The destruction of 68 acres of cannabis sativa
farm in Gambari forest, Ibadan, Oyo State, was
like a war front.
A combined team of armed
soldiers, Civil Defence, Department of State
Security Service (DSS), National Drug Law
Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and forest
management officials, operating under the
aegis of Operation Burst, trooped into the
forest to destroy a plantation harbouring
cannabis sativa commonly known as Indian
hemp or marijuana.
The plantation is located
within Olounde village, Ogunmakin.
The armed team drove for hours through ldi-
Ayunre village to lki-Oke Alayo to access the
forest.
The destruction of the weed itself lasted
several hours as the farm appeared to have no
end.
Forest management officers cleared the weed
with cutlasses, NDLEA officials went round to
spray chemicals on it while the soldiers
surrounded the farm for protection.
After so much work, the security operatives
appeared like local farmers with stains all
over them. The discolouration was so
conspicuous on their uniform.
The NDLEA Director of Operations and General
Investigation, Mr. Mabo Olugbenga, who came
from Lagos headquarters, had led the way
into the forest. Gaining access into the place
was a big challenge, as the team drove from
Ibadan through several villages. They passed
through lki- Oke Alayo village, ldi Ayunre,
among other communities, before getting to
the forest.
After passing Iki-Oke Alayo village, everyone
had to trek into the forest for hours as the
farm location had no roads.
The bush paths were rough with streams and
swampy areas making movement difficult.
On getting to the farm, the marijuana plants
looked fresh. Each acre of the plantation had
a hut with food items and plates inside it.
Standing on the farmland was a written code
of conduct, stating that, lateness to work
attracts a fine of N2,000, fighting attracts six
strokes, entry into the farm without
permission N10,000 fine and making noise
N1,000.
Other rules include attending meeting in the
farm every first Sunday of the month, even as
every worker is expected to be at the camp by
5pm each day after work.
In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, Olugbenga
described the place as evil forest, explaining
that the marijuana farm was worth millions of
naira and was discovered through intelligence..
He said, “This is not the first time we are
carrying out this type of operation and we
would not relent in doing our best to sanitise
the system. We thank the governor of Oyo
State for giving us tremendous support. Last
year, we destroyed over nine tons of hard drug
plantations”.
He went on, “The current management of
NDLEA has zero tolerance for hard drug
business and is doing everything possible to
curb the menace. Criminals are those involved
in this nefarious business. They take
advantage of the economic situation in the
country to recruit many people to work for
them at such plantations.
The victims of this illegal business are our
youths who consume the end product of the
plants. I implore parents and the entire public
to give useful information to appropriate
security agencies in the fight against hard
drug business in the country”.
The representative of the Special Adviser on
Security to Oyo State governor, Dr. Olatundun
Sunday, who also made the trip to the forest,
frowned at marijuana cultivation in the State,
stressing that his principal will continue to
support NDLEA in its effort to tackle such
criminality.
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