Crime
NDLEA Urges National Support for Alternative Farming to Curb Cannabis Cultivation
Nigeria’s drug control agency is calling for urgent nationwide support for a new farming-based strategy aimed at reducing illicit cannabis cultivation, strengthening rural economies and improving national security.
The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), made the call in Abuja on Tuesday, following the launch of Africa’s first alternative development pilot scheme in Ondo State.
The programme, introduced last week in three communities — Ilu Abo, Ifon and Eleyewo — seeks to replace illegal cannabis farming with lawful, sustainable agricultural livelihoods.
Why it matters
Nigeria remains one of the countries most affected by illicit cannabis cultivation and use, with deep links to insecurity, youth unemployment and public health challenges.
According to Marwa, the scale of the problem has forced authorities to rethink a purely law-enforcement approach to drug control.
“The evidence-based comprehensive data on drug use in Nigeria exposes a bleak and deeply troubling reality,” he said.
Beyond crop substitution
Explaining the strategy, the NDLEA boss said alternative development goes beyond simply replacing cannabis with other crops.
“Its wider benefits include: strengthening rural economies through value-chain development; reducing the burden on law enforcement and the justice system; promoting peace and social cohesion in previously crime-prone areas; supporting national food production and agricultural diversification; improving Nigeria’s international standing in global drug control and development cooperation.”
Marwa described the initiative as a “win-win solution” for communities, government and national security.
Pilot scheme shows early promise
The NDLEA chairman said the Ondo pilot had already gained strong acceptance among local farmers and traditional leaders.
“One of the most encouraging outcomes of this pilot project has been the overwhelming acceptance and support expressed by the host communities and their traditional and community leaders,” he said.
According to him, community leaders believe the programme offers a lawful source of income, reduces rural poverty and improves food security.
The scale of Nigeria’s cannabis challenge
Marwa cited the 2018 National Drug Use Survey by the National Bureau of Statistics and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which found that 14.4% of Nigerians aged 15–64, about 14.3 million people used psychoactive substances in one year.
“Cannabis stands starkly at the centre of this crisis,” he said.
He added that 10.6 million adults reported cannabis use, making it the most widely consumed illicit drug in the country.
Field assessments in the South West alone show nearly 8,900 hectares of land under cannabis cultivation, often linked to organised criminal networks.
Public health and security concerns
Marwa warned that cannabis use often begins in adolescence, with long-term consequences for productivity, healthcare and crime rates.
“Out of a total of 15 million kilograms of assorted illicit drugs seized by NDLEA in the past five years, over 75 percent of them are cannabis,” he said.
“Just imagine the harm that quantity would have done to our youths, public health and national security.”
Call for national action
The NDLEA chairman urged all levels of government, traditional rulers, donor agencies, the private sector, civil society and the media to support the programme.
“We therefore call for a strong national response and sustained support from all stakeholders across all layers of government,” he said.
He also appealed directly to communities involved in illicit cultivation to work with authorities.
“The alternative development programme is not just a drug control initiative; it is a people-centred development intervention designed to uplift communities, strengthen national security, and secure Nigeria’s future.”
Government and international backing
Marwa said the agency plans to expand the programme nationwide in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He praised the support of international partners, including UNODC, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and development agencies from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security were also represented at the launch.
What’s next
The NDLEA says the success of the Ondo pilot could shape Nigeria’s future drug control policy, shifting focus from arrests to sustainable rural development.
Expansion to other high-risk regions is expected, subject to funding and inter-agency collaboration.
The Nigeria Police Force has extradited a suspected fugitive, Matthew Chukwuemeka Adebiyi, to the United Kingdom to face charges of murder and drug trafficking.
The handover, carried out on 14 April 2026 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, follows a years-long investigation into the suspect’s alleged crimes.
What the suspect is accused of
According to police, UK authorities had requested Adebiyi’s extradition in September 2024 over his alleged involvement in the murder of Joshua Boadu on 18 June 2018.
Investigators say he fled to Nigeria shortly after the incident.
He is also accused of supplying crack cocaine, classified as a Class-A drug, between October 2017 and March 2018 in the UK.
How the arrest and extradition happened
The suspect was arrested on 23 January 2025 by operatives of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau Abuja.
Legal proceedings followed at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
On 16 February 2026, Justice A.O. Faji approved the extradition request under Nigeria’s Extradition Act.
Authorities then executed a surrender warrant, leading to Adebiyi’s transfer to UK law enforcement officials.
Police reaffirm global cooperation
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, said the extradition highlights Nigeria’s commitment to international policing.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to strengthening international police cooperation and ensuring that Nigeria does not serve as a safe haven for fugitives.”
