The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing war against illicit drugs with the arrest of three suspects and the destruction of 125,750 kilograms of cannabis sativa in Ekiti State.
According to a statement released by the NDLEA State Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics Ifeoluwa Fabiyi, the operation, codenamed “Operation Weed Crusher 2025,” was carried out between Friday, October 17, and Monday, October 20, 2025, in the Igbara Odo and Ilawe Ekiti forests.
The State Commander, Rufus Aina, disclosed that officers of the agency uncovered massive cannabis plantations spanning over 29 hectares of farmland. In the Igbara Odo forest alone, 72,500kg of fresh cannabis sativa were destroyed, while an additional 53,250kg were eliminated in the Ilawe Ekiti forest.
Aina further revealed that 3,456kg of harvested and dried cannabis were seized during the operation, alongside nursery beds prepared for new cultivation.
“This operation is a clear warning to illicit drug cultivators in Ekiti. Operation Weed Crusher 2025 has been highly successful and demonstrates our renewed commitment to dismantling the cannabis supply chain both within the state and across the country,” Aina told Hobnob News.
He added that the NDLEA would sustain its crackdown on drug cartels and farmers converting farmlands into drug plantations, describing their activities as a threat to national food security.
The statement confirmed that three suspects were apprehended, while 40 labourers were hired to assist in the destruction of the illegal farms.
The Deputy State Commander, Muhammed Yaro, who led the Ilawe Ekiti operation, said the coordinated effort was part of a wider national strategy to eradicate cannabis cultivation in forest reserves.
The NDLEA, through its Edo and Ekiti Commands, has continued to intensify its fight against drug cultivation. Just last month, the Edo State Command destroyed over 18,000kg of cannabis in a similar operation in Ugbogui Forest, Ovia South-West Local Government Area.
“The illegal cultivation of cannabis poses a grave threat to food production. If these lands were devoted to cultivating food crops, we would significantly reduce food scarcity,” said NDLEA Edo Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju.
The agency has vowed to sustain its nationwide campaign against drug traffickers and cultivators, assuring Nigerians that the fight against narcotics remains a top priority.
Discover more from The Legit News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
