By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti State Command, have seized about 500 kilogrammes of weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa.

The command disclosed that it had uncovered over ten hectares of cannabis plantation along the Ilawe/Ikere and Igbara-Odo axis of the state, extending into a neighbouring town.

The operation, it was revealed, was carried out by the operatives of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) attached to the Ekiti NSCDC command.

Briefing journalists at the command office located along Ikere-Ekiti road, Ado-Ekiti, the Commandant of the Ekiti NSCDC, Mr Oluwaseun Sosina, said one suspect named David Akpan was arrested during a routine patrol exercise in the area.

The Commandant explained that investigation is ongoing, with intensified efforts by the operatives to apprehend fleeing suspects, assuring the public that the command will not rest on its oars to ensure that drug-fuelled criminal activities are suppressed in the state.

The NSCDC Commandant further explained that officials of the CTU located the plantation while combing the forest after discovering that processed cannabis sativa from the axis was frequently transported through the Ikere route to the state capital.

According to him, “You will recall that the operatives of the CTU had been stationed along the Ikere/Ado-Ekiti axis to checkmate criminals and miscreants from moving into the state capital. This effort led to the revelation and the eventual discovery of the plantation and the arrest of a suspect.”

He stated that the suspect, who is currently detained at the office of the organisation, is assisting the command in identifying the whereabouts of other suspects.

He promised that the command would hand over the suspect to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.

The Commandant therefore urged farm owners to be cautious about those using their land for illegal activities, warning that the command would not spare landowners found culpable in cases of illegal land use. He noted that the command’s Agro Ranger Unit has been deployed to the area for proper monitoring and surveillance.