The NDLEA arrests and repatriates Festus Ibewuike, also known as Chidibest Ibewuike, after more than two years on the run. Multiple outlets report that the arrest follows the interception of 49.70kg of heroin at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in February 2024.
Outlets describe the arrest location and process slightly differently but broadly agree on the same chain of events. Reports say Ibewuike is arrested in Benin Republic, with Nigerian media citing actionable intelligence and collaboration involving NDLEA operatives and INTERPOL. Some accounts specify the arrest at an airport in Cotonou and note that NDLEA takes him back to Nigeria on a later date.
Several sources also provide additional context about his alleged involvement beyond the heroin seizure. They reference that NDLEA links him to a larger trafficking network, including other suspects charged in absentia, and mention steps such as asset-related actions tied to the case. The common focus across outlets is that NDLEA describes the arrest as a major breakthrough in pursuing fleeing drug traffickers connected to the Lagos heroin haul.
