A major controversy has emerged within the Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following allegations of extortion, unlawful detention, and human rights abuses against its operatives.
The situation gained attention after a 65-year-old woman (name withheld) claimed she paid N1.5 million to secure her release after spending three weeks in NDLEA custody.
She was reportedly arrested alongside the late Titilayo Akindele in Ogida Quarters, Benin City, over alleged possession of substances suspected to be cannabis.
The incident took a more serious turn after Akindele was reported to have died on March 31, 2026, while awaiting arraignment at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Benin City.
Recounting her experience, the woman accused NDLEA operatives of falsely implicating her and demanding money in exchange for her release.
“When they arrested me, I was not with anything, but they used another person’s market to take my pictures,” she alleged.
She further claimed that detainees were frequently compelled to pay large sums to regain freedom.
“I saw some people pay N8 million, others paid N7 million, N5 million. Myself, I paid N1.5 million to come out,” she said.
According to her, some suspects were detained for extended periods without trial.
“There was a girl we met there she had stayed for six months. They said they saw ‘Igbo’ (cannabis) with her,” she added.
Supporting the claims, the husband of the deceased, Mr. Adebayo Bashiru, alleged that NDLEA officials demanded up to N5 million to secure his wife’s release.
Bashiru said the officers who carried out the initial arrest demanded N2 million, but the amount was increased after she was transferred into NDLEA custody.
“When the NDLEA people began to talk, they said we should bring N5 million. We could not afford it,” he said.
He explained that after raising N500,000, the offer was allegedly rejected, with officials insisting on a higher amount.
“One of them said I should talk to his oga. The man told us if the money is not up to N3 million, we should forget it,” Bashiru alleged.
Reacting to the development, human rights lawyer, Douglas Ogbankwa, condemned the alleged actions, describing them as serious violations of citizens’ rights. He also raised concerns about what he described as a pattern of impunity within NDLEA detention facilities nationwide.
“NDLEA facilities have, in many instances, become zones of prolonged and unlawful incarceration where citizens are held for months without trial and in blatant disregard for constitutional provisions,” he said.
He called for an independent and transparent investigation into Akindele’s death, suspension and removal of officers directly involved
Overhaul of the Edo State command structure, and intervention by the Attorney-General of the Federation
Efforts to obtain a response from the Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or text messages as of the time of filing this report.
