Drug Kingpin Arrested 12 Years After Killing Officers

Twelve years of searching ended when Nigerian drug enforcement agents arrested Lekan Jimoh, a fugitive wanted for orchestrating the brutal murders of three officers who tried to apprehend him in 2014.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency tracked Jimoh to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State, on January 16, 2026. Officers found him with 69 kilograms of cannabis during the carefully planned operation.

Jimoh, known by the street name "Kanmo-Kanmo," had built a reputation for violence and evading capture. When officers first attempted to arrest him in June 2014, he mobilized armed thugs who killed three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two colleagues who were simply doing their jobs.

The drug trafficker proved slippery over the years. In August 2023, agents raided another of his properties and seized 1,922 kilograms of cannabis, but he escaped again before they arrived.

The Ripple Effect

This arrest represents more than catching one criminal. It sends a powerful message to other fugitives that justice has a long memory and dedicated agents who never give up.

The successful operation came amid a wider crackdown on drug trafficking across Nigeria. That same week, officers made multiple arrests and seized large quantities of illegal drugs in six different states, including tramadol pills, codeine syrup, and various forms of cannabis.

For the families of the three fallen officers, this arrest offers something they've waited 12 years to receive: accountability. While it cannot bring back their loved ones, knowing the person responsible will finally face justice provides a measure of peace.

The agency has forfeited Jimoh's former property to the Federal Government after using it to store nearly two tons of drugs. Now he faces charges for both trafficking and the murders that have haunted investigators for over a decade.

NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa praised the officers involved and reinforced the agency's commitment: "You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you."

Justice delayed is not always justice denied.