Nigeria: Great grandmother, Esther Ogunmabo, aged 101, arrested for allegedly dealing cannabis to locals
A great-grandmother has revealed why she was forced to turn to the illicit drug trade.
A centenarian has been arrested for allegedly dealing drugs.
Esther Ogunmabo, a 101-year-old great grandmother, was detained by police in Nigeria on August 15 for allegedly selling small quantities of cannabis in her community.
The woman was apprehended in the country’s south-west in Ogun state.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said she was found with “retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 90 grams, which she claims she sells to locals”.
Ms Ogunmabo said she turned to the illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire.
Because of her age, the 101-year-old was granted bail and provided with counselling.
The woman’s daughter, who Ms Ogunmabo said arranged the supply of cannabis every four days, has now been arrested.
The centenarian’s arrest comes amid a major crackdown on drugs in Nigeria by the NDLEA.
Earlier this week, the agency intercepted a wooden boar which was transporting illicit drugs to Cameroon.
Three suspects on the boat were carrying a combined total of more than 42 kilograms of skunk cannabis and cocaine.
NDLEA said the cocaine was “cleverly concealed inside a large wrap of edible cassava fufu”, which is a starchy side dish in Nigerian cuisine.
Another raid of a cannabis farm resulted in NDLEA destroying 10,000 kilograms of skunk cannabis.
