Esther Ogunmabo, a 101-year-old great-grandmother, has been arrested in Nigeria for selling skunk and cannabis to locals in her community. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced her arrest on Saturday after officers found her with sachets of skunk and 90mg of cannabis.
Ogunmabo told police she turned to drug dealing after her provisions shop was destroyed by a fire. She was selling the drugs in her community in Ogun state, in the south-west of the country.
Bail and counselling
NDLEA chief executive Mohamed Marwa stated that Ogunmabo was released on bail and provided with counselling sessions because of her advanced age. She could still face criminal charges depending on her bail conditions.
Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA's media spokesperson, said one of Ogunmabo's daughters, who lives in Lagos, helped arrange the supply of drugs every four days. The drugs were then sold in small sachets to community members. Her daughter was also arrested.
Social media reaction
A mugshot released by the agency showed the centenarian holding a whiteboard with her details, her face pixelated. The image drew widespread attention online, and social media users dubbed her "Granny Escobar." One person joked that "grandma only thought she was selling vegetables," while another said "101 years old and still hustling them streets."
The NDLEA described her case as a "rare and startling development."
Coastal crackdown
The arrest comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to crack down on drug crime and intercept illicit supplies along its coastal routes. The agency said operatives intercepted a wooden boat on Friday that was sending illegal drugs to fishing settlements, believed to be headed to Cameroon. Three individuals were arrested.
Etima Effiong Eekpo, 29, was found with just over a kilo of skunk; Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, 33, had 42.060kg of skunk; and Kingsley Effiong John, 27, was found hiding 20 grammes of cocaine. More than 42kg of narcotics were recovered from the boat, estimated to be worth approximately £2.32 million.
The NDLEA also reported a milestone achievement with its first-ever seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand, containing two containers of cannabis at the Apapa and Lekki ports.
