Sowore Condemns NDLEA’s Destruction of Cannabis Farms in Edo, Calls for Legalisation.

Sowore Condemns NDLEA’s Destruction of Cannabis Farms in Edo, Calls for Legalisation.

Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over the destruction of cannabis farms in Edo State, urging the Federal Government to legalise and properly regulate the crop.

Sowore made the call in a post on X on Tuesday, where he faulted the agency for destroying what he described as economically viable crops amid widespread poverty in the country.

He said the government should stop destroying cannabis farms and instead explore the economic opportunities that could arise from a regulated cannabis industry.

“Legalize and properly regulate cannabis. Invest in research, harness its legitimate medicinal and industrial potential, create jobs, generate revenue, and build an industry Nigerians can benefit from,” Sowore said.

His comments followed operations by the Edo State Command of the NDLEA, which destroyed two cannabis plantations with an estimated combined yield of 4,628.98 kilogrammes and arrested 10 suspected drug traffickers in separate raids across the state.

The state commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed the details on Monday, saying the operations were carried out based on credible intelligence and in line with the directive of the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, to dismantle illicit drug locations nationwide.

According to Ofoyeju, the first plantation, located at Ugboku in Igbanke Forest, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, covered about 0.7 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilogrammes. A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested in connection with the farm.

The second plantation, measuring about 1.15 hectares, had an estimated yield of 2,879.72 kilogrammes and was also destroyed. Officers recovered two bags of processed cannabis sativa weighing 12.4 kilogrammes from the site.

In separate operations, 10 male suspects were arrested with various illicit substances.

At Oluku in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, 28-year-old Kingsley Anigala was arrested on August 14 with 25.857 kilogrammes of cannabis and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.

At Abuja Quarters in Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City, nine suspects were arrested on August 13 with cannabis sativa, loud, tramadol, diazepam, Swinol, Danabol and methamphetamine.

Ofoyeju said all the suspects remain in custody while investigations continue ahead of prosecution.

While the NDLEA maintains that the operations are part of efforts to combat illicit drug cultivation and trafficking, Sowore is advocating a policy shift towards legalisation and regulation of cannabis for medicinal, industrial and economic purposes.