The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Sulaimon Jimoh, also known as Temo, the leader of a major drug cartel based in Mushin, Lagos.
Temo, who had been evading arrest for years, was finally apprehended after initially resisting with the help of his associates.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi explained that Temo was arrested at his hideout. “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,” Babafemi said.
Temo’s capture followed the recent arrest of another drug baron, Joachin Mbonu, in Imo State. Mbonu had fled from South Africa and was apprehended in his mansion on July 12.
Babafemi highlighted that the NDLEA had seized drugs worth billions of naira from Temo over the past two years, with several encounters leading to fierce gunfights. “In the last two years, the NDLEA had intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira owned by Temo but he had remained largely evasive while a few encounters with him and his armed gangs in his Mushin enclave had resulted in gunfights,” Babafemi stated.
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Recent seizures include 14,524.8 kilograms of Ghana Loud, a potent strain of cannabis sativa, smuggled into Lagos from Ghana. This shipment was intercepted in two trucks and a J5 bus at Ojuelegba, Lagos, on January 28, 2024. Additionally, two truckloads of the same substance weighing 8,852kg were intercepted at Eleko Beach, Lekki, Lagos, on May 4, 2023, and 252kg of Loud was seized from his Mushin enclave on July 26, 2023.
Temo was tracked by the NDLEA’s surveillance team to Igbarere Street in Mushin, where he was pinned down on July 22. Despite his attempt to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV, he was apprehended after the NDLEA mobilized 50 operatives to the area. “The drug kingpin was very notorious for always being on the move to evade arrest but with the persistence and determination of the agency aided by modern tools and intelligence, the concerted efforts to get him paid off,” Babafemi explained.
Temo’s attempt to mobilize hoodlums to facilitate his escape was thwarted by the superior firepower of the NDLEA operatives, who successfully recovered the SUV he was found in.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.) praised the officers involved in Temo’s arrest. “In his reaction to the arrest of Temo, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA commended the officers and men of the Lagos State Command, Special Monitoring Task Force, and other formations tasked with the assignment of getting Temo arrested for their resilience, vigilance, and professionalism. He urged them to intensify the heat on all drug cartels wherever they are located,” Babafemi added.