The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended Bariu Aliu, a traditional chief priest at the Igunuko shrine in the Alpha Beach area of Ajah, Lekki, Lagos State, for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Aliu, also known by the alias “Malo,” is accused of orchestrating a drug syndicate linked to the seizure of 2,760 kilograms of skunk from the shrine in October 2024.
This development was revealed by NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday. The agency confirmed that Aliu was arrested after an intense three-month manhunt. Babafemi further stated that two of Aliu’s accomplices had already been arrested, charged, and convicted prior to his capture.
The statement provided details about the arrest, stating, “In Lagos, Bariu Aliu (alias Malo), the traditional chief priest of the Igunuko shrine at Alpha Beach, Ajah Lekki, where 2,760kg of skunk was recovered on October 25, 2024, has been apprehended by NDLEA operatives following a three-month pursuit.”
Along with Aliu’s arrest, the NDLEA reported other significant drug seizures across Nigeria. In Abuja, two suspects—Anthony Nnamdi, 42, and Abba Ali, 27—were arrested at Nyanya, where 1.398kg of cocaine and a precursor substance for crack cocaine production were recovered.
Additionally, 20 parcels of cocaine weighing 330 grams, concealed in face cream containers, were intercepted in a shipment bound for Australia.
In Rivers State, NDLEA agents seized a staggering 338,200 bottles of codeine-based syrup, worth over N1.19 billion in street value, during joint examinations of containers at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex.
In Kano, officers arrested 23-year-old Habibu Ya’u, who was found in possession of 45 blocks of cannabis (weighing 24.2kg) and 40,800 pills of opioids, including tramadol, at Gadar Tamburawa, Zaria Road.
The NDLEA emphasized its unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse, reiterating that traffickers will face the full force of the law.