Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency has apprehended a notorious drug baron who had been on the run for over a decade following the brutal murder of three law enforcement officers.
Lekan Jimoh, known by the alias “Kanmo-Kanmo,” was arrested on Friday in the town of Owode, Ogun State. His capture ends a 12-year manhunt that began in June 2014, when he allegedly orchestrated a mob attack against a team from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The 2014 ambush resulted in the “cold-blooded” killing of three officers, including Rabiu Kazaure. At the time of his arrest this week, tactical teams reportedly found Jimoh in possession of 69kg of “skunk”—a potent, high-THC strain of cannabis.
‘You can run, but you cannot hide’
The Chairman of the NDLEA, retired Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, described the arrest as a “triumph of justice” and a closure to a painful chapter in the agency’s history.
“He mistakenly thought that time had erased his crimes,” General Marwa said in a statement on Sunday. “The arrest sends a clear message to all drug barons and fugitives: the long arm of the law will eventually find you.”
This was not the first time the agency had come close to catching Jimoh. In 2023, operatives raided his warehouse in Ado-Odo, recovering nearly two tonnes of cannabis, but the suspect managed to vanish before he could be handcuffed. That property has since been forfeited to the Nigerian government.
A nationwide crackdown
The arrest of Jimoh was the highlight of a massive, week-long sweep across Nigeria that has seen several significant busts:
- The ‘Kitchen’ Chemist: In the capital, Abuja, a 44-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly running an online drug business. Operatives found her producing cannabis oil in her kitchen for digital sale.
- The Forest Raid: In Edo State, a 53-year-old man was arrested following a raid on a forest hideout, where 320kg of illicit substances were seized.
- The Highway Interception: Along the busy Onitsha–Asaba Expressway, two men were caught transporting over 400,000 pills of the synthetic opioid Tramadol and other restricted sedatives.
Context: Nigeria’s struggle with ‘Skunk’
The frequent mention of “skunk” in these raids highlights a growing challenge for Nigerian authorities. Unlike traditional locally grown cannabis, “skunk” and “Colorado” (a synthetic variant) are more powerful and often more profitable for cartels.
The NDLEA has significantly intensified its operations over the past three years, shifting from simple street-level arrests to targeting the “barons” who command armed gangs and manage large-scale distribution networks.
For the families of the officers killed in 2014, this arrest marks the beginning of a legal process they have awaited for over a decade. Jimoh is expected to face charges not only for drug trafficking but also for the murder of the three officers.
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