THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, for allegedly masterminding multiple illicit drug shipments into Nigeria.
Olasele, also known as Abbas Ajakaiye, was apprehended on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church along Okun Ajah, Ogombo Road, Lekki, Lagos. According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, operatives waited until after the Sunday service to avoid disrupting worshippers.
The cleric had been on the run since June, when two major cannabis seizures were traced to him. On June 4, NDLEA recovered 200kg of “Ghana Loud,” a potent cannabis strain, at Okun Ajah beach. Another 700kg was seized from his delivery van on July 6.
In custody, Olasele confessed to smuggling the drugs via waterways from Ghana into Nigeria, admitting that he fled abroad after twice evading arrest.
NDLEA operations during the week also netted other significant arrests and seizures:
August 7: 15.63kg of Canadian Loud recovered from an apartment in Ikoyi; suspect Benjamin Udo Ukoh arrested.
August 9: 3,093kg of skunk seized from three suspects in New Karu.
August 8: 359kg of skunk seized in Geza, Kano State; suspect Nura Yahaya arrested.
August 6: Umar Adamu Umar caught with 9kg of Colorado cannabis along the Zaria–Kano road.
August 8: Usman Musa arrested with 20,000 tramadol pills and 200 ampoules of diazepam at Gadar Tamburawa.
August 8: 550,266 opioid pills recovered from an uncompleted building in Gombe; suspect Usama Isah arrested.
August 9: Ibrahim Adamu intercepted with 50,000 tramadol capsules in Bajoga.
August 6: Taiye Jethro arrested at Ewu Junction with large quantities of tramadol, tablets, and injectable opioids.
In addition to enforcement, NDLEA intensified its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign nationwide through school, community, workplace, and religious sensitization programs.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the Lagos, Nasarawa, Gombe, Kano, and Edo Commands for their successful operations and urged officers to maintain the momentum with a balanced approach to drug control.