Osun State Second In Cannabis Cultivation In South-West, NDLEA Says
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has revealed that Osun State is the second highest producer of cannabis in the South-West region of Nigeria.
The agency’s Assistant State Commander, Administration and Logistics, Mr Ganiyu Adeloye, made this known on Monday at a workshop with the state branch of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) in Osogbo, the state capital.
Mr Adeloye urged the hunters to assist the agency in combating the illicit cultivation and trafficking of cannabis, also known as Indian hemp, in the state.
He said that some areas in Ilesa, a town in the state, have been taken over by cannabis farmers, making them inaccessible to law enforcement agents.
He also appealed to the residents of the state to cooperate with the agency in its efforts to curb the menace of drug abuse and addiction.
He said that the hunters, who have a good knowledge of the terrain and the hidden routes used by drug dealers, are valuable partners for the NDLEA in gathering intelligence and arresting suspects.
He advised the hunters to be role models for the society by abstaining from drug use and reporting any criminal activities to the agency.
He said: “If we give no room for people to take hard drugs, there will be a drastic reduction in criminal activities and other vices in our society.
“That is why we implore the hunters to always report criminal activities to us since they are always privy to information in their various localities and they also know all the nooks and crannies of various communities than the NDLEA officers.
“Hunters have access to information in minutes, what we cannot see in three or four years. It is sad to announce to you that Osun State has been ranked second among states that cultivate Indian hemp in the South-West.
“It is a sad thing because nearly all states in Nigeria have airports but Osun cannot boast of its airport, but was ranked second in hemp cultivation and I know our mothers and fathers in the communities are aware of this development because they are the ones giving them land on which they cultivate it.
“You lease your farmland to the highest bidder because they offer the highest amount compared to someone who wants to cultivate food crops. The money offered to you would not allow you to ask for what they want to cultivate. I heard some people are even providing security for Indian hemp farms.
“You may not know this, but I tell you, farmland that has been used to cultivate Indian hemp can’t be good for any other crop again until after 15 years. Anything planted on such land before 15 years will not return good yield. The perpetrators would have harvested their produce and used the proceeds to better their lives and that of their community while they would have desecrated our land.”
Mr Adeloye also challenged the hunters to ensure that cannabis cultivation is eradicated in their communities, citing the example of Ila Orangun, where he said the practice has stopped.
He reminded the hunters of their legal rights and responsibilities to arrest criminals and hand them over to the security agencies, without resorting to jungle justice.
He said: “This is a challenge to us. I am happy to hear from our representative from Ila Orangun that people no longer cultivate Indian hemp in the community. If it is so, then I congratulate the people of Ila. But I know some people plant hemp inside yam and okro farms, we urge our fathers not to overlook such.
“That is not all, the Constitution of the country allows an individual who can arrest anyone engaging in criminal activities, even if you are not a hunter because it is not every time you report to security. If you want to report, the suspects may have escaped before you come back. But if you have the capacity to do so, hand them over to the security agents, the law allows it.
“At the same time, the law gives hunters the upper hand to arrest criminals whether on the highway, in the bush or wherever. What the law frowns upon is jungle justice. You can only arrest criminals after which you hand them over to security agencies.”
The Osun State Commander of NHFSS, Mr Nureni Ahmed, in his welcome address, said the workshop was organised to discuss areas of collaboration between the two organisations due to rising cases of drug-related crimes in the state.
He said the hunters are ready to work with the NDLEA to ensure a drug-free society.
