharmacy outlets and funds in three bank accounts.
He further said that another convict, Ridwan Animashaun, 32, was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Ibadan on Feb. 26 for drug trafficking.
Animashaun, he noted, had previously been convicted for a similar offence in 2022.
The NDLEA boss also listed Rauf Asogba, 28, and Seun Olaniyi, 24, who were sentenced to 17 years imprisonment each by a Federal High Court in Abeokuta for trafficking 1,779 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Similarly, Jonathan Nuhu, 54, and Idris Yusuf, 40, were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each by courts in Kano and Yobe states respectively, with Yusuf receiving an additional eight-year sentence in a separate case.
Marwa added that several other offenders were handed seven-year jail terms for drug trafficking offences in different parts of the country.
He described the convictions as a significant milestone in the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
“Securing 974 convictions in just three months is a testament to the commitment of our officers and the resolve of the Nigerian state to tackle drug-related crimes,” he said.
Marwa commended the judiciary for the speedy trial of cases, noting that swift justice remained a strong deterrent against drug trafficking.
He also urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue to support the agency with credible information to combat drug-related crime
