The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned community leaders in Ekiti against selling lands to strangers without proper investigations.
The State Commander of the agency, Mr Suleiman Jadi, gave the warning in Ogotun-Ekiti, Ekiti South-West Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
Jadi spoke when he led his officers and men to destroy a vast land used in cultivating cannabis in the town.
He said that some of the lands used in planting cannabis were sold to non-indigenes, without making adequate enquiry on what they intended to do with the lands.
“We have to abandon our vehicles and trek about 25 kms. from the town to this farm to arrest those involved in the cannabis.
“We discovered that those farmers are not from Ekiti and they were cultivating on the land given to them by the community leaders.
“Fortunately for us, we were able to intercept over 100 harvested cannabis, which have been packaged for transportation out of the farm.
“Some of the ones that are being sun dry were gathered and burnt to prevent the farmers from transporting them.”
The NDLEA boss said that in spite of various sensitisation programmes organised for community leaders not to sell or lease their farms to strangers, some had refused to cooperate with the agency.
“I will pay a scheduled visit to the Oba of Ogotun, to inform him of our discovery on his land.
“We will plead with the Oba to help us find out the owners of the farmlands used by the Indian hemp dealers, “he said.
Jadi appealed to the state government to help provide four-wheel drive vehicles and funds, to assist the agency to carry out its duties effectively and efficiently.