The involvement of elderly Nigerians in the illicit drug trade has become a growing concern, with recent reports indicating a rise in the number of older individuals being caught with large consignments of drugs. According to a report by The Guardian, elderly people, with a minimum age of 60 years, have been caught with cannabis, tramadol, and large consignments of cocaine. This trend is considered unusual and has sparked concerns about the role of elders in society.
One of the most recent cases involves a 74-year-old man who was arrested on March 14, 2026, at the departure hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while attempting to board a British Airways flight to Heathrow, London, with 11 kilogrammes of cocaine. Another case involves a 67-year-old Nigerian-British grandmother, Mary Yetunde Barek, who was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while attempting to board a Virgin Atlantic flight to London with 13 kilogrammes of cocaine.
Perhaps the most stunning case is that of a 101-year-old grandmother, Esther Ogunmabo, who was arrested on August 15, in Ilisan, Ogun State, with 90 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets. According to NDLEA operatives, Ogunmabo claimed that her daughter usually sends the items to her and she in turn sells them in her local community. She reportedly took to the business after her shop was razed.
The economic situation in Nigeria may be tough, but nothing can justify the involvement of elderly citizens in drug trafficking. Elders are expected to serve as role models to the youths, and their involvement in the drug trade is considered a betrayal of this role. As Chaucer said, “if gold rust, what shall the iron do”? The government has a lot to do by way of enlightenment to ensure that those involved in the drug trade do not continue to take advantage of the ignorance of older citizens to recruit them into their fold.
It is also possible that some older citizens go into the business for pecuniary gains, hoping that law enforcement agents would not pay more attention to them because it is unusual to have people of those age brackets in the business. The website issafrica.org describes them as unusual suspects. The government must begin to think more seriously about how to take care of the country’s older citizens, many of whom had served the country in various capacities in their prime.
The NDLEA has been working to curb the drug trade, and recent operations have led to the destruction of large quantities of illicit drugs. In Lagos, the NDLEA, Navy, and Customs destroyed N301 billion worth of illicit drugs. Additionally, the Kano governor has signed an executive order against illicit drugs, highlighting the government’s efforts to tackle the issue.
The involvement of elderly Nigerians in the illicit drug trade highlights the need for the government to provide support and care for older citizens. Many of them had contributed to the country’s development in their prime and should not be left to their own devices now that they can no longer fend for themselves. The government must prioritize their welfare and provide them with economic opportunities to prevent them from being lured into the drug trade.
Key points
- Elderly Nigerians are increasingly being caught in the illicit drug trade, with recent cases including a 101-year-old grandmother and a 74-year-old man arrested with large consignments of cocaine.
- The involvement of elderly citizens in drug trafficking is considered a betrayal of their role as role models to the youths.
- The government must prioritize the welfare of older citizens and provide them with economic opportunities to prevent them from being lured into the drug trade.
