By Tola Gbadamosi

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Ondo State Command,  has  arrested a 45-year-old Togolese,  Yussuf Abdullahi who was involved in  cultivating cannabis plantation at Ipogun in Ifedore local government area of Ondo State.

The suspect was said to own 24 different  cannabis farms at Ipogun.

The Hope Metro authoritatively gathered that  the cannabis farms were destroyed during an exercise tagged, “Operation Thunder Strike,” which was led by Ondo  NDLEA Commander, Haruna Gagara, Deputy Director of Operations and investigation, Fredrick Ezeorah and 130 other officers from the national headquarter.

The Commander explained to The Hope Metro that, “We discovered that 350 bags of cannabis sativa were also destroyed by burning in the farm during the exercise.

“This is one of the largest farm land we have encountered in the state.

Gagara commended officers of the command  for their commitment and urged them to do more.

The Hope Metro gathered that the

team lead by Barr Fred  Ezeorah from the NDLEA headquarters destroyed over 1,323 hectares of cannabis plantation farm’s at iIpogun village.

Ezeorah said, “Ondo state is one of the states in Nigeria where we have large numbers of cannabis farms.

“In view of this, ‘Operation Thunder Strike’ was carried out in the state to rid the state off the illicit activities.”

He urged the federal government to recruit more staff and also increase the fund allocated for the agency yearly.

It was learnt that during the operation,  the agency which destroyed 24 cannabis plantation farms,  arrested one Togolese suspect,   Yussuf Abdulahi, who has since  been charged to court.

Abdullahi was said to have explained that, ” I got myself  involved in this kind of job to raise fund for operation of my hernia.

“I have tried several times to be able to work But couldn’t make it. But this business is bringing huge fund and it is lucrative for me,” he explained.