NDLEA destroys 2 cannabis plantations in Edo, arrests 4 suspects

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Edo State Command, have destroyed two cannabis plantations in the Ago Forest area of Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state.

The State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying the destroyed cannabis farms had an estimated yield of 1,388.42 kilogrammes.

He added that four suspected drug traffickers were arrested during separate operations carried out across the state within the past week.

“In a sustained offensive against drug trafficking and abuse, the Edo State Command has destroyed two cannabis plantations with a yield of 1,388.42kg and arrested four suspected drug traffickers within the past one week,” Ofoyeju stated.

He noted, however, that no arrests were made during the raid on the plantations because the cultivators were absent at the time of the operation.

According to him, three female suspects and one male suspect were later apprehended during separate raids conducted behind the Oredo Local Government Secretariat in Benin City, the Oluku area of the metropolis, and Uduwuga in Uhumwonde Local Government Area.

The suspects were identified as Eniye Osague, 25; Osaretin Erabor, 43; Vivian Chukwuma, 38; and Osigwe Omogie, 44.

Providing details of the arrests, Ofoyeju said, “Eniye Osague was arrested behind the Oredo LGA Secretariat, Benin City, on May 15, 2026, with 272 grammes of Scottish Loud.

“Osaretin Erabor, 43, was also apprehended behind the Oredo LGA Secretariat on the same day with 914 grammes of cannabis sativa.

“Vivian Chukwuma, 38, was arrested at Hausa Quarters, Oluku, Benin City, with 315 grammes of Loud, 22 grammes of Colorado, 38 grammes of methamphetamine, and 30 grammes of Tramadol 100mg.

“The fourth suspect, Osigwe Omogie, was arrested with 113 grammes of cannabis sativa, eight grammes of Loud, and five grammes of Tramadol.”

Beyond enforcement operations, the NDLEA commander said the agency, in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission, organised a three-day School-Based Prevention and Sensitisation Programme in Benin City from May 13 to 15, 2026.

He said the programme, themed “Anti-Cultism/Drug Abuse in Secondary Schools,” focused on the topic “Drug Abuse as a Catalyst to Secret Cultism and Related Anti-Social Vices.”

Participating schools included Edo College, Western Boys High School, and Uselu Grammar School, all in Benin City.

Ofoyeju disclosed that a total of 1,505 male students and 250 female students participated in the sensitisation exercise, facilitated by officials of the NDLEA, the Nigeria Police Force, and Everlink Network.