NDLEA Arrest 18 Suspected Drug Dealers In Osun

Yusuf Oketola

NO fewer than 18 suspected drug dealers have been arrested by Osun command of the Na onal Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at different loca ons in the state.

According to the Public Affairs Officer of the command, Charles Odigie, the suspects were arrested between May 26 and June 5, 2023.

Odigie, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, noted that the suspects included 14 males and four females.

Some of the suspects were arrested at Sabo and Atakunmosa markets while the one of the female suspects was apprehended at Araromi Oke-odo in IfeSouth local government in an opera on that lasted for four days.

Odigie disclosed that the suspected drug dealers engaged the team of the NDLEA who carried out the opera on in a gun ba le at Sabo, Ilesa before they were arrested.

According to Odigie, parts of the exhibits recovered are; cannabis sa va, tramadol, diazepam and otter dangerous drugs.

He said: “The mop up opera on for NDLEA Osun State command which lasted for four days resulted in the arrest of 17 persons which includes 14 males and 3 females. The team encountered some hoodlums at rior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and former governor of the State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, but also put a stop to misinforma on and bi er poli cs being played by certain individuals and organisa ons.

Sabo in Ilesa who engaged the officers in a gun duel.

“Inves ga on is going as regards the arrested persons who were found with different types of drugs which included cannabis sa va,Tramadol Diazepam and other dangerous drugs, of special men on is the sale of hard drugs inside Sabo and Atakumosa markets in Ilesa.

“Also, on Monday 5th of June, 2023, a team of operaves conducted a raid opera on at Araromi Oke-Odo in Ife-South LGA where one Adewole Abidemi ‘F’, 31yrs was arrested with dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sa va weighing 75kg”.

Reac ng to the arrest, the State Commander of the NDLEA, Chidi Nnadi, commended the efforts of the officers and also warned drug barons and peddlers to stop their illegal business or be ready to go to jail.

Nnadi reiterated his commitment to rid the state of drug barons and peddlers while advising them to relocate from Osun, no ng that the heat will be too much for them to bear.

Molaasan, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER in Iwo, on Tuesday, chided MURIC for what he described as unguided statement and uninformed comment on the ri between Aregbesola and Oyetola.

The cleric urged Muslims in Osun and South-West in general to ignore the statement released by the Execu ve Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, where he declared that Aregbesola was guilty in the ri between him and Oyetola.

According to Molaasan, Akintola’s comment was unbecoming of a professor, an informed personality and somebody who want to broker peace between two warring Muslim brothers.

He said: “On what went wrong between Aregbesola and Oyetola, nobody understands it be er than us. I was ac vely involved. Aregbesola was not at fault. It was those suppor ng Oyetola, because of their interest, that led him astray. And in Osun today, Aregbesola is a factor.

“How can you be asking whoever is seeking an appointment or any government opportuni es to swear to make an enemy of Aregbesola before he or she can be considered?

“We are the ones thinking of Islam, many of their supporters were only thinking of poli cs. And as Aregbesola has said, “We didn’t offend anyone and we don’t believe anyone offended us but they may believe we offended them, that’s why we are apologising to them”. This is the best statement ever for someone offended and yet apologizing.

“Oyetola offended so many Muslims, and many of his policies upturned many things Aregbesola did for the benefit of Muslims when he did not know the ideology behind them.

“Neither Aregbosola nor Oyetola represents the Muslim Ummah. They represent their party. If Muslim Ummah wants relevance, let them be ac ve in poli cs. So, on Osun, blame Oyetola, not Aregbesola.

“It is unfortunate that Prof. Ishaq Akintola of MURIC could come out to make comment on something he does not know about. His comment on the ri between Aregbesola and Oyetola shows that he is not informed, or rather being economical with the truth. That is unbecoming of a profession, or an informed personality or somebody who want to broker peace between two warring Muslim brothers.”

Also, the Osun Muslim Community decried what it described as ‘complete misinforma on’ from MURIC on the personality of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the State of Osun.

MURIC had in its comment on Aregbesola and Oyetola feud said the ex-minister handed over the state to a Chris an (Adeleke) on a pla er of gold.

Responding to MURIC, the Osun Muslim Community, in a press statement on Monday, expressed displeasure on the organisa on’s statement.

Signed by its President, Mustafa Olawuyi, the statement reads in part: “Osun State Muslim Community notes with displeasure, the posi on expressed by MURIC which is based on complete misinformaon on the person of Governor Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke.

“We wish to affirm without fear of contradic on that our Governor is a Muslim and no one has any right to think otherwise of someone who pronounces the Kalimah and never denies the faith in the belief of oneness and supremacy of Allah.

“We affirm that the feud between former Governors of Osun State, Ogbeni Abdul Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaj Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola is being addressed at the appropriate higher levels and that should be very much appreciated and supported.

“We seize this opportunity to assure His Excellency, Governor Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke and generality of Muslims in the State that we give full support to Governor Nurudeen Adeleke as a good, hardworking and trustworthy brother Muslim who is performing posi ve wonders in the State every moment.

“We appreciate MURIC’s effort and sincerity in advoca ng for social jus ce in Nigeria. However, we would advise that the source of any informa on to be disseminated should be carefully verified from appropriate sources and organiza ons on ground to always prevent such embarrassment in the future.”