Ex-soldier, civilian arrested with over 400kg of Indian hemp in Kogi

The Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard (NNSL), Lokoja, has arrested a retired soldier and a civilian with over 400 kilograms of a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja road in Kogi State.

The Commander, NNS Lugard Lokoja, Commodore Ugochukwu Ajulu, while parading the two suspects, Denis Foukorighe (a retired Corporal in the Army) and Paul Obor (both natives of Benue State), on Friday in Lokoja before handing them and the illicit substance over to officers of the NDLEA, said the culprits loaded the substance into a Honda Accord saloon car, conveying the items from Edo State to somewhere in Area 1, Garki, Abuja, for commercial purposes.

He stated that they were arrested on Tuesday during the Navy’s usual snap checks operations along the Ajaokuta-Lokoja road in Kogi State.

According to him, “We are here at NNS Lugard Lokoja to hand over the two culprits and the illicit substances weighing over 400 kilograms, including a Honda salon car, to NDLEA officials for onward prosecution in the law court.”

While urging all security checkpoints in the state to be wary of people transporting illicit substances through the state to other locations across the country, Commodore Ajulu noted that the Navy checkpoints in Kogi have been very active in line with the mandate given to them by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, stating that the mandate has started yielding results with Tuesday’s interception of illicit drugs.

He charged Nigerian youth to engage in lawful businesses that will give them legitimate livelihood instead of unlawful business that will land them in jail.

“The youth should learn trades that can give them legitimate livelihood. There is no excuse whatsoever for anybody to indulge in illicit business. I am appealing to Nigerian youth to desist from every form of illicit business because there are many legitimate things they can do to earn a living.

“They can learn carpentry, auto-mechanic, tailoring, masonry, among others that can be sources of livelihood for them. The youth should look inward into what they can do legitimately that can benefit them and the society at large,” Commodore Ajulu said.

The Officer in charge of Strike Force NDLEA, Kogi State Command, Superintendent of Narcotics Olorunfemi Abolarinwa, who received the two culprits on behalf of the agency, said the suspects would be investigated thoroughly before they face prosecution in the law court to serve as a deterrent to others.

“It is evidently clear that wherever there are illicit drugs, there are series of crimes being perpetrated. As an agency in the fight against illicit drugs, we will continue to sensitize the citizens on the need to do away with dealing in all prohibited drugs because of its adverse effects on people,” he stated.