The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully arrested Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, widely known as Temo, a notorious drug lord in Lagos. Temo, aged 57, had been evading capture for years, bolstering his reputation of being untouchable. The arrest took place at his stronghold in Mushin, Lagos, after he initially resisted with the help of his loyal gang.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi announced the arrest on Wednesday. Over the past two years, the NDLEA had seized massive quantities of drugs worth billions of naira, all linked to Temo. Despite these significant busts, Temo had managed to stay under the radar, with previous encounters ending in gunfights.
Some of the notable drug seizures connected to Temo include a 14,524.8 kg shipment of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, intercepted in Lagos earlier this year. Additionally, two truckloads weighing 8,852 kg were confiscated at Eleko Beach, Lekki, in May 2023. Another 252 kg of Loud was seized from Temo’s Mushin base in July 2023.
In recent encounters, Temo’s men engaged NDLEA officers in armed confrontations, further complicating efforts to bring him to justice. However, the persistence of the NDLEA has finally paid off with Temo’s capture, marking a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking in Lagos.
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“The drug kingpin was very notorious for always being on the move to evade arrest but with persistence and determination of the Agency aided by modern tools and intelligence, the concerted effort to get him paid off at 10am on Monday 22nd July 2024 when NDLEA’s surveillance teams on his trail tracked and pinned him down at Igbarere street, Mushin.
“A reinforcement of about 50 operatives was immediately mobilized to the area while he was attempting to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350 marked 01G-300G. His attempt to escape by mobilizing hoodlums to engage and distract the operatives however failed after which he was overpowered and whisked away from the chaotic scene while his men surrendered to the superior firepower of the anti-narcotic agents who also succeeded in recovering the Mercedes Benz SUV the suspect was found in,”
Marwa also stated
“I’m particularly delighted because the arrest was eventually effected in his enclave without any casualty despite the attack on our men. This is therefore a clear message to others still involved in this criminal trade of illicit drugs that if they don’t opt out now, we’ll get them because we’re just steps away from their doorsteps and more importantly they can only run, they can’t hide forever”,
