National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives have made a shocking discovery in Ogun State. The 101-year-old great-grandma arrested for dealing in illicit trade claims she turned to crime after a devastating fire destroyed her livelihood.
In a quiet neighbourhood in Ilisan, anti-narcotics officers took centenarian Esther Ogunmabo, an illicit drug peddler, into custody after seizing retail sachets of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 90 grams.
Law enforcement officers uncovered the operation during a targeted sweep of the area. The elderly woman freely confessed to local authorities about how she set up her sales operation, explaining that she retailed the illegal substances in small quantities directly to neighbourhood buyers.
How Fire Pushed a Centenarian Into the Ilisan Cannabis Drug Trade
The tragic collapse of her legitimate store drove the elderly woman into illegal trade. A statement released on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, revealed the unusual circumstances surrounding the raid and the woman’s motives.
The official agency report noted:
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have recorded significant breakthroughs across the country’s land and maritime borders, including the arrest of a 101-year-old great-grandmother for dealing in illicit drugs.
The official statement detailed how the suspect established her supply chain:
NDLEA operatives on Saturday, August 15, 2026, arrested a 101-year-old woman, Esther Ogunmabo, in Ilisan, Ogun State, with retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis, weighing 90 grams, which she claims she sells to locals.
The centenarian told operatives that she resorted to the illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was razed by fire, adding that one of her daughters, who resides in Lagos, arranges the supply of the substance to her every four days, which she in turn sold in bits.
NDLEA Drug Arrest Ogun State Response and Bail Decisions
The case triggered immediate instructions from the highest levels of drug enforcement leadership. Given the extraordinary age of the suspect, officials adapted their standard detention procedures to ensure humane treatment while maintaining criminal proceedings.
Femi Babafemi explained that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), personally reviewed the findings. Marwa directed officers to grant the centenarian immediate bail and place her on specialised counselling services due to her advanced age.
While the 101-year-old woman avoids standard jail confinement during her rehabilitation, law enforcement’s focus has shifted directly to her family connection in Lagos. Officers quickly tracked down and arrested her daughter, who reportedly coordinated the supply chain that brought regular deliveries of skunk into Ilisan every four days.
