By Emmanuel Bamfo 
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 101-year-old great-grandmother for selling illegal cannabis in Ilisan, Ogun State.
The agency caught the centenarian, Mama Esther Ogunmabo, on August 15 with 90 grammes of skunk. She admitted selling the illicit substance in tiny wraps directly to local customers in the neighborhood.
Mama told investigators that severe financial hardship pushed her into the illegal business. A sudden fire outbreak destroyed her provisions shop, completely wiping out her legitimate livelihood and business capital.
Her daughter living in Lagos supplied her with fresh stock every four days to keep the trade moving. NDLEA officers quickly tracked down and arrested the daughter in connection with the supply chain.
Considering her advanced age, NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa directed officers to grant her bail immediately. The state drug agency also placed the great-grandmother under proper counseling instead of holding her in custody.
The unbelievable news has sparked intense debates across West Africa about old age, poverty, and law enforcement. Many people wonder how an elderly woman turned into a street dealer just to survive after tragic loss.
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