Drug war: How traditional ruler was nabbed in Edo

Thousands of drug dealers, including a traditional titleholder in Edo State, who allegedly masterminded the killing of an officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) earlier in the year, have been arrested. Many bags of cannabis were also seized in 10 months. In what appeared to be an end-of-the year clean-up of drug […]

Thousands of drug dealers, including a traditional titleholder in Edo State, who allegedly masterminded the killing of an officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) earlier in the year, have been arrested. Many bags of cannabis were also seized in 10 months.

In what appeared to be an end-of-the year clean-up of drug menace, the NDLEA embarked on “Operation Thunder-strike IV,” a weeklong combing of forests notorious for Indian hemp cultivation in Ondo and Edo states, as well adjourning forests.

The intelligence-driven counter narcotic campaign led to an unprecedented seizure of tons of Indian hemp already harvested and heaped for onward movement to various drug markets.

The agency’s spokesman, Mr. Jonah Achema, told Daily Trust Saturday that at the end of the operation, approximately 195.8 tons (or 177,626.77kg) of the illicit crop were confiscated at six camps raided by operatives of the agency.

The officers and men of the agency, with a detachment of military personnel, went to the forests, where they operated for many hours, running through the night to uncover camps, warehouses and depots where harvested bags of cannabis were hidden.

At Uzebba and Ukpoji-Ihkin, two communities in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, bordering Ondo, which are notorious for the cultivation of cannabis, one Ohimai Ayodele, a 51-year-old titleholder, who is known as a cannabis merchant and suspected to be the mastermind of the killing of an NDLEA personnel earlier in the year, was apprehended during the operation.

In an attempt to resist arrest, his gang opened fire, injuring some of the security operatives.

A major operation was also carried out in Ala Forest Reserve in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, where the agency intercepted and burnt 181.2 tons (or 164381.87kg) of the illicit drug concealed in warehouses.

“The operation was carried out at three different warehouses spread across the forest. A total of 12, 078 bags of the illicit drug crop were discovered in the three warehouses, out of which 16 bags weighing 240kg were brought to the office. In addition, 730 sacks of cannabis seeds weighing 21.9 tons were recovered and destroyed. The agency also recovered two single barrel guns and expended cartridges,” Jonah said.

During the special operation, a reinforcement of the NDLEA and military personnel stormed Ivbiodeohen forest in Uzebba and raided five warehouses. In that operation, at least two tons of cannabis were destroyed.

Ojeagbese Asabiya, a 66-year-old man, was arrested in a disserted locality, where several cannabis nursery and transplant farms were discovered and destroyed. Eight locally fabricated guns and several rounds of ammunition were also recovered while six locally fabricated cannabis compressing machines were recovered from the camp.

Also, at Uteh, near Ifon in Ondo State, the operation lasted 20 hours as the operatives stormed the Ajobieye forest, Owo Local Government Area. This led to the destruction by of 1, 225 bags of cannabis sativa, weighing 12.3tons.

A total of 174.5 kilograms and samples of fresh plants were brought to the office for further action.

The agency pulled its resources from the six geographical zones and got the collaboration of military formations within the axis. Forty-five military personnel joined forces with 329 officers and men of the NDLEA for the campaign.

Speaking on the operation, Haruna Gagara, the commander of the NDLEA, Ondo State command said, “The operation has caused a serious disruption in the drug market and checked the likely influx of drugs during the yuletide.”

He said the impact of the operation would be felt in the illicit drug market nationwide because about 80per cent of Indian hemp dealers across the country get their supply from the states covered by this operation.

He also said that between January and October 2019, the agency seized 555.3 tons (or 503,759.69kg) of cannabis and arrested 5, 913 suspected drug offenders.