Activist Challenges NDLEA Over Cannabis Crackdown and Calls for Legalisation

(Omoyele Sowore. Photo by Punch News)

Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and AAC presidential candidate, has condemned the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency's destruction of cannabis plantations in Edo State, instead advocating for legalization and controlled regulation of cannabis cultivation in Nigeria.

Sowore criticised the agency's destruction of economically productive crops amid the nation's severe poverty crisis, characterising the policy as counterproductive.

He argued that the government should permit and manage cannabis farming to unlock its medicinal and commercial value, contending that Nigeria could generate substantial economic returns through regulated industry development, research initiatives, employment creation and tax revenue.

Sowore's position followed the Edo State NDLEA command's destruction of two cannabis farms yielding approximately 4,628.9 kilogrammes and the arrest of ten suspects in separate enforcement operations.

One farm in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, measuring 0.699792 hectares with an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilogrammes, resulted in one arrest.

A second plantation measuring 1.151889 hectares yielded approximately 2,879.7225 kilogrammes, with 12.4 kilogrammes of processed cannabis recovered.

In concurrent operations in Benin City, ten suspects were apprehended.

One individual arrested at Oluku on August 14 possessed 25.857 kilogrammes of cannabis and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.

Nine additional suspects apprehended on August 13 at Abuja Quarters were found with cannabis, processed cannabis variants, tr@madol, diazepam, anabolic substances and methamphetamine.

The agency indicated all suspects had been remanded whilst investigations proceeded toward prosecution, with operations conducted in accordance with national directives to eliminate unauthorised drug cultivation sites.