By Afolabi Samuel Odunayo
The final arrest of Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, popularly known as Temo, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is another major blow to the drug business and the Nigerian underworld illicit business.
This development is coming shortly after apprehension of an alleged drug baron, Joachin Mbonu, on July 12 in Imo State after fleeing South Africa. According to the NDLEA, that was the first in the same month in the battle to rid the country of such criminals.
The NDLEA’s Wednesday, announcement of the arrest of Temo, the leader of a drug cartel in Mushin, Lagos has elicited reactions in some quarters. Many are said to be happy with the steps and efforts of the NDLEA so far.
The New Diplomat’s checks reveal that despite several successful attempts at evading arrests, Temo, a longtime wanted criminal, was finally arrested on July 22 by operatives of the NDLEA.
Speaking on behalf of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi said that Temo was apprehended at his hiding place after first eluding capture with the assistance of his friends.
Babafemi stated that the notorious 57-year-old drug baron had been thought to be unstoppable for a long time before his arrest by NDLEA agents.
According to Babafemi, Temo was pinned down by the NDLEA’s surveillance team on July 22 after they tracked him to Igbarere Street in Mushin.
According to him, when Temo attempted to escape, 50 operatives were mobilized to the area.
He explained: “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 10 am on Monday, July 22, 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,”
Babafemi noted that NDLEA had previously seized drugs worth billions of naira from Temo, and encounters with him had often resulted in gunfights.
The spokesperson said, “In the last two years, the NDLEA had intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira owned by Temo but he has remained largely evasive while a few encounters with him and his armed gangs in his Mushin enclave had resulted in gunfight.
“Some of the recent seizures of his shipments include: 14, 524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a strong strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana in two trucks and a J5 bus intercepted at Ojuelegba area of Lagos in the early hours of Sunday 28th January 2024; two truck-loads of the same substance weighing 8,852kg intercepted at Eleko beach, Lekki Lagos on 4th May 2023 and 252kg of Loud seized from his enclave in Mushin on Wednesday 26th July 2023. Indeed, in the last two encounters, his men engaged NDLEA operatives in a gunfight.”
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd) while speaking on the development, commended the bravery of the officers who carried out the operation for their resilience and professionalism and urged them to continue their efforts against drug cartels.
