A 101-year-old great-grandmother has been arrested in Nigeria after allegedly being caught selling cannabis to locals, according to the country’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Esther Ogunmabo was arrested on Saturday in Ogun state after authorities allegedly found her carrying 90g of cannabis, reportedly packed into smaller sachets for sale.
NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said the elderly woman claimed she had turned to selling cannabis after her local shop was destroyed in a fire.
Authorities also alleged that one of Esther’s daughters, who lives in Lagos, was supplying her with the drugs. She was reportedly receiving fresh supplies every four days before selling them in smaller quantities.
Following her arrest, Esther was released on bail and provided with counselling due to her age. Her daughter has also reportedly been arrested as part of the investigation.
The unusual case quickly attracted attention online, with some social media users jokingly referring to the centenarian as “Granny Escobar”.
The arrest came as authorities intensified a wider anti-drug crackdown in coastal areas of Nigeria. The NDLEA also reported intercepting a wooden boat believed to have been transporting drugs towards Cameroon, arresting three people and seizing more than 42kg of suspected contraband.
