A Lagos pastor, Afolabi Hodonu, and his wife, Success Hodonu, were arrested at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Seme border on April 2. Officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted the couple during a routine stop and recovered 11kg of skunk from their vehicle. Skunk, a potent form of cannabis, is widely trafficked across Nigeria's land borders. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the arrest and stated that the agency's operatives acted on intelligence before stopping the couple's vehicle. The arrest occurred in Ogun State, a known corridor for drug trafficking into Lagos. The Hodonus are currently in NDLEA custody as investigations continue.
A pastor arrested with 11kg of skunk challenges the image many religious leaders project. Afolabi Hodonu's alleged involvement suggests that drug trafficking is no longer confined to street-level actors. When figures in religious positions are linked to narcotics, public trust erodes further. This case may generate headlines, but unless convictions follow, it changes nothing.
