Lifestyle & Wellness DeskNDLEA nabs wanted Lagos pastor over alleged cross-border drug trafficking
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Adefolusho Aanu Olasele (also known as Abbas Ajakaiye), over his alleged role in multiple shipments of illicit drugs from Ghana to Nigeria.
Olasele, who had reportedly been on the run for months, was picked up on Sunday, 3 August 2025, at his church in Okun Ajah, Lekki, Lagos, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said in a statement. Operatives waited until the end of the service and arrested him as he exited the premises.
According to the agency, the pastor fled to Ghana in June after investigators linked him to two cannabis consignments: 200kg recovered at Okun Ajah Beach on 4 June and 700kg allegedly found in his delivery van on 6 July. Babafemi said Olasele confessed to ferrying the consignments via waterways from Ghana.
Separate raids and seizures
- Lagos (Thu, 7 Aug): NDLEA operatives raided an apartment in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, arresting Benjamin Ukoh and seizing 32 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 15.63kg.
- Nasarawa (Sat, 9 Aug): A combined 3,093kg of skunk was recovered at New Karu from Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny (51), Okem Raphael (33) and Chekwube Odo (25).
- Kano:
- Fri, 8 Aug: Nura Yahaya (29) arrested in Geza, Kumbotso with 639 blocks of skunk weighing 359kg.
- Wed, 6 Aug: Umar Adamu Umar (27) detained on the Zaria–Kano road with 9kg of Colorado (a synthetic cannabis strain).
- Gombe:
- Fri, 8 Aug: Raid on an uncompleted building in Tudun Wadan Pantami yielded 550,266 opioid pills; Usama Isah arrested.
- Sat, 9 Aug: Ibrahim Adamu (23) arrested on Potiskum road, Bajoga, with 50,000 tramadol capsules.
- Edo (Wed, 6 Aug): A Toyota Hiace from Onitsha to Isanlu (Kogi) was intercepted at Ewu Junction; 23,940 tramadol capsules, 1,100 tablets and 400 pentazocine ampoules recovered. Driver Taiye Jethro arrested.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the officers involved and urged personnel nationwide to maintain a balanced approach to drug control operations.
