The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded 974 convictions of drug offenders across Nigeria in the first quarter of 2026.
This includes 11 major drug kingpins who collectively received 254 years in prison.
The figures were contained in a statement signed by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja on April 17, 2026.
The figures, released on Thursday, show a sustained rise in prosecutions between January and March 2026, with 265 convictions secured in January, 316 in February, and 393 in March.
Of those convicted, 899 were male while 75 were female, reflecting the continued dominance of male offenders in the illicit drug trade network being dismantled by the agency.
What the agency is saying
According to the NDLEA, the convictions span a wide range of drug-related offences, including trafficking, possession, and distribution of controlled substances, as well as forfeiture of assets linked to criminal proceeds.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) described the 254-year cumulative sentence handed to the 11 kingpins as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign. He said the outcome sends a strong signal that the country is becoming increasingly hostile to drug trafficking networks and their financiers.
Marwa also noted that the 974 convictions within three months demonstrate what he called the “relentless commitment” of NDLEA operatives and the importance of judicial efficiency in ensuring swift justice. He stressed that expedited trials remain one of the most effective deterrents against organised drug crime.
- Among the most prominent cases is that of 42-year-old Italy-based businessman, Adegbite Solomon (also known as “Obama”), who was convicted on a 15-count charge before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
- The court sentenced him to a cumulative 130 years in prison, with varying terms across multiple counts, while also ordering the revocation of his pharmacy licence, forfeiture of two pharmacy branches, and seizure of funds across three bank accounts to the Federal Government.
Another high-profile conviction involved 32-year-old Ridwan Animashaun, who received a 25-year prison sentence for drug trafficking in Ibadan.
Court records indicate he was previously convicted for a similar offence in 2022, highlighting what prosecutors described as a pattern of recidivism in parts of the drug trade ecosystem.
In Ogun State, two convicts, 28-year-old Rauf Asogba and 24-year-old Seun Olaniyi, were each sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment for trafficking 1,779 kilograms of skunk. In Kano, 54-year-old Jonathan Nuhu, also known as “Doctor,” received a 15-year sentence, while in Yobe, 40-year-old Idris Yusuf was handed 15 years in prison in addition to another eight-year sentence in a related case.
What you should know
Other convictions across the country included offenders sentenced to seven years each for various trafficking offences, reinforcing what NDLEA described as a widening enforcement net across multiple jurisdictions.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying nationwide operations, asset seizures, and prosecutions in the coming quarters as part of efforts to disrupt drug supply chains and reduce substance abuse across communities.
