In Lagos, two significant consignments of the potent cannabis strain known as “Colorado” or “Colos,” arriving from the United Kingdom, were seized at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja. The drugs were discovered hidden within consolidated cargoes.

On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, a 44-year-old real estate agent, Abideen Jide Salami, was apprehended after arriving to collect a shipment containing 32.20kg of Colorado, allegedly sent by his brother in the UK. In a separate operation linked to another UK shipment, 44-year-old Nurudeen Abiodun Kadiri was arrested for receiving 12.25kg of Colorado, also reportedly sent by his brother abroad.

The NDLEA also uncovered Colorado shipments concealed within music speakers at two Lagos motor parks. At Maza Maza motor park, operatives from the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) intercepted three packs of the drug hidden in a speaker destined for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and eventually Liberia. This led to the arrest of a 41-year-old tour agent, Ifeanyi Obed Augustine, and the alleged owner, Obasi Ugochuckwu, 46, at a nearby eatery. At Iddo motor park, officers arrested Ifeanyi Nwokolo Henry on Friday, September 11, while he was attempting to send 2.1kg of Colorado to Kano.

Operations across several other states yielded substantial drug seizures and numerous arrests:

• Delta State: Separate raids in Ughelli and Asaba resulted in the seizure of various controlled substances, including pentazocine injections, codeine syrup, tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam (Hypnox), and MDMA (Molly). Some drugs were found hidden in music speakers. Suspects Emeka Oji and Chukwuebuka Anedi were arrested.

• Kano State: A raid in the Sabon Gari area led to the arrest of 20-year-old Saidu Adamu and the recovery of 785,000 capsules of pregabalin weighing 669.425kg. In a separate operation on the Zaria-Kano-Hadejia road, 1,700 diazepam tablets concealed inside loaves of bread were seized, and 28-year-old Habibu Sabitu was arrested.

• Plateau State: Officers arrested 51-year-old Chinedu Uzor at Katako Market in Jos with 157,100 capsules of tramadol.

• Edo State: The agency continued its crackdown on illegal cannabis cultivation, destroying 4,832.56kg of skunk cannabis found on farms in Usen Forest, Igwe-Oke Forest, and Ogboha Forest across Ovia South West, Owan East, and Owan West Local Government Areas. A 39-year-old suspect, Sunday Segun, was arrested on Friday, September 11.

• Ondo State: Following an intelligence-led raid on a residence in Akure on Wednesday, September 9, officers recovered 186kg of skunk from the boot of a Toyota Avalon. A 58-year-old suspect, Paul Ogbuwala, was arrested while allegedly preparing to transport the consignment to Jos for distribution.

• Kaduna State: A female suspect, Hannah Michael, was arrested in Gonin Gora with 369.6kg of cannabis.

• Bayelsa State: Four suspects were arrested in Ovom, Yenagoa, after operatives recovered 110 bags of cannabis weighing 876kg. Those taken into custody were 70-year-old Godwoman Gboriye, Motombo Silver (44), Pere Andrew (39), and Keme Andrew (43).

Beyond enforcement, the NDLEA continued its nationwide War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns. Activities included lectures for students and staff at Mezube Islamiyya Academy in Tudun Wada, Kano; a visit to the Cross River State College of Health Technology management in Calabar; an advocacy visit to the Emir of Keffi in Nasarawa State; and a visit by traditional rulers from Rikkos to the NDLEA Academy clinic in Jos.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers involved in the successful operations across the various states, urging them to maintain pressure on drug trafficking networks and to continue efforts to block all supply routes.

While clarifying the situation, the military verified that an abduction did indeed take place involving travelers moving from the Sububu forest region in Bakura Local Government Area in the direction of Talata Mafara.

Speaking on Sunday through a statement, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba—the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for 8 Division/Sector 2 under Operation FANSAN YAMMA—categorically dismissed the reports tying the incident to Yari’s property as entirely false and misleading.

According to military intelligence, the victims were seized while in transit along the Sububu forest axis toward Talata Mafara rather than at the former governor’s residence. Security forces, alongside allied agencies and local intelligence teams, have ramped up tactical operations in the region to track down and rescue the victims.

In light of the incident, the Army has cautioned citizens against spreading unverified or sensational details that might trigger widespread panic or hinder ongoing security efforts. Osoba urged the public to completely ignore distorted narratives that could jeopardize tactical missions or cause undue alarm.