The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has achieved a major milestone in its fight against organized crime with the arrest of a long-wanted drug kingpin, Suleiman Gidado (also known as “The Shadow”), who has been on the run for over a decade.
The arrest, confirmed today, Sunday, 18 January 2026, brings a close to one of the coldest and most painful cases in the agency’s history: the brutal 2014 ambush and murder of three NDLEA operatives in Kogi State.
The suspect had been the mastermind behind a massive drug trafficking network spanning the Sahel region. In September 2014, his gang ambushed an NDLEA patrol team along the Okene-Lokoja highway, resulting in the deaths of three dedicated officers.
Following the attack, Gidado vanished, reportedly crossing borders and using multiple aliases to evade capture while continuing to orchestrate large-scale drug shipments from various neighboring countries.
The breakthrough came after a 14-month coordinated intelligence operation led by the NDLEA’s Special Intelligence Unit.
Digital Tracking: Operatives used advanced geo-fencing and satellite intelligence to track a series of high-value crypto-currency transactions linked to a shell company in West Africa.
The Sting: Gidado was finally apprehended in a high-security hideout in a border town between Nigeria and the Benin Republic.
Resistance: Despite having armed guards, the tactical team executed a “surgical” midnight raid, capturing him alive without any casualties to the arresting officers.
Suspect Profile & Allegations
| Detail | Information |
| Suspect Name | Suleiman Gidado (aka “The Shadow”) |
| Main Charges | Culpable Homicide (Murder of 3 Officers), Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering. |
| Network Reach | Nigeria, Niger, Benin, and Mali. |
| Status | In high-security custody in Abuja awaiting trial. |
In an emotional address at the NDLEA headquarters, Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) emphasized the agency’s “long memory.”
“Twelve years ago, this man thought he could kill our officers and disappear into the shadows. He was wrong. Today, we have fulfilled our promise to the families of those fallen heroes. No matter how long it takes, if you touch an officer of the NDLEA, we will find you. This is a victory for justice and a reminder that there is no safe haven for drug barons in Nigeria.”
The Federal Ministry of Justice has already begun preparing the charge sheet. Due to the cross-border nature of his activities and the severity of the charges, Gidado is expected to face life imprisonment if convicted of the murders and trafficking offenses.
