₦airaland Forum

Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency over the destruction of cannabis farms in Edo State.

Sowore called on the agency to stop destroying cannabis plantations and urged the Federal Government to legalise and regulate cannabis cultivation in Nigeria.

Sowore demands change in cannabis policy

Sowore made the comments in a post on X on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, after the NDLEA reported the destruction of two cannabis plantations in Edo State.

He argued that the government was destroying crops with significant economic potential while the country continues to battle widespread poverty.

Sowore said Nigeria could benefit from a regulated cannabis industry through medicinal and industrial research, job creation and revenue generation.

NDLEA destroys 4,628.9kg of cannabis

The NDLEA Edo State Command reported that its operatives destroyed two cannabis plantations with an estimated yield of 4,628.9 kilogrammes.

The first plantation was located at Ugboku, Igbanke Forest, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area. It measured 0.699792 hectares and had an estimated yield of 1,749.26 kilogrammes.

A 40-year-old suspect, Agholor Elebojie, was arrested in connection with the farm.

The second plantation measured 1.151889 hectares and had an estimated yield of 2,879.7225 kilogrammes. Operatives also recovered two bags of processed cannabis weighing 12.4 kilogrammes.

Ten suspects arrested

The NDLEA also announced the arrest of 10 suspected drug traffickers during separate operations in Edo State.

One of the operations took place at Oluku in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, where a 28-year-old suspect, Kingsley Anigala, was arrested with 25.857 kilogrammes of cannabis and 93 grammes of methamphetamine.

Nine other suspects were arrested at Abuja Quarters in Oredo Local Government Area of Benin City.

The suspects were found with various substances, including cannabis, tramadol, diazepam, Swinol, Danabol and methamphetamine.

The NDLEA said the suspects remained in custody while investigations continued ahead of prosecution.

Sowore pushes for legalisation

Sowore maintained that Nigeria should consider a regulated cannabis industry rather than relying solely on the destruction of plantations.

He argued that investment in research and regulated cultivation could create jobs and generate revenue while allowing the country to explore legitimate medicinal and industrial uses of cannabis.

The debate comes as the NDLEA continues its nationwide campaign against illicit drug cultivation and trafficking.

Source: https://yaroinsider.ng/sowore-tells-ndlea-to-stop-destroying-cannabis-farms/

What is this Sowore saying? Cannabis is a hard drug used by criminals and even the smell is irritating when you come close to those smoking it.

IkeOnyia:
What is this Sowore saying? Cannabis is a hard drug used by criminals and even the smell is irritating when you come close to those smoking it.

Well according to old tales , rumours has it that anyone who finds it irritating just the way you described it is a witch. That's why some people smoke it cos the smell chase witches and wizards away. Which has being traditionally proven 😁😁😁

So boss are you a witch or wizard?

IkeOnyia:
What is this Sowore saying? Cannabis is a hard drug used by criminals and even the smell is irritating when you come close to those smoking it.

:::

Some foods smell bad and irritating to some people. Should that prevent people from eating what they want?


:::

IkeOnyia:
What is this Sowore saying? Cannabis is a hard drug used by criminals and even the smell is irritating when you come close to those smoking it.

Do you know that it's used for oil for cure of cancer, do you also know that it's used for creating alternative for housing construction

:::


I may have held a contrary view in the past. But maybe it's actually a failed and outdated policy.


I'm beginning to bend to the view and argument for cannabis to be properly researched, regulated and controlled.


Its actually a very big industry now with many opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry alone. It can become a viable and lucrative economic investment if done properly.


Let's think outside the box. I'm with sowore once again on this one.

:::

It is Nigeria's lazy and unmotivated lawmakers that must now shoulder the blame for the continued prohibition of cannabis, and NOT the NDLEA, whose boss, The Always Mighty General Buba Marwa directly instructed Nigeria's legislators to draft new laws to govern a new legalized, taxed and regulated medical cannabis industry for Nigeria.

That wise, bold, and progressive directive to legalize a taxed medical marijuana industry in Nigeria was sent to the lawmakers in late 2025, yet today, 8 months later, those lawmakers have done NOTHING to show their compliance with General Marwa's explicit orders that the lucrative cash crop should now be legalized with specific documented guidelines.

Until such time as the legislators take a break from their their treasury-looting feeding frenzy and draft the cannabis legalization law they have been asked to complete since late 2025, the NDLEA has no option but to continue enforcing the existing cannabis prohibition laws that are so wasteful of manpower and resource which would be much better applied towards the interdiction of the REAL deadly drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, PCP, methamphetamine, codeine, and even poisonous synthetic THC that is made in clandestine Chinese drug labs.