The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced the arrest of a prominent Lagos drug kingpin, Sulaiman Jimoh, also known as Temo. This arrest marks the end of a long-standing pursuit of the notorious leader of the Mushin drug cartel.
Temo, who had been evading capture for years, was finally apprehended after an intense operation by the NDLEA. The agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, shared details of the dramatic arrest on Wednesday. He highlighted the agency’s persistent efforts and the challenges faced in bringing Temo to justice.
Babafemi stated, “After many years of wearing the toga of invincibility, the overall head of the Mushin, Lagos drug cartel, 57-year-old Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh (alias Olowoidiogede, popularly known as Temo), has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA, at his enclave after an initial resistance from him and his horde of hoodlums.”
This arrest follows the recent capture of another drug baron, Joachin Mbonu, in Imo State. Mbonu was arrested on July 12 in his mansion after fleeing South Africa.
The NDLEA has been actively seizing large consignments of drugs linked to Temo. Babafemi detailed several major seizures, including 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, intercepted in January 2024.
Other significant busts include two truckloads weighing 8,852 kg intercepted in Lekki in May 2023 and 252 kg seized in Mushin in July 2023. Many of these encounters involved fierce gun battles with Temo’s armed gangs.
Babafemi narrated the sequence of events leading to Temo’s capture. NDLEA’s surveillance team tracked him to Igbarere Street in Mushin.
On July 22, when Temo tried to escape, a reinforcement of 50 operatives was called in. Despite Temo’s attempts to mobilize hoodlums for his escape, the NDLEA operatives overpowered him. He was found in a Mercedes Benz SUV and taken into custody after a tense standoff.