Why it matters
The case underscores growing collaboration between Nigeria and international law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational crime.
Security analysts say such actions could improve Nigeria’s global reputation in crime prevention and justice enforcement.
It also sends a signal to suspects attempting to evade justice across borders.
Industry and public perspective
Criminal justice experts note that extradition cases often involve lengthy legal processes and diplomatic coordination.
Public reactions on social media have largely supported the move, with many calling for continued crackdowns on cross-border criminal networks.
What happens next
Adebiyi is expected to stand trial in the UK, where prosecutors will present evidence related to both the murder and drug trafficking allegations.
If convicted, he could face significant prison time under UK law.
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested three suspected armed robbers following reported attacks at a residential estate in Sangotedo, Lagos.
The incidents, which involved conspiracy and armed robbery, occurred on April 11 and April 13, 2026, according to police authorities.
How the arrests happened
Police said the suspects, Balogun Teslim, Suleman Balogun, and Peter Oluwagbemi were apprehended after officers responded to a distress call from residents.
Recovered items included a locally made pistol loaded with six rounds of 9mm ammunition, face masks, ropes, a hammer, pliers, cellophane tape, and black jackets.
Authorities say the items are believed to have been used in carrying out the attacks.
Mob attack and police intervention
Before police arrived, members of the public reportedly attacked the suspects.
Officers later rescued them and took them to a police medical facility, where they are receiving treatment.
The police warned against mob justice, stressing the importance of allowing law enforcement to handle criminal cases.
Suspects confess, gang leader at large
Police said two of the suspects have confessed to the crimes and identified a man named Kinsley as the alleged gang leader.
The suspect is currently on the run, and efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest him.
Police warning on ‘jungle justice’
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Tijani Fatai, reiterated the command’s stance against violent crime and cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands.
“The Command has zero tolerance for violent crimes and strongly warns against jungle justice.”
He urged residents to report suspicious activities promptly through official channels.
Why it matters
Rising concerns about security in fast-growing Lagos suburbs like Sangotedo have made community-police cooperation increasingly important.
This arrest highlights both the role of citizen vigilance and the risks associated with mob action, which can undermine justice and endanger lives.
Public advisory and emergency lines
Residents are encouraged to remain alert and report suspicious movements to the police via emergency numbers:
07061019374
08065154338
08063299264
08039344870
09168630929
What’s next
Police say investigations are ongoing, and efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect and dismantle the wider criminal network.
The Delta State Police Command has arrested four suspects and disrupted a suspected cult initiation, recovering firearms, ammunition, and illicit drugs in coordinated operations across the state.
The police said the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to curb cultism and violent crime, which remain a major security concern in parts of southern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said operatives carried out the operations in Orerokpe and Ibusa between 11 and 12 April.
Arrest of suspected cult leader
Police said officers from the Delta Shield unit intercepted a 32-year-old suspect, identified as Peter Onajite, during a surveillance patrol in Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area.
A search reportedly led to the recovery of a locally made double-barrel cut-to-size pistol, two live cartridges, one expended cartridge, and sachets of suspected Tramadol.
“During preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to being the leader of Juris Confraternity,” the statement said.
The suspect remains in custody while investigations continue.
Cult initiation foiled in Ibusa
In a separate operation, police said they acted on intelligence about a planned cult initiation linked to a suspect identified as Chinedu Onyeama, who is currently at large.
Officers from the Ibusa Police Division raided a location on Jordan Road, leading to the arrest of three suspects, including a female.
Items recovered at the scene included an English-made Beretta pistol with one round of live ammunition, three battle axes, a hammer, a cutlass, and 39 firelighters.
Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect.
Why it matters
Cult-related violence has long been linked to killings, intimidation, and criminal networks in parts of Delta State and the wider Niger Delta region.
Security agencies have increased intelligence-led operations in recent years, aiming to dismantle cult groups and reduce violent clashes, particularly among youth.
The recovery of weapons during these operations highlights ongoing concerns about the circulation of illegal firearms.
Police reaction
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, praised the officers involved.
“The operatives demonstrated professionalism and prompt response,” he said.
He also reaffirmed the command’s stance on tackling violent crime:
“The Police will continue to clamp down on cult-related activities and other violent crimes.”
Industry and public perspective
Security analysts say such operations are critical but must be sustained.
Residents in affected communities have also called for increased patrols and intelligence gathering to prevent retaliatory attacks.
What’s next
Police say investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected, particularly in connection with the fleeing suspect linked to the Ibusa incident.
Authorities are also urging members of the public to provide information that could help track down criminal networks.
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