A 101-year-old woman, identified as Esther Ogunmabo, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged involvement in the sale of cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State.
The centenarian was reportedly arrested on Saturday, August 15, 2026, after NDLEA officials found 90 grammes of skunk, a form of cannabis, allegedly packaged in small quantities for distribution.
According to the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Ogunmabo admitted selling the substance to residents within the community.
Babafemi explained that the elderly woman told investigators that she ventured into the illegal trade after a fire destroyed her provisions store, leaving her without her previous means of livelihood.
The suspect also allegedly disclosed that one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied her with the cannabis regularly.
According to the NDLEA spokesperson, the daughter allegedly arranged for the substance to be delivered to the centenarian every four days, after which Ogunmabo reportedly sold it in small quantities to customers.
Following her arrest, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), directed that the 101-year-old suspect be granted bail and referred for counselling, taking into consideration her advanced age.
The agency also confirmed that the daughter allegedly connected to the supply of the cannabis had been arrested for further investigation.
The arrest formed part of a wider series of operations conducted by the NDLEA against the cultivation, trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs across Nigeria.
The agency said its recent operations also resulted in several other arrests and drug seizures at different locations, including land and maritime border areas.
The NDLEA has continued to intensify its nationwide efforts to disrupt the production, movement and sale of illegal drugs while pursuing individuals and networks allegedly involved in the illicit drug trade.
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