The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has secured the conviction of 974 drug offenders in the first quarter of 2026, including 11 kingpins sentenced to a combined 254 years in prison.
The convictions, recorded between January and March, followed intensified operations by the anti-narcotics agency targeting traffickers and their collaborators nationwide.
Of the total number, 899 are male while 75 are female, with monthly breakdowns of 265 convictions in January, 316 in February and 393 in March.
Among the high-profile convictions is Italy-based businessman Adegbite Solomon, also known as Obama, who was sentenced to 130 years imprisonment by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The court also ordered the revocation of his pharmacy licence and the forfeiture of his assets, including two pharmacy outlets and funds in multiple bank accounts.
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Similarly, Ridwan Animashaun received a 25-year jail term from Justice Nkenoye Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court in Ibadan for drug trafficking offences. The convict had previously served a one-year sentence for a similar crime in 2022.
In Ogun State, two traffickers, Rauf Asogba and Seun Olaniyi, were each sentenced to 17 years imprisonment by Justice Abiodun Jordan Adeyemi of the Federal High Court in Abeokuta after being convicted for trafficking 1,779 kilograms of cannabis.
Other convictions include Jonathan Nuhu, also known as Doctor, who was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Kano, and Idris Yusuf, who received 15 years in Damaturu, alongside 
an additional eight-year sentence in a separate case.
Several other offenders, including Godday Obizuo, Asabe Abubakar, Godwin Peter, Asuquo Christian and Olabode Sunday, were each handed seven-year jail terms for drug-related offences across different parts of the country.
Reacting to the development, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the convictions as a significant milestone in the fight against illicit drugs.
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He said the outcome sends a strong message that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for drug traffickers, noting that the swift prosecution of cases serves as an effective deterrent.
Marwa commended the judiciary for expediting trials and praised NDLEA officers for their efforts, assuring that the agency would continue to prioritise their welfare and strengthen operations against criminal networks.
He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing intelligence to support the agency’s activities.
