A Nigerian woman said by officials to be 101 has been detained for allegedly distributing cannabis in Ogun State, prompting widespread public interest.
Esther Ogunmabo, a great-grandmother, was taken into custody on Saturday, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Investigators allegedly found her with 90 grams of cannabis packaged in small retail sachets.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said Ogunmabo claimed she sold the drug to people in her neighbourhood.
She reportedly told authorities that she began dealing in cannabis after a fire destroyed her provisions business.
The agency alleged that one of her daughters, based in Lagos, supplied her with the substance every four days.
The daughter has also been arrested.
NDLEA chief executive Mohamed Marwa ordered that Ogunmabo be released on bail and receive counselling in view of her age.
However, her release does not rule out possible criminal charges.
The arrest was announced as the agency reported several other major drug interceptions along Nigeria’s maritime routes.
In Akwa Ibom State, officers acting on intelligence stopped a wooden vessel in international waters last Friday.
The boat was reportedly travelling towards Cameroon, and three occupants were arrested.
More than 42 kilograms of suspected narcotics were recovered.
The agency also announced its first seizure of illegal drugs believed to have been sent from Thailand, describing the operation as a significant breakthrough.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong