101-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Arrested in Nigeria for Allegedly Selling Cannabis

A 101-year-old woman and great-grandmother has been arrested in Nigeria for selling cannabis, telling authorities she turned to the trade after her small shop was destroyed in a fire. The case has sparked widespread public discussion across the country.  

In a case that has drawn significant public attention and debate across Nigeria, a 101-year-old woman identified as Esther Ogunmabo has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on suspicion of selling cannabis. Described by authorities as a great-grandmother, she was apprehended on Saturday in Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria, after officers reportedly discovered retail sachets of skunk — a potent strain of cannabis — weighing approximately 90 grams in her possession. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Ogunmabo admitted to selling the substance to local residents, explaining that she began dealing drugs after her provisions shop was completely destroyed in a fire, leaving her without a source of income or means of support.

 

Investigations further revealed that one of her daughters, who resides in Lagos, allegedly arranged for the supply of the cannabis to be delivered to her mother every four days, which the elderly woman would then resell in small quantities within her community. The daughter has also been arrested in connection with the case. NDLEA chief executive Mohamed Marwa has ordered that the centenarian be released on bail and provided with professional counselling, acknowledging her advanced age and personal circumstances. Despite her release on bail, the possibility of formal criminal charges remains open.

 

The unusual case has sparked intense discussion across Nigeria, with many members of the public expressing sympathy for the woman's circumstances while others debate the legality and morality of the trade. The arrest came as the NDLEA also reported significant progress in other operations, including the interception of more than 42 kilograms of narcotics aboard a wooden vessel in Akwa Ibom State and the agency's first-ever seizure of illicit drugs imported from Thailand. 

These developments underscore the scale of the country's ongoing challenges with drug trafficking, though the circumstances of Ogunmabo's case have prompted many to call for greater compassion and social support for vulnerable elderly Nigerians.