A suspected cannabis sativa farmer, Clement Akor, has begged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA to take his life instead of destroying his 10-hectare cannabis plantation.
Akor, a 42 years old father of six children from Enabo village in Ankpa Local Government area of Kogi State was arrested by the Kogi State command of NDLEA alongside his accomplice David Ameh.
Akor who claimed he had invested so much in the business and cannot afford to loose it to the arms of the law said he learnt the trade in Owo, Ondo State.
The prime suspect who cried profusely to stop men of the NDLEA led by it commander Alfred Adewumi from destroying his farm which is located in Oketepe in Okula community about 10 kilometer from Ejule under Ofu Local Government of Kogi State said he would rather prefer to die and watch the officers destroyed what he had worked hard for in the last one year.
He noted that he is aware of the law banning the sale of cannabis sativa insisting that it is business which must be followed with risk.
His words” I am the owner of this farm. I learnt it in Yoruba land. When I cultivated one last year, it was stolen. So it is this year I bought seed from Yoruba land to plant new one’s, before I was caught.
“Indian hemp business is luck. In this farm, I can get many bags here. I do sell one bag for N20,000 depending on the area am selling it. It could me more. I spent N12,000 for labour in cultivating this farm. It better you people kill me than destroy this farm land.
“This is my business. I spent a lot to allow this plant grow up to this level. In the next two weeks, I am support to harvest it. Now you people have come here to destroy it. Just kill me, so that I won’t see you people destroying what I have laboured for. I am looking for money because I am an illiterate. I don’t want to engage in armed robbery or kidnapping that is why I am into this business of Indian hemp”.
His action forced the NDLEA commander Alfred Adewumi to calm him down insisting that the war against illicit use of drug is on course in Kogi State.
Addressing journalist on Wednesday, shortly after the destruction of the large cannabis farm, the Kogi State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Alfred Adewumi lamented on the increasing wave of illicit use and cultivation of cannabis sativa in the state.
Adewumi stated that the two suspects were arrested through intelligent gathering by officers of his command.
The commander noted that the latest breakthrough in the fight against illicit use of drug in Kogi State is coming three days after the command arrested the duo of Enduarance Samson and Abah Sunday for alleged possession of 36.2 kilogrammes wrap of cannabis sativa.
“Seeing they say is believing. What you are seeing today is certainly more than three football Field but together. I would make you make your judgment. Just look around, that is the huge expanse. We just left the first farm which is equally a huge cannabis plantation.
” This is very unfortunate. I am worried about this unfortunate development. I have thought that Kogi State will not descend to this point. As things stands today, it will be direct self denial to begin to say that Kogi state is not planting cannabis sativa because the evidence itself suggest the fact that their is high planting of cannabis sativa in Kogi State. Sadly Kogi State can also now begin to rank among those state where you find cannabis sativa plantations.
“We will not relent in fighting against illicit use of drug that is why we took the fight to their door step. Kogi State is the gate way to man other states in the north, south, east and western parts of this country.
“I had promised at the point of my deployment to Kogi State that I won’t give room for anybody to turn Kogi State to a drug cultivation State. And because of that, we have spread out our tentacles, reach out as far as possible with intelligence gathering, this result is why you are seeing today” Adewumi averred.
Adewumi said all the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation were concluded.
