An elderly woman, who the authorities say is 101, has been arrested in Nigeria for allegedly selling cannabis, in a case that has drawn widespread attention.

Esther Ogunmabo, described as a great-grandmother, was apprehended on Saturday in Ogun state, in the south-west of the country, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced.

Femi Babafemi, the agency’s media director, said the centenarian was found with “retail sachets of skunk, a strain of cannabis weighing 90 grams, which she claims she sells to locals”.

The NDLEA said the suspect told investigators that she turned to the illicit drug trade after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire. She has been released on bail.

According to the Ndlea, one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, allegedly arranged for the supply of the substance to her every four days. Ogunmabo is accused of then selling it on in smaller quantities to customers in her community.

Ndlea chief executive Mohamed Marwa directed that the suspect be granted bail and given counselling because of her advanced age.

Ogunmabo’s bail status means she could still be charged for criminal activity.

Her daughter has also been arrested.

Ogunmabo’s arrest came as the Ndlea also reported significant drug seizures along Nigeria’s maritime routes.

In Akwa Ibom state, operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas last Friday, which was heading to Cameroon, and arrested three people on board.

More than 42kg of narcotics were recovered from the suspects.

In what the agency described as a milestone, the Ndlea also recorded its first-ever seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand.

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