NDLEA: Declares Gospel Mudiaga Odeh Wanted After Edo Escape

• Nigerian authorities have declared Gospel Mudiaga Odeh, also known as Omega, wanted after he evaded arrest during a drug operation in Edo State.
• The NDLEA's Edo State Command arrested 42 suspected drug traffickers and seized over 9.5 metric tons of illicit substances in September 2026.
• During the operation, Odeh's salesgirl, Ojugo Mercy, 26, was apprehended with various drugs, and items including N1.16 million were confiscated from Odeh's abandoned vehicle.
• These enforcement actions are part of intelligence-led operations mandated by the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.).
• The command also secured three convictions and has 83 drug-related cases pending in court, alongside providing rehabilitation services.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency's Edo State Command has publicly declared Gospel Mudiaga Odeh, known as Omega, a suspected drug trafficker, as wanted following his escape during a recent operation.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has publicly declared Gospel Mudiaga Odeh, known by his alias Omega, a suspected drug trafficker, as wanted. This declaration follows his reported escape during an operation conducted by the NDLEA's Edo State Command in September 2026. Authorities confiscated Odeh's black Toyota Matrix vehicle, along with other items recovered from it, after he fled the scene.

During the same period, the Edo State drug enforcement efforts led to the apprehension of 42 suspected drug traffickers. Among those arrested was Ojugo Mercy, 26 years old, identified as Odeh's salesgirl. She was found in possession of various illicit substances, including 989 grams of Loud, 13 grams of Colorado, and 83 grams of methamphetamine. From Odeh's abandoned car, operatives recovered 65 grams of cannabis, N1.16 million in cash, and 55 Ethiopian birr, all documented as instruments of crime.

These operations, which resulted in the NDLEA Edo drug arrests, were intelligence-led, aligning with directives from the agency's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.). The State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, detailed these activities in the command's monthly operational scorecard, highlighting a significant crackdown on illicit drug trade. Of the 42 individuals apprehended, 22 were female and 20 were male, prompting Commander Ofoyeju to express concern over the increasing involvement of women in drug trafficking within the state.

In total, the command seized an astonishing 9,520 kilograms of illicit substances during September 2026. This massive haul included the destruction of cannabis plantations weighing 9,248.2575 kilograms and the interception of 271.92348 kilograms of other illegal drugs. Specific substances recovered comprised 245.29 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa, 25.97 kilograms of psychotropic substances, 0.66 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 62.6 liters of codeine syrup. Operatives successfully identified and dismantled 10 cannabis farms spanning 3.699303 hectares, with an estimated yield of 9,248.2575 kilograms.

Beyond the substantial seizures and arrests, the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has also made progress in judicial proceedings. The command secured three convictions related to drug offenses and currently has 83 cases pending before various courts, underscoring the ongoing legal battle against drug trafficking under Nigerian drug trafficking law. Commander Ofoyeju affirmed the command's unwavering commitment to combating both drug trafficking and abuse across Edo State, while also appealing for enhanced support from community stakeholders to address the pervasive issue.

In addition to its enforcement duties, the NDLEA's Edo State Command actively engages in rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. During the reported period, 28 clients received counseling services. The command also provided vocational training in practical skills such as tailoring, embroidery, and liquid soap production, aiming to equip individuals for a successful return to society and reduce recidivism.

The intensified operations in Edo State are part of a wider, concerted effort by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to curb drug trafficking nationwide. This is exemplified by a recent significant interdiction on a Sunday, where NDLEA operatives intercepted container consignments of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, and codeine-based syrup. These seizures, valued at over N5 billion, occurred at the Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne seaports.

These large-scale interceptions at major seaports followed months of meticulous intelligence gathering and tracking of the shipments from their original ports of origin. Such operations highlight the agency's strategic approach to disrupting drug supply chains, both domestically and internationally, reinforcing the message that the NDLEA is resolute in its mission to apprehend and prosecute those involved in drug-related crimes, including high-profile figures like Gospel Mudiaga Odeh Omega.

Criminal defense lawyers in Nigeria, especially Edo State, should note the NDLEA's intensified intelligence-led operations and public declaration of high-profile drug traffickers as wanted. This signals a heightened enforcement environment and increased risk of arrest and prosecution for clients involved in drug-related offenses.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspaper