NDLEA arrests widow disguised as pregnant woman
Abdullateef Fowewe
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intensified its operations against drug trafficking, securing multiple arrests and seizures across several states in Nigeria.
In a remarkable bust, operatives apprehended Ifeoma Henrietta Ezewuike, a 50-year-old widow and fashion designer, for attempting to traffic 1.3 kilograms of cocaine.
According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, “Mrs. Ezewuike was using fake pregnancy as a façade to escape scrutiny and detection.”
She was arrested on Friday, 22nd August 2025, at a bus terminal in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos while trying to transport the cocaine consignment to Abuja.
A subsequent raid on her residence in Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, led to the recovery of 200 grams of a cutting agent used in cocaine production. Ezewuike, who runs Golden Star Creation, a fashion outfit, disclosed in her statement that “she inherited the criminal trade from her husband who died two years ago,” despite being in the fashion business for 20 years.
On Tuesday, 19th August, NDLEA intercepted “not less than 90 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 48.6kg, imported from the United States of America,” concealed in kitchen sink cartons at a courier company in Lagos.
Also, in Adamawa state, a raid on 22nd August targeted the home of notorious drug dealer Idris Garba. While Garba escaped by scaling the fence, his associate Boniface Nnaji was caught delivering “354,480 pills of tramadol 225mg, 250mg and others,” along with two vehicles used in the operation.
On Wednesday, 20th August, authorities seized 5,000 capsules of tramadol, 400 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and 200 ampoules of diazepam injection from Neche Okonkwo at the Idah waterside, after crossing from Onitsha, Anambra to Lokoja, Kogi.
In Kano state, several arrests were made on Tuesday, 19th August, including Buhari Ibrahim and Mansur Musa with 5,850 pregabalin capsules, and Buhari Idris with 140 litres of codeine syrup.
Authorities also seized “452,070 pills of opioids” from the home of suspect Rabilu Mukhtar, who remains at large. On Saturday, 23rd August, another 7,000 tramadol capsules were seized from Adamu Yusuf along Zaria-Kano road.the Zaria-Kano road.
While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Lagos, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba, Delta, Adamawa, FCT, Ondo, Ekiti and Edo Commands for the arrests, seizures and their dexterity, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) enjoined them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.
