NDLEA Arrests Blind Man, Varsity Student With Indian Hemp In Kogi

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a blind man, Ezekiel Yerima and a 300 level student, Kunle Awogbemila of Kogi state University, Anyigba over the possession
of 22.8 and 89.3 kilogrammes of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp.

The state commander of NDLEA, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Bello, while parading the suspects in Lokoja said Ezekiel Yerima was earlier arrested for the illicit drug, tried and granted bail on health ground, but was re-arrested with the substance along Auchi-Okene road.

He disclosed that the command seized a total of 277.452 kg of the banned substance in January. Bello explained that on January 23 narcotics agents patrolling Okene-Mangogo Road intercepted one red Nissan Almera car with registration No. AG279 AJA during stop and search operation.

He said the officers discovered ten bags of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis Sativa weighing 89.3 kg in the vehicle, adding that the driver of the car, Saliu Momoh, confessed that the illicit substance belonged to one Kunle Awogbemila, a 300-Level undergraduate.

The commander said the NDLEA operatives used the driver’s phone number to contact Awogbemila, who was subsequently arrested with a green Toyota Camry car with registration number SMK 817BZ Lagos.
He pointed out that the student claimed to be an indigene of Ute, Ondo State, where the illicit substance was allegedly purchased for subsequent sale at Anyingba to a cannabis dealer.

Bello said the arrest was worrisome considering the fact an undergraduate who expected to be in school and occupied with his studies was involved drug peddling.

He called on the authorities of the state university and community leaders to partner with the agency, particularly by giving out information that could lead to the arrest of drug dealers in the area.

The suspect, he stated would be charged to Court in as soon as investigation was completed.

Awogbamila who spoke to Journalists admitted that he was the owner of the suspected weeds and was transporting the drugs to Anyigba to sell so that he would use the proceeds to pay his Tuition fees.