The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) destroyed 255 hectares of cannabis farms across five local government areas of Ondo State in a seven-day operation codenamed Operation Abub.[1][2] The operation began at Ogbese forest on 15 February and lasted until 21 February 2022, and the agency disclosed it on 23 February.[1][2]

Strike Force officers drawn from the Edo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo commands worked through the Omolowo/Powerline, Ipele, Ala, Ogbese, and Utte and Okuluse forests.[1][2] They arrested 13 suspects and recovered 250 kilograms of cannabis seeds as well as 63.85 kilograms of processed cannabis weeds.[1][2]

Farm by farm

At Ogbese, officers arrested Olatunde Olaoluwa in his 10-hectare farm and destroyed and burnt it with other farms along the Ogbese riverbank.[1] On 16 February they stormed Ipele forest, arresting Amos Mark, Luke Job, Monday Momoh and Otunuya Waya while destroying 19 hectares of irrigated plantations; one suspect who escaped was later arrested at home.[1]

In the Omolowo community on 17 February, officers arrested Mary Udonije inside a 10-hectare farm, seizing 16.5 kilograms of seeds and 4.5 kilograms of processed cannabis plus an irrigation pump with over 700 metres of hose.[1] At Ala forest in Akure North, they seized at least 154 kilograms of seeds, destroyed over 30 hectares of irrigated farms and arrested John Mike with 2.5 kilograms of seeds.[1]

On the fourth day, 54 hectares were destroyed at Utte and Okuluse forest in Ose council area, with 95 kilograms of seeds, 2.5 kilograms of processed cannabis and a pumping machine recovered.[1] Anthony Agbe, 58, was later arrested with 43 kilograms of fresh cannabis in an already destroyed Ogbese farm, saying Henry Daniel, also known as Calender and still at large, had contracted him to gather it; Ahmadu Abubakar was arrested the same day with three Dane guns in a hut near a farm of over three hectares.[1]

On the last day, 21 February, over 50 clusters covering 47 hectares were destroyed, 2 kilograms of seeds were seized, and Olorunlogo Lekan was arrested inside a 10-hectare Ala forest farm before it was burnt.[1] At least 72 hectares of smaller clusters near the identified farms were also destroyed.[1]

NDLEA chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa commended the Strike Force and, citing President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that all such forest plantations be located and destroyed, urged them to look for more farms.[1]