The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested three individuals in connection with the cultivation of cannabis sativa in Ekiti State.
NDLEA Ekiti State Commander, Rufus Aina, disclosed that operatives destroyed a total of 125,750 kilograms of cannabis sativa during operations at Igbara Odo and Ilawe Ekiti forests, while 3,456 kilograms of the illegal substance were recovered.
Aina’s statement was conveyed by the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Ifeoluwa Fabiyi, in Ado Ekiti on Thursday. He noted that the operations took place between Friday, October 17, and Monday, October 20, 2025.
“While the 72,500 kilogrammes of fresh Cannabis Sativa planted on 29.7 hectares of farm lands were destroyed at Igbara Oke forest, 53,250kg of the substance was destroyed in Ilawe Ekiti forest. Similarly, some nursery beds of Cannabis Sativa awaiting transplanting were destroyed,” Aina stated.
The NDLEA commander reiterated his commitment to tackling illegal cannabis cultivation, highlighting the ongoing “Operation Weed Crusher 2025.”
“The operation has been yielding positive results. It is a bold statement to drastically cut the supply chain of Cannabis Sativa in the state and by extension in the country.
“In a bid to sustain the onslaught against miscreants who have turned Ekiti forests into hotbeds for the illegal activities of commercial cultivation of Cannabis Sativa, the Ekiti State Command of the NDLEA stormed Igbara-Odo Forest, Igbara-Odo Ekiti, and Ilawe Ekiti Forest, Ilawe Ekiti.
“This massive operational success at the Igbara Odo Forest was a follow-up to the Ilawe Ekiti farm destruction operation. A total of 84 bags (72 regular bags and 12 jumbo-sized bags) of already harvested and dried cannabis sativa were also recovered, with a weight of 2,316kg.”
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He added that three suspects were apprehended during the operation, which involved the support of 40 hired labourers. The Ilawe Ekiti operation, led by Deputy State Commander Muhammed Yaro, specifically resulted in the arrest of the three individuals.
Recently, NDLEA officers in Edo State also destroyed over 18,000 kilograms of cannabis sativa in a similar raid targeting illegal cultivators. NDLEA Edo State Commander Mitchell Ofoyeju said the September 11, 2025, operation at Ugbogui Forest in Ovia South West Local Government Area revealed the threat posed by cannabis farms to food security.
“The massive cannabis farm destruction operation, which was based on actionable intelligence, is posing a serious threat to food security. If these forests can be utilised only for the cultivation of food and cash crops, the challenge of food shortage will be adequately addressed,” Ofoyeju warned.