The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency announced on Wednesday that Sulaiman Jimoh, also known as Temo, the leader of the drug cartel in Mushin, Lagos, has been arrested by its operatives. Temo had been evading arrest and was on the agency’s wanted list.
His capture follows the arrest of another drug baron, Joachin Mbonu, in Imo State on July 12 after fleeing from South Africa.
NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, stated that Temo was apprehended at his hideout after initially resisting arrest along with his associates.
Babafemi mentioned, “After many years of wearing the toga of invincibility, the overall head of the Mushin, Lagos drug cartel, 57-year-old Alhaji Sulaiman Jimoh (alias Olowoidiogede, popularly known as Temo), has been arrested by operatives of the NDLEA, at his enclave after an initial resistance from him and his horde of hoodlums.”
According to Babafemi, large quantities of illicit drugs worth billions of naira were seized from Temo in recent years, with some encounters resulting in violent gun duels.
Babafemi added, “In the last two years, the NDLEA had intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs worth billions of naira owned by Temo, but he has remained largely evasive while a few encounters with him and his armed gangs in his Mushin enclave had resulted in gunfight.”
Detailing Temo’s arrest, Babafemi explained how the NDLEA’s surveillance team tracked him to Igbarere Street in Mushin and called for reinforcements when he attempted to escape.
Babafemi recounted, “The drug kingpin was very notorious for always being on the move to evade arrest but with persistence and determination of the Agency aided by modern tools and intelligence, the concerted effort to get him paid off at 10 am on Monday, July 22, 2024 when NDLEA’s surveillance teams on his trail tracked and pinned him down at Igbarere street, Mushin. A reinforcement of about 50 operatives was immediately mobilized to the area while he was attempting to escape in a Mercedes Benz SUV GLE 350 marked 01G-300G.”
Despite his efforts to mobilize hoodlums, Temo failed to distract the operatives and was eventually overpowered and taken into custody.
Babafemi mentioned, “His attempt to escape by mobilizing hoodlums to engage and distract the operatives however failed after which he was overpowered and whisked away from the chaotic scene while his men surrendered to the superior firepower of the anti-narcotic agents who also succeeded in recovering the Mercedes Benz SUV the suspect was found in.”
NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), praised the efforts of the officers and men involved in Temo’s arrest.
Babafemi quoted Marwa, “In his reaction to the arrest of Temo, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, commended the officers and men of the Lagos State Command, Special Monitoring Task Force, and other formations tasked with the assignment of getting Temo arrested for their resilience, vigilance, and professionalism. He urged them to intensify the heat on all drug cartels wherever they are located.”