4.3864 hectares of cannabis farms destroyed, 2 suspects arrested

Tayo Afolabi |

Over four thousand hectares of canabis farms have been destroyed in Edo State while two suspects were arrested.

The Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), gave the names of the sspects in connection with the illicit farms as Orhiowobho Isaac (41), and Bayode Ohiomokhe, (34).

One of the farms was sited in the Owan East Local Government Area of the State, two others were found in the Ovia South-West Local Government Area.

The State Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Buba Wakawa, who confirmed the arrest on Wednesday, said that drug barons had suffered serious setbacks with the cannabis farms destroyed.

Wakawa said the arrest of the two suspected cannabis farmers and the destruction of the farms were in an effort to reduce the problem of illicit drugs in the State, saying any attempt to jeopardise food security in the state would be highly resisted.

The Commander said, “We successfully discovered and destroyed five cannabis farms measuring 4.3864 hectares. Three of the farms were located in Ikhin forest in Owan East Local Government Area of the State while two others were detected in Ugbogui forest in Ovia South West area of the State.

“In addition, two cannabis farmers were also apprehended in connection with the illegal cultivation at Ikhin forest and will soon be charged to court.”

One of the suspects, a father of five children with two wives 41-year-old Orhiowobho Isaac, who was arrested in a hut inside a cannabis farm, said that he cultivated the illegal drugs because he needed money for his medical expenses and family upkeep.

“I attended Usse Primary School, but could not further my education following the death of my father.

“I was introduced to cannabis cultivation by a friend because of the expensive medicals required to fix my deteriorating health condition as well as my family upkeep. This is my first time of cultivating cannabis.”

On his part, Ohiomokhe, who confessed to his involvement in cannabis cultivation, said that life had been very unfair to him.

“I have suffered unduly in a bid to make ends meet. I dropped out of junior secondary school in 2003 due to lack of financial support.

“I was a commercial motorcyclist, but after a fatal accident, I began subsistent farming of cassava and corn. Last year, I was introduced into cannabis cultivation because of the high profit involved.

“This is my second attempt at cultivating cannabis and I feel very bad being arrested by NDLEA officers inside my cannabis farm,” he said.