A 101-year-old Nigerian woman has been arrested for allegedly selling cannabis in Ogun State, prompting widespread attention because of her age.

Esther Ogunmabo, described as a great-grandmother, was arrested on Saturday, according to Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said Ogunmabo was found with 90 grams of cannabis, packaged in small sachets for retail sale. She reportedly told investigators that she began selling the drug after a fire destroyed her provisions shop.

According to the agency, one of Ogunmabo’s daughters, who lives in Lagos, allegedly supplied her with the cannabis every four days. Ogunmabo is accused of selling it in smaller quantities to customers in her community. The daughter has also been arrested.

NDLEA chief executive Mohamed Marwa ordered that Ogunmabo be released on bail and receive counselling because of her advanced age. Her release does not rule out possible criminal charges.

The arrest was reported alongside several other drug enforcement operations across Nigeria. In Akwa Ibom State, NDLEA officers intercepted a wooden boat allegedly travelling to Cameroon and arrested three people, recovering more than 42kg of narcotics.

The agency also reported what it described as its first seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand.