NDLEA has arrested two grandmothers, Adebayo Ebunoluwa Mercy, 60, who ingested 83 wraps of heroin on her way to the U.S and Amodu Ayisat Grace, 59, who ingested 25 wraps of cocaine on her way to Saudi Arabia. .
The second suspect was going to Saudi Arabia where drug trafficking attracts capital punishment. Her timely arrest at the Lagos airport by the Nigerian anti-narcotics officers have saved her from the ordeals of painful and ignoble death in a foreign country. .
Adebayo Ebunoluwa who hails from Kogi State and sells provision at Ikorodu, Lagos said: “I am a divorcee selling provision for survival. Things became rough and tough for me when I lost my capital due to family problems. .
It has been my dream to travel to the U.S in search of greener pastures. My involvement in drug trafficking was an afterthought. My intention when I got my visa last year was to go and work to take care of my needs without being a burden to anyone. .
Everything changed suddenly when I met an old friend at a party. They took care of my travel expenses and gave me $3k with a promise to assist me secure a job in the U.S. It was few hours to my journey that they brought the drugs for me to swallow. .
They said that it was my contribution for the kindness and money spent on my trip but it turned out to be my biggest mistake.” Amodu Ayisat Grace said: “I was happy when they offered to sponsor my trip to Saudi Arabia but I never knew it will end in my detention. .
I sell fufu to take care of my 4 children as a widow and this has been very challenging. They enticed me with a visit to Saudi Arabia and a handsome reward and I fell for trick.” .
NDLEA Chairman, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd.) said that it is shocking and shameful for grandmothers to be involved in drug trafficking. “This move by drug cartels to recruit grandmothers as mules is very disturbing, shocking and shameful. .
The moral emptiness exhibited by the suspects must be condemned by all. A situation where grandmothers have become a bad influence on their children and grandchildren is highly regrettable” Abdallah stated
