In a significant victory for the rule of law, a notorious drug kingpin who has been on the run for over a decade has finally been apprehended. Sunday Jimoh, a suspect linked to the brutal killing of three security officers, was tracked down and arrested by tactical teams on Friday. The high-stakes operation took place at his hideout in Owode, Ogun State, following weeks of intensive intelligence gathering.
The arrest brings an end to a 12-year manhunt that began on June 15, 2014. On that fateful day, Jimoh allegedly orchestrated a violent mob attack against a team of officers who had moved in to arrest him at his base. The encounter turned deadly, resulting in the murder of three officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure. While the suspect managed to vanish into thin air that day, the authorities maintained a steady pursuit, proving that the wheels of justice move surely, even if slowly.
Jimoh’s reputation for violence and large-scale trafficking made him one of the most wanted fugitives in the region. Beyond the 2014 incident, he had another narrow escape on August 12, 2023. During that raid on his residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State, he managed to flee just before operatives moved in. However, the mission was far from a failure, as officials recovered a staggering 139 sacks of cannabis skunk, weighing nearly 2,000 kilograms.
The legal pressure on the suspect has been building for some time. Reports gathered that the house used by Jimoh in Ado-Odo, which essentially functioned as a warehouse for his illicit trade, has already been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government following successful court proceedings. This latest arrest in Owode also led to the recovery of an additional 69 kilograms of cannabis skunk found in his possession.
Spokesperson Femi Babafemi noted that this breakthrough serves as a stern warning to other fugitives. He emphasized that the agency remains committed to honoring its fallen heroes by ensuring that those responsible for such “barbaric” acts eventually face the full weight of the law. For the families of the officers killed in 2014, this arrest marks the beginning of a long-awaited closure.
The suspect is currently in custody and is expected to face a litany of charges ranging from drug trafficking to the murder of security personnel. His capture is being hailed as a major milestone in the ongoing effort to dismantle organized crime networks that use armed thugs to resist lawful arrests.
