Nigeria: 101-year-old great-grandmother arrested over cannabis sales
A 101-year-old Nigerian woman identified as Esther Ogunmabo has been arrested on allegations of selling cannabis, in a case first reported by BBC News that has drawn attention largely because of the suspect’s age.
Ogunmabo, described as a great-grandmother, was taken into custody by officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) accused of selling retail sachets of a high-potency cannabis strain commonly known as skunk, according to Nigerian anti-narcotics officials cited by the BBC. The circumstances of the arrest, including the precise date and location, have not been disclosed publicly.
The NDLEA, established by decree in 1989, is the federal agency responsible for combating drug trafficking and abuse across Nigeria. Under the legislation that governs its work, possession of even small quantities of controlled substances can attract lengthy custodial sentences, and the law treats users and traffickers under the same broad framework. Cannabis consistently ranks as the most frequently seized substance by NDLEA officers, with the agency regularly announcing arrests, seizures and the destruction of cannabis plantations in several states.
Nigeria is a signatory to international drug control conventions and has historically maintained one of the strictest anti-narcotics regimes in West Africa, with the NDLEA conducting regular raids, arresting suspects and seizing drugs across multiple regions. Debate continues within the country over how best to balance strict enforcement with rehabilitation and harm-reduction approaches, particularly for low-level or first-time offenders.
The case against Ogunmabo is expected to proceed through Nigeria’s ordinary judicial process. It was not immediately clear whether she had been released on bail or remained in custody at the time of writing.
Sources
This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.
