The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, over his alleged role in cross-border drug trafficking.

Prophet Adefolusho was picked up on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church on Okun Ajah, Ogombo Road, Lekki, Lagos, after NDLEA operatives laid siege to the premises throughout the day. Officers moved in shortly after he concluded the evening service and stepped out of the church building.

According to the NDLEA, the clergyman had been on the run for months, fleeing to Ghana after twice evading arrest. His arrest follows the seizure of two large consignments of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, allegedly linked to him. The first, weighing 200kg, was intercepted at Okun Ajah beach on June 4, while another 700kg was recovered from his delivery van on July 6.

In his statement to investigators, Prophet Adefolusho reportedly admitted to ferrying the drugs into Nigeria through the waterways from Ghana. He also confirmed he had been hiding in the West African country to avoid capture.

In a separate operation in Lagos on Thursday, August 7, NDLEA operatives raided an apartment at Kishi House, 11 Layi Ajayi Bembe Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi. A suspect, Benjamin Udo Ukoh, was arrested, and 32 pouches of Canadian Loud, weighing 15.63kg, were recovered.

Other raids across the country in the past week led to massive drug seizures:

Nasarawa State: On Saturday, August 9, officers recovered 3,093kg of skunk from three suspects — Emmanuel Asoquo Johnny (51), Okem Raphael (33), and Chekwube Odo (25) — in New Karu.

Kano State: On Friday, August 8, 639 blocks of skunk, weighing 359kg, were seized from 29-year-old Nura Yahaya in Geza, Kumbotso. On Wednesday, August 6, Umar Adamu Umar (27) was arrested along Zaria-Kano road with 9kg of Colorado. Another suspect, Usman Musa (30), was caught at Gadar Tamburawa with 20,000 pills of tramadol and 200 ampoules of diazepam.

Gombe State: A raid at Tudun Wadan Pantami on Friday, August 8, uncovered 550,266 pills of opioids, mostly tramadol, and led to the arrest of Usama Isah. On Saturday, August 9, Ibrahim Adamu (23) was caught along Potiskum road, Bajoga, with 50,000 capsules of tramadol.

Edo State: On Wednesday, August 6, NDLEA operatives intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus at Ewu junction, recovering 23,940 capsules of tramadol, 1,100 tablets of the same drug, and 400 ampoules of pentazocine. The driver, identified as Taiye Jethro, was arrested.

Meanwhile, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, religious centres, military formations, and community groups.

While commending the operatives for their efforts, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), said:

“I enjoin them and their colleagues across the country to continue with the ongoing balanced approach to the drug control efforts of the Agency.”

Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, confirmed the arrests and seizures in a statement issued on Sunday, August 10, 2025.