Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 85-year-old grandmother Grace Ehimeka popularly known as Mama Grace with 15 bags of cannabis weighing 179kg.
The grandmother in her statement according to the NDLEA admitted ownership of the illicit drugs while begging for forgiveness.
According to her ‘I am a widow and started selling cannabis over two years ago just to survive. My family members have warned me to stop but I kept postponing my decision to stop. Officers if you give me another chance I will never sell cannabis again.’
Edo NDLEA Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju in the statement said five other suspected drug traffickers were arrested in coordinated raids across the Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.
Ofoyeju said the operations led to the recovery of 407.39kg of cannabis and other illicit substances including 546 grams of loud 114 grams of tramadol four grams of diazepam and three grams of swinol.
He listed the suspects to include Ali Garba Habib Braimoh Musa Mubid Ayo Aigberadion and Hope Okoro.
The state NDLEA commander warned that old age was no excuse for criminality and assured that the command remained committed to ridding the state of illicit drugs.
According to him ‘You cannot hide under the canopy of old age and perpetrate acts that violate the law. The octogenarian Grace Ehimeka was apprehended on October 16 2026 in her house at Warake community. This is a bad example for her children and grandchildren.
‘The arrests and drug seizures are part of the agency’s renewed drive to eliminate criminal elements from the state. We urge members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to assist in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.’