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.
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