NDLEA Destroys Indian Hemp Farm In Kebbi, 7 Suspects Arrested

The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed an Indian hemp farm and made the arrest of the owner of the farm in Kebbbi.

A man simply identified as Mallam Abdullahi Sani,  who is believed to be 40 years oldt, claimed to be he owner of the farm was apprehended at Shingi village in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of the State, where the farm was located.

While confirming the destruction of the farm and arrest of the suspect, the NDLEA Commander in the state, Peter Odaudu, revealed to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Friday that the cannabis farm was the second so far discovered in the state.

“Sequel to intelligence report, a team of NDLEA operatives in the state on Sept 5, discovered and destroyed the Cannabis Sativa farm at Shingi village in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.

“The alleged owner of the illicit farm, Abdullahi Sani, a 40-year-old father of six children, was arrested and is presently in our custody undergoing investigation. “We uprooted 46 kilogrammes of cannabis on the farm. “This is a dangerous trend indicating a shift of Kebbi from being a drug consuming state to gradually being a drug-producing state via cultivation.

“We will nip the development in the bud before it spreads,” he said.

While speaking further, Odaudu recalled that the agency had on July 24, 2018, arrested a 55-year-old native doctor, Arage Rikici, who also owned an Indian hemp farm at Kukin village in Fakai Local Government Area of the state.

Odaudu advised farmers not to indulge in the cultivation of illicit plants, stressing that it affects soil fertility among other social and economic menace and apart from being punishable by law.

The NDLEA commander went ahead to urge communities in the state on the need to contact relevant authorities on citing cannabis Sativa plants, especially in their domain.