In a major victory for the rule of law, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully tracked down and arrested Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-Kanmo.”
The arrest marks the end of a 12-year manhunt for the kingpin, who is alleged to have orchestrated the brutal killing of three NDLEA personnel during a failed arrest attempt in 2014.
Jimoh was captured on Friday, January 16, 2026, in Owode, Ogun State. Following a tactical, intelligence-led raid on his hideout, operatives recovered 69 kilogrammes of skunk, a high-potency cannabis strain.
The NDLEA has been pursuing Jimoh since June 15, 2014. On that day, Jimoh reportedly mobilized a gang of armed thugs to attack officers who had moved to arrest him at his enclave. The ensuing violence claimed the lives of three personnel, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure.
While Jimoh managed to evade capture for over a decade, the agency’s persistence eventually paid off. NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, highlighted the significance of the arrest in a statement released this Sunday:
“Following his involvement in the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers, Kanmo-Kanmo, notorious for drug trafficking and mobilising armed thugs against security agents, was on Friday, January 16, tracked to his hideout in Owode, Ogun State, after credible intelligence. During the operation, 69kg of skunk was recovered from him.”
Babafemi further emphasized the agency’s long-term commitment to accountability: “The arrest is a major breakthrough in our resolve to ensure that no fugitive, no matter how long they evade justice, remains beyond the reach of the law.”
The suspect had narrowly escaped a previous raid in August 2023 at his Ado-Odo residence, where operatives found 1,922kg of skunk. While Jimoh fled at that time, his property—which served as a massive drug warehouse—was seized and forfeited to the Federal Government.
In addition to the high-profile arrest of Jimoh, the NDLEA carried out several successful operations across Nigeria over the past week.