An 85-year-old woman, Grace Ehimeka, popularly known as Mama Grace, has appealed for forgiveness after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested her with 15 bags of cannabis weighing 179 kilograms in Edo State.
The NDLEA arrested her at her home in Warake community on October 16, 2026. The state commander, Mitchel Ofuyeju, disclosed the arrest on Monday, October 19, alongside details of raids that led to the arrest of five other suspected drug dealers.
According to him, the operations across Owan East Local Government Area resulted in the seizure of 407.39kg of cannabis and other drugs, including 546 grams of loud, 114 grams of tramadol, four grams of diazepam and three grams of swinol.
The other suspects were Ali Garba, 57; Habib Braimoh, 45; Musa Mubid, 35; Ayo Aigberadion, 53; and Hope Okoro, 35. They were arrested in Warake, Ivbiaro and Ewe Uzeba communities following credible intelligence.
Ofuyeju said Garba was arrested in Ivbiaro on October 15 with 5.85kg of cannabis, while Braimoh had 100 grams. Mubid was found with two kilograms of cannabis, 309 grams of cannabis seeds, 114 grams of loud and 135 grams of assorted drugs.
Aigberadion was arrested in Ewe/Irue on October 16 with 220.8kg of cannabis, while Okoro had 237 grams of loud.
The commander warned that old age was no excuse for crime.
The grandmother admitted selling cannabis for over two years to survive as a widow.
“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,” she pleaded.
Ofuyeju said the arrests were part of the agency’s renewed efforts to rid Edo State of illicit drugs.
