A massive operation in the forest of Efon Alaye in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Saturday 18th November 2023 has led to the destruction of 52,500 kilograms of cannabis sativa [Indian hemp] covering over 21 hectares of farmland; while a total of 92 bags of same substance weighing 1,380 kilograms were recovered and another 250 bags weighing 3,000kgs stored in different huts on the farm were also burnt.
According to NDLEA Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, in a Press statement on the agency’s Facebook page, no fewer than 15 suspects were arrested on the farm during the operation.
“They include: Okikiri Julius, 27; Ozoemene Friday Efajemu, 31; Tosin Ibrahim, 18; Israel Samuel, 25; Godwin David, 39; Friday Isaac, 19; Ayomide Igbekele, 18; Joshua Daniel, 27; Emmanuel Nwachukwu, 19; Emeka Onyeama, 31; Ani Augustine, 27; Obasi Ogbu, 32; Orsusue Peter, 23; Daniel Emmanuel, 18; and Yinusa James, 22.”
In Ondo state, five persons, including a wanted drug kingpin, Christopher Onyebuchi, 40, were arrested at New Bridge Compound, Idoani, on Wednesday 15th November and a total of 1,945 kilograms of cannabis recovered from them.
Others include: Olorunda Ojo, 52; Femi Tomoye, 22; Abdurahman Salahu, 29; and Momoh Jimoh, 31.
According to Babafemi, Onyebuchi had earlier been arrested by NDLEA on 25th March 2022 with 89kgs of same substance but jumped bail after he was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Akure.
Operatives in the state also on Sunday 12th Nov raided Upemen village in Owo, Ondo State, where they recovered 1,834kgs of same substance with 273kgs also seized the previous day, Saturday 11th Nov at Ipesi Akoko.
While NDLEA officers in Sokoto recovered 290kgs of cannabis from a female suspect, Fatima Salmanu, 20, at Gangaren Tashar, Illela Sokoto in Sokoto North LGA on Thursday 16th Nov, their colleagues in Edo state evacuated 808kgs of the same psychoactive substance stored in a forest at Igueben on Monday 13th Nov.
