Monday, 22 September 2014

Cannabis farmers increase drug use in Nigeria-experts








Emeka Ibemere
Experts in the new threat of rising illegal marijuana cultivation in the forests of Nigeria have suggested a serious manhunt for farmers who have turn their farmlands into cannabis cultivation. According to them, they do not only increase drug use but also cause food scarcity in the country.
Marijuana, Cannabis sativa, ‘Indian Hemp’, or Igbo, is a quick-growing and lucrative cash crop, promising hefty profit margins to growers who sell the buds of this psychotropic plant to black-market buyers and thereby increasing drug use in Nigeria. While the marijuana trade certainly presents legal risks to those involved, it appears to be the risk to the economy and agriculture that is getting high.
Investigation by our correspondent has revealed that cash crop farmers in the country are dropping their seedlings for cannabis buds.
Recent survey and researchers had a firsthand look at the effects of the marijuana boom and noticed that the boom increased the use of drugs in Nigeria. Again, half of deforestation occurring in the reserves where cannabis is planted from 2010 to 2012 appeared to be the result of cannabis cultivation.

The plantations are usually buried inside the womb of thick forests and mangroves harbors acres of marijuana growers, and often burn large patches of land to plant their buds.
Reports say that because the marijuana plants need a full twelve hours of sunlight, the canopy and any competing plants must be removed completely.

It was gathered that habitat is immediately lost and the surrounding forest is weakened by edge-effects and increased foraging pressures from displaced wildlife.

Additionally, crops often receive treatments of chemical fertilizers, herbicide, and pesticides, which can have deleterious effects on the surrounding ecosystem.
The cannabis is toxic so more toxic on it will destroy the farmland and use of land
“Demand for the marijuana product is soaring,” Rachel Ashegbofe Ikemeh, Coordinator and Principal Investigator of the Southwest/Niger Delta Forest Project, once told mongabay.com.
 “Profits from marijuana crops can come in within 6 - 8 months of planting, fetching 2 - 3 times more money than could be gotten from cultivating other food crop. In an oil-dependent economy, teeming youths will be on the prowl for a means of livelihood.”

According to her, this threat, calls for state governments and land management departments to crack down on all forms of illegal encroachment of forests by enforcing existing policies and removing officials who are aiding or participating with marijuana growers.

“Illegal activities such as unauthorized logging and encroachment by farmers have flourished for years in many of these reserves and in many of these cases, government/forest managers may have looked the other way because it provided a means of livelihood for many of the region’s burgeoning population especially during trying economic times in the country,” Ikemeh was quoted as saying.
Our correspondent’s investigation revealed that a bag of rice cost as low as N8, 000 while a bag of an Indian hemp cost as high as N550, 000, or N350, 000 depending on the type of the cannabis sativa.
An Indian hemp farmer waits only for 6 - 8 months of planting and smiled to the banks with two- to three times more money than could be gotten from a farmer who waits for a year or two to harvest other food crops and bank peanuts from his licit farming.
A tuber of yam cost N200, while a wrap of Indian hemp costs N100 to N200, depending on the kilogramme, while a pinch of cocaine costs as high as N10, 000, only. With the boom in illegal drug trafficking, farmers decided to dump their seedlings to weeds and are smiling to their banks.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade has declared total war against cannabis cultivators in the country.
The renewed attack on drug cartels was aimed at halting the large scale cultivation of cannabis otherwise known as hemp. It would also prevent the replacement of cocoa and food crops with the deadly plant.
The NDLEA gave the warning as it discovered and destroyed 100 hectares of cannabis plantation in Ikoyi forest, Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State.
During the destruction of the illicit cannabis plantation, 80 NDLEA officers drawn from South West and Edo State Commands as well as 50 labourers took part in the operation that lasted thirty-six hours from Monday night.
Two arrests have been made in respect of the discovery and the Agency was working very hard to identify all culprits behind cannabis cultivation and bring them to book.
Giade warned that the anti-drug Agency would not allow criminal groups to replace cash and food crops with cannabis. “The large scale cultivation of cannabis has left us with no option but to declare a total war against cannabis cultivators. NDLEA will vehemently resist the replacement of cocoa, cassava and other food crops with cannabis plants”, he stated.
“In the past two months, the Agency carried out three major operations to destroy cannabis plantations in the South West. The first was 184 hectares and the second 50 hectares both in Ondo State. This third operation in Osun State, a total of 100 hectares of cannabis plantation was discovered and destroyed.”
NDLEA boss assured that cannabis farm destruction is an on-going exercise that would not stop until criminal groups involved in the act are identified and punished.
NDLEA Director of Operations and General Investigation, Mr. Olugbenga Mabo who led the operation said that two farmers have been detained.
 “I personally participated in the operation because of the seriousness attached to it by management. The activities of cannabis cultivators are a threat to food security. We were able to trace the farms because of intelligence report which the Agency has been processing for several months. Two farmers resident in the cannabis plantation were apprehended. Apart from the large plantations so far detected, there are other intelligence reports we have received”.
Mabo added that the Agency would adequately motivate members of staff who participate in cannabis farm destruction because of the cumbersome nature and peculiar challenges.
Again, he said: “Cannabis farm operations are unique because of the location of the farms. As a result of the peculiar challenges, the Agency has several means of motivating officers that participates in these operations. This involves cash rewards, letters of commendation and outright promotion as specified in the NDLEA order”.
Daily Newswatch gathered that officers walked for about two hours from Oloro village to the cannabis plantations. Apart from crossing several rivers, the cannabis cultivators barricaded the foot path to the farms with logs.
On the way to the farm, it was observed that there was a cocoa farm measuring about two hectares. This later turned out to be a mere decoy because walking deep into the forest, revealed the entire area to be cannabis plantation.
The Agency has vowed to deploy resources at its disposal towards the total eradication of cannabis cultivation.
 “It takes a lot of resources to assemble a team of over a hundred for an operation like this. NDLEA needs the support of stakeholders. It is obvious that we need helicopters for aerial surveillance and destruction of cannabis farms. Cannabis is one of the potent drugs of abuse in the country. Those under its influence usually involve in rape, murder armed robbery and other crimes. The Agency will continue to collaborate with relevant partners towards making Nigeria drug-free,” Giade further promised.
Those arrested at the farms are Opute Abbi, 48, and Peter Emetoro Bonduku, 55.
The suspects hail from Delta State and they were contracted to work at the farms for a fee.
Peter Emetoro Bonduku said poverty pushed him to work for cannabis farmers. “I live in Lagos but my landlord evicted me for my inability to pay my rent. My wife and four children are now living with my relatives”. But the NDLEA said the suspects would be charged to court while the farmlands would be government property.

No comments:

Post a Comment