Worried by the increasing discovery that farm plantations meant for food a cash crops are steadily being turned to cannabis farms otherwise known as Indian hemp, the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday revealed that 334 hectares of Indian hemp plantations have been destroyed.
The Agency chairman, Ahmadu Giade said that on Tuesday, 100 hectares of cannabis plantation were discovered and destroyed at Ikoyi forest, Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State.
NDLEA spokesman, Mitchell Ofoyeju said that no fewer than 80 NDLEA officers drawn from South West and Edo State Commands as well as 50 labourers took part in the operation that lasted 36 hours from Monday night.
Ofoyeju said: “Two arrests have been made in respect of the discovery and the Agency is working very hard to identify all culprits behind cannabis cultivation and bring them to book.”
Giade said that NDLEA would not allow criminal groups to replace cash and food crops with cannabis.
He added: “The large scale cultivation of cannabis has left us with no option than to declare a total war against cannabis cultivators.”
He noted NDLEA vehemently resist the replacement of cocoa, cassava and other food crops with cannabis plants. According to Ofoyeju, in the past two months, the Agency has carried out three major operations to destroy cannabis plantations in the South West.
Giade revealed: “The first was 184 hectares and the second 50 hectares both in Ondo State. This third operation in Osun State, a total of 100 hectares of cannabis plantation was discovered and destroyed.”
He assured that cannabis farm destruction was an on-going exercise which would not stop until criminal groups involved in the act were identified and punished.
NDLEA Director of Operations and General Investigation, Mr. Olugbenga Mabo said that two farmers were arrested at Osun State.
“I personally participated in the operation because of the seriousness attached to it by management. The activities of cannabis cultivators are a threat to food security. We were able to trace the farms because of intelligence report which the Agency has been processing for several months. Two farmers resident in the cannabis plantation were apprehended. Apart from the large plantations so far detected, there are other intelligence reports we have received.”
Those arrested at the farms are Opute Abbi, 48, and Peter Emetoro Bonduku, 55. The suspects who hail from Delta State said they were contracted to work at the farms for a fee. In the words of Peter Emetoro Bonduku, “I live in Lagos but my landlord evicted me for my inability to pay my rent. My wife and four children are now living with my relatives”.
The suspects will be charged to court.
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