Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have captured Solomon Kamo, popularly known as “Kanmo-Kanmo,” a long-wanted suspect linked to the brutal killing of three officers over a decade ago.
The criminal was apprehended on Friday, January 16, 2026, at his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State, where authorities also seized 69 kilograms of a potent cannabis variant (skunk). While announcing the arrest, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi highlighted Kamo’s placement on the agency’s most-wanted list since June 2014.
Authorities alleged that Kamo mobilized armed thugs who ambushed and opened fire against a team from NDLEA while attempting to apprehend the drug baron at his stronghold. The clash which claimed the lives of three officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure, saw Kamo escape the manhunt.
Described as a figure synonymous with extreme violence and lawlessness, his evasion had prolonged a high-profile manhunt.
The recent success was not the agency’s first clash with Kamo. In August 2023, NDLEA raided his Ado-Odo residence in Ogun State, uncovering a massive drug warehouse stocked with 139 sacks of skunk totaling 1,922 kilograms.
Although Kamo escaped that operation, a court later ordered the property to be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Broader NDLEA Crackdowns Yield Results
The arrest forms part of NDLEA’s intensified operations across Nigeria. Earlier on 13th January, a group of teams stormed Arokpa forest in Edo State, nabbing 53-year-old Isihor Edika, an operation where 320 kilograms of cannabis was confiscated.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, authorities arrested 44-year-old Yinka Agboola, accused of peddling illicit drugs via online platforms. Officers recovered quantities of skunk and cannabis oil from her home, underscoring the agency’s focus on digital drug trafficking networks.
These successes signal NDLEA’s renewed momentum against drug syndicates, with officials vowing continued aggressive pursuits to dismantle violent cartels and safeguard public safety.