NDLEA arrests notorious Lekki shrine chief priest after 3-month manhunt over 2,760kg skunk recovery

Stanley Ihedigbo

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Bariu Aliu, alias Malo, the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine at Alpha Beach, Ajah, Lekki, Lagos.

Bariu’s arrest comes after a three-month manhunt, following the recovery of 2,760 kilograms of skunk at the shrine on October 25, 2024.

According to the Director, Media & Advocacy,
NDLEA , Femi Babafemi
, Bariu was the leader of a notorious drug syndicate operating from the shrine.

Two of his accomplices were arrested at the shrine last year and have since been charged, convicted, and sentenced.

The NDLEA’s efforts to track down Bariu demonstrate the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and bringing perpetrators to justice.

A 40ft trailer load of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 2,217.6 kilograms, was intercepted by operatives of the agency while being distributed into six vehicles at an abandoned fuel station in Kagini, Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, for onward distribution to some Northern states.

The intelligence-led operation, which took place at 1:20am on Saturday 11th January 2025 led to the seizure of not only the large illicit consignment but also the trailer and the six vehicles: Toyota Van, Toyota Camry car, Toyota Sienna bus, JAC 4-wheel-drive Hilux truck, Toyota Corolla car and a Vento Passat car as well as the arrest of a suspect: 42-year-old Isaac Monday Desmond.

The consignment was loaded into the trailer at Uzebba in the Owan local council area of Edo State.

In another raid in the FCT, two suspects: Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27, were arrested by NDLEA officers at Nyanya, where a combined 1.398kg cocaine and a precursor substance used in preparing crack cocaine were recovered from them.

No fewer than 20 wraps of cocaine weighing 330 grams have been recovered from a cargo going to Australia at a logistics firm in Lagos by officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, in NDLEA. The cocaine parcels were concealed around the body of face cream containers in the shipment.

A total of 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup worth more than N1 billion in street value, were intercepted in two containers watch-listed by the Agency following processed intelligence.

The illicit consignments were discovered during a joint examination of the containers by NDLEA operatives, Customs, and other security agencies on Thursday, 9th, and Friday, 10th January 2025, at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex, Onne, Rivers State.

A suspect, Habibu Ya’u, 23, was nabbed by NDLEA officers who raided Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria road, Kano on Thursday, 9th January, where they recovered 45 blocks of cannabis weighing 24.2kg, and 40,800 pills of opioids, including tramadol from him.

With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.

These include: WADA enlightenment lecture to students and staff of Ijaye Housing Estate Junior Secondary School, Lagos state; surrendered Boko Haram members at Hajj camp, Maiduguri, Borno state; Muslim faithful during their Juma’at prayer at Kamba Central Mosque, Kebbi state, while Kano state Command paid a WADA advocacy visit to the District Head of Danbatta, Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, among others.

While commending the officers and men of DOGI, FCT, PHPC, Lagos, and Kano Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country, especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts, are well appreciated.

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