The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has achieved a significant breakthrough by apprehending the leader of the Mushin drug cartel, Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, also known as Olowoidiogede or Temo. His arrest comes after several years of eluding law enforcement authorities.
According to a statement by Femi Babafemi, the spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh, also known as Olowoidiogede or Temo, the notorious leader of the Mushin drug cartel in Lagos, has finally been apprehended. This arrest marks the end of his long evasion from law enforcement, during which he was considered almost untouchable.
The statement highlighted that despite his reputation for evasiveness, Temo was captured at his stronghold after initial resistance from him and his group of criminals. Over the past two years, the NDLEA had intercepted several large shipments of illicit drugs linked to Temo, valued in billions of naira. These included 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana in trucks and a bus seized at Ojuelegba area on January 28, 2024. Additionally, two truck-loads weighing 8,852 kilograms of the same substance were intercepted at Eleko beach, Lekki on May 4, 2023, and another 252 kilograms of Loud were seized from Temo’s Mushin enclave on July 26, 2023.
Encounters with Temo and his armed gangs often led to gunfights with NDLEA operatives, underscoring the dangerous nature of the operations against his cartel.
“The notorious drug kingpin, known for his elusive nature and constant movement to evade capture, was finally apprehended due to the persistent efforts and determination of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), supported by advanced tools and intelligence. The breakthrough came at 10am on Monday, July 22, 2024, when NDLEA surveillance teams tracked and cornered him at Igbarere Street, Mushin.
“Upon locating him, a reinforcement of approximately 50 operatives swiftly mobilized to the area as he attempted to flee in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350 with registration number 01G-300G. Despite his efforts to mobilize his associates to disrupt the operation, they were unable to deter the NDLEA operatives, who utilized superior firepower to overpower them. The scene was chaotic, but the agents successfully apprehended Temo and recovered the Mercedes Benz SUV in which he was attempting to escape.
“Following the arrest, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the officers and personnel of the Lagos State Command, Special Monitoring Task Force, and other units involved in the operation. He praised their resilience, vigilance, and professionalism in executing the mission to apprehend Temo, underscoring the agency’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and organized crime in Nigeria.”
He encouraged them to increase their efforts against all drug cartels, regardless of their location. “I am particularly pleased because the arrest was made in his stronghold without any casualties despite the assault on our personnel. This sends a clear message to others involved in the illegal drug trade: if they do not cease their activities now, we will apprehend them. We are closely monitoring their movements, and they cannot evade capture indefinitely—they can only flee temporarily.”
