The Ekiti State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered six farms measuring about 70 acres of land used for illicit cannabis cultivation at Omuaran camp, Ise-Ekiti in Eseorun council area of the State. A seven-man syndicate including two Ghanaians that specialises in dry season cannabis cultivation were nabbed red handed while working on the plantations. Apart from the farms that are ready for harvest, there are several cannabis nurseries suggestive of further expansion of the farms. The six farms have also been destroyed and the command is making efforts to arrest all persons connected to the illicit act.
According to the Ekiti State Commander of the Agency, Mr. Bamidele Akingbade, the all year round cultivation of cannabis through the use of irrigation has increased the risk level of Ekiti in terms of illicit drug cultivation, trafficking and abuse. “The action of the syndicate is criminal and regrettable. Unfortunately, this is a sign of what to expect in the new planting season because the plantation is massive and no one will expect that such farms exist in the State. The good news however is that we are prepared to trace and destroy all their cannabis farms” Bamidele assured.
The commander warned farmers in the State to weigh the consequences of cannabis farming as anyone caught will be made to face the legal sanctions as provided by the NDLEA Act. The suspects apprehended at the cannabis farms are Mustapha Jubril and Wilson Nketiah both Ghanaians while their Nigerian collaborators are John Agada and Abu Jamiu. The three female members of the syndicate are Veronica Sunday, Bilikisu Jamiu and Kuburatu Dauda.
The NDLEA Commander also sent a strong warning to cannabis farmers that no matter how far they travel to perpetrate their inglorious trade, the State Command under his leadership is ready to locate the farms arrest the cultivators and bring them to justice. Bamidele disclosed that his deployment to Ekiti State by the Chairman/Chief Executive of the Agency Ahmadu Giade is with a clear mandate to clean up the State and incapacitate drug barons cultivating cannabis and trafficking illicit drugs in Ekiti land.
Mustapha Jibril, 53, that deals in timber at Akure said that he came to Nigeria in 2009 but was introduced into the drug business because of his poor financial status. “I accepted to work at the cannabis farms because of poverty. They supply us food and there is agreement that after harvest we shall be handsomely rewarded. My wife and four children live in Volta region of Ghana. I feel sad over my involvement” he stated. The other Ghanaian, Wilson Nketiah also said that poverty made him to engage in cannabis cultivation. According to Wilson “I do not like the job. I was only doing it because I needed money to go back to Ghana. Our living condition is very poor. We work and live in the farms, we suffer mosquito bite and even when it is raining we have nowhere to run to except the little tents. My wife and three children live at Eastern region of Ghana. I know they will be very sad if they hear of my involvement in drugs”.
John Agada one of the suspects who hails from Ofagbo in Kogi State said that he agreed to farm cannabis because he has not be successful in life. “I work in cannabis farm because I could not get a job. I used to cut palm nuts but at the end of the day there is very little or no profit to sustain me. I started farming cannabis in January 2010” John stated. Veronica Sunday from Kwale in Delta State is also involved in cannabis cultivation with her husband. She also blamed their involvement on poverty. “I work in the cannabis farm with my husband but it is poverty that made us to do it”.
While returning from the farm operation, a man carrying a bag of cannabis in a motorbike at about 4pm was stopped on suspicion and found to be carrying fresh weeds of cannabis when searched. The suspect, Osho Akindele was identified by the officers as a second time offender as he was two months ago sentenced to a year imprisonment with an option of fifty thousand naira fine which he paid. Osho stated that it is safer to carry cannabis in the afternoon as people will think it is foodstuff. In his words, “we used to carry cannabis at night but now afternoon appears safer because people will not suspect that it is cannabis. They will think that it is foodstuff. This arrest is just my bad luck”. When asked why he went back into the trade after his recent conviction, he said that he was invited to sell it and pay the owner.
The commander also warned that no matter how highly placed anyone caught shall be made to face the full wrath of the law adding that those arrested would be arraigned soon.
Ofoyeju Mitchell
Head, Public Affairs
08034088136
