The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested the founder and General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Olasele, popularly known as Abbas Ajakaiye, over allegations of masterminding large-scale cannabis shipments from Ghana into Nigeria.
Olasele, who had reportedly been on the run for months, was taken into custody on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at his church in Okun Ajah, Lekki, Lagos. NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said operatives waited until the end of the evening service before moving in. “After months of fleeing abroad to evade arrest, the founder of The Turn of Mercy Church has been arrested for masterminding multiple shipments of illicit drugs into Nigeria,” Babafemi stated.
The clergyman was said to have fled to Ghana in June to avoid arrest after being linked to two seizures of “Ghana Loud,” a potent strain of cannabis — 200kg recovered at Okun Ajah Beach on June 4 and another 700kg found in his delivery van on July 6. According to Babafemi, the suspect confessed to ferrying the consignments via waterways from Ghana.
In related operations, NDLEA officers in Lagos, Nasarawa, Kano, Gombe and Edo states made significant drug seizures and arrests. In Lagos, a raid on an Ikoyi apartment led to the arrest of a suspect and the recovery of Canadian Loud.
In Nasarawa, over three tonnes of cannabis skunk were seized from three men, while in Kano, officers intercepted large quantities of skunk and synthetic cannabis.
Similar operations in Gombe led to the recovery of more than half a million opioid pills, and in Edo, a bus was stopped with thousands of tramadol capsules, other tablets, and injectable narcotics.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), commended the officers for their commitment, urging them to maintain professionalism and a balanced approach in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking.
“Every successful operation brings us closer to securing our communities from the dangers of illicit drugs,” he said.
